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| 37mm ShFK-37 Aircraft Gun |
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| Documents and Articles - AFVs and armament | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Towards the end of December 1942, the 688th ShAP,228th ShAD of the 16th VA recieved 8 single-spaced IL-2 Shturmoviks for military trials. The aircraft were built at aircraft's assembly factory No.18 with the AM-38 engine. Besides being armed with 2 wing-mounted ShKAS machine guns; two 37mm ShFK-37 aircraft cannons made by OKB-15 of B.G. Shpitalniy were added (ShFK = Shpitalny Fuselage-Wing Calibre 37 mm). The ninth IL-2 with the ShFK-37 cannons arrived in the regiment only on January 18,1943. This aircraft didn't partake in the trials. IL-2 Shturmoviks with the ShFK participated in combat missions from 27.12.42 to 23.01.43 during the Stalingrad encirclement/liquidation operation of major German army units near Lt.General P.I. Batov's 65th Army. Operations were carried out from "Proletariat" airfield; later at Kalachinskaya Station. S.V. Ilyushin received orders for the construction of this aircraft only in the spring of 1941. Because the OKB was very busy with work on the basic IL-2, the AM-38 and ShFK-37 cannon with its defects were put out of action through exploitation. The IL-2 armed with these cannons was built by plant No.18 only by the end of June 1941. Moreover, flight trials were done on July 8th.
Seeing as how the narkomat (Soviet equivalent to ministry) didn't set a due date for ShFK-37's ammunition on time, the head of the 3rd management of experimental construction of Head Department of the Red Army Aviation Forces military engineer 1st class P.I. Mataev allowed the Science Lab of the Red Army Aviation Forces head Shevchenko to receive the IL-2 with the ShFK-37 for proving grounds testing, after which - within two weeks(from Sept.1-15), armament of the new Shturmovik was tested successfully on the ground and in the air. Governmental trials of the IL-2 with the ShFK-37 with the objective of gathering flight data were done at Science Lab of the Red Army Aviation Forces from September 23 to October 12, 1941. Altogether the trials program achieved (chief-engineer 3rd class Kholopov, chief test-pilot Major Stadnik) 24 flights within a time-frame of 10hrs. 6 min. The large size of the ShFK-37 cannons and their magazine feeds (capacity 40 rounds) determined their placement into aerodynamic pods under the wings of the IL-2. Because of the large magazine housing on the cannon, it was needed to significantly lower the construction features of the wing (the aircraft's axes).This not only made the cannon housing construction difficult (the cannon was attached to a shock-absorber; during firing it moved together with the magazine) but also required the making of large aerodynamic pods. The mass of the cannon and its components equaled 302.5 kg. Besides the cannons and MG's, the Shturmovik also carried 8 rocket platforms RS-82. Bombs were also carried but only to a maximum capacity of 200 kg.
Governmental trials proved flight capabilities of IL-2 with ShFK-37, in comparison with the basic single-spaced IL-2 with ShVAK or Vya cannons, was significantly worse. The aircraft became more inert and more difficult to fly, especially during veering or turning maneuvers at lower altitudes. Maneuvering also became very difficult at high speeds. Pilots complained about the heavy stress of steering during maneuvers. Nonetheless, the results of the trials of the new Shturmovik were accepted as “satisfied in general”. Ïðè íîðìàëüíîì ïîëåòíîì âåñå 5864 êã ìàêñèìàëüíàÿ ñêîðîñòü ó çåìëè íå ïðåâûøàëà 373 êì/÷, íà âûñîòå 2400 ì - 409 êì/÷. Âðåìÿ ïîäúåìà íà âûñîòó 1000 ì - 2,12 ìèí, íà âûñîòó 2500 ì - 5,36 ìèí. Ïîñàäî÷íàÿ ñêîðîñòü -146 êì/÷. Ðàçáåã - 515 ì, ïðîáåã íà ïîñàäêå - 535 ì. Ìàêñèìàëüíàÿ ñêîðîñòíàÿ äàëüíîñòü ïîëåòà (0,9Vmax) ñîñòàâëÿëà 582 êì, íà íàèâûãîäíåéøåé ñêîðîñòè ïîëåòà - 728 êì. With the normal flight weight of 5864kg the maximum speed near ground level never exceeded 373 km/h. At an altitude of 2400 metres – 409 km/h. Time to reach 1000 metres - 2.12 min, 2500 metres - 5.36 min. Landing speed of 146km/h. Takeoff required 515 metres of space. Landing required 535 metres. Maximum radius of flight at maximum speed (0.9Vmax) comprised 582 km. Maximum radius at most economic flights – 728 km. The rate of fire of the ShFK-37, according to proving grounds data was found to be 169 shots per minute at a muzzle velocity of about 894 m/s. 37 mm ammunition also included armor-piercing incendiary tracer rounds BZT-37 and also fragmentation-incendiary tracer rounds OZT-37.
Firing of the ShFK-37 from the air against captured German tanks proved the BZT-37 round to be powerful enough to defeat German light tanks such as the Pz.38(t) Ausf.C and Pz.II Ausf.F from a distance of 500 metres from any angle of attack. This round caused the armor to crack and to be completely penetrated through both sides of the tank. Defeating the armor of medium tanks and assault guns such as the StuG III Ausf.E, Pz.III Ausf.G and also the Pz.38(t) Ausf.E with thicker armor up to 30 mm on the sides was done from a distance of no more than 500 m but only at angles no more than 30 degrees. For the attack of that tanks, it was necessary to attack a column of tanks sideways or to the rear; hitting the sides or rear deck of the tank where the armor was the weakest. During the trials, 33 direct hits were made on the medium tank Pz.III Ausf.G, light tanks Pz.II Ausf.F and Pz.38(t) Ausf.C. The tanks only had 24 penetrations of which 17 were at a thickness of 30mm, one bounced off a 16mm armor plate, when the angle of the shell's trajectory was 75-80°. The other penetrations were against 15-16mm plates. Due to this, 51.5% of hits from the ShFK-37 were on the medium tank and 70% of hits on the light tank putting the tanks out of action. Hits from the 37mm shells into the drive sprockets, road wheels and other components of the running gear caused significant damages usually knocked out the tank. The report of the proving grounds trials of the ShFK-37 for the IL-2 was specially highlighted that pilots must be highly trained in firing short, well-aimed bursts (2-3 rounds per burst) at smaller targets such as a single tank, vehicle etc. For the successful implementation of the IL-2 with the ShFK-37 cannons, the pilot must have had excellent small arms and flight training. The point is that aimed fire from the ShFK-37 on the IL-2 was an important step complicated by the strong recoil force of the cannons during firing and their non-synchronization during fire. Lastly, because of the large movements of the cannons with respect to the aircraft's center of mass, also due to ineffective strengthening of the cannon assembly led to the Shturmovik experiencing heavy jolts and generally caused the line of fire to be disrupted. This, with regard to the IL's ineffective prolonged steadiness of flight, led to significant dispersal of shells and noticeably lowered the accuracy(up to 4 times)of fire. Firing from a single cannon was impossible. The Shturmovik immediately turned to the side of the firing cannon such that making firing corrections was deemed impossible. Nevertheless, the general conclusion for the trials consisted in that the "Shturmovik with the ShFK-37 cannons was an effective solution for defeating German light and medium tanks". It was recommended to build a number of these aircraft for trials amongst fighting units; also to form regiments of special Shturmovik pilots, instructed in well-aimed fire from large-calibre cannons against ground targets and especially in defeating German tanks. In this light there can be nothing to not cause confusion from S.V. Ilyushin's letter (No.1229 dated 22.09.41) who was the last to not wait for the official end of trials of the new IL-2. Ilyushin directed the letter to J.Stalin. In this letter, Ilyushin reported in this way: "In August, I had mounted 2 cannons 37mm of Shpitalny's construction with a capacity of 40 rounds per cannon, a total capacity of 80 shells. The aircraft with these cannons passed the governmental trials at Science Lab of the Red Army Aviation Forces. Firing of these cannons produces a great impression of power and accuracy of fire. This is already flying artillery... It is clear the desire to show a wishful as an actual state of affairs. After discussing S.V. Ilyushin's offer (26 November 1941), an order was given to Factory No.18 to build 20 IL-2s with ShFK-37 cannons. In view of the strongly overworked Design Bureau and Factory due to ceaseless production of "IL's," the building of the new IL-2 with 37mm guns will be continued at Kuibyshev until September of 1942. Besides, the only 9 aircraft were built out of the original plan of 20 pieces (9 aircraft + one experimental model), which after factory testing done by test-pilot E.N. Lomakin; were sent as replacements for 228th ShAD, 16th VA of the Don Front (near Stalingrad).
Notice that figures from HQ of the Red Army Air Forces of Western Front allowed a conclusion to be made that the experimental IL-2 with ShFK-37 participated in combat missions near Moscow in November-December as part of 312th ShAP 47th sad by the program of unit trials and received negative results: "Flight crews and commanders strongly objected to the placement of 37mm cannons on the IL-2...", - it was noted in one of the 312th ShAP commander's reports. Official data for the combat employment of the IL-2 with 37mm guns near Moscow has not been found yet. The whole time during trials at the front near Stalingrad the IL-2 with the ShFK-37 completed 75 flights with a total of 68 hrs 42 min in flight time, completing the missions together with the "IL's" armed with the ordinary VYa and ShVAK cannons. Missions were completed with and without escort fighters. One IL-2 with the 37mm cannons was shot down over the target, the second was damaged but it managed to land on neutral ground and it was thought impossible to evacuate the aircraft, so it was destroyed with bombs. The other aircraft received assorted damages. From the beginning to the end of the units trials, only 2 "IL's" passed - completing 44 combat flights. The Shturmoviks operated generally against enemy aircraft on airfields and ground vehicles. In some incidents they attacked ground strongpoints, pillboxes, bunkers and enemy armor. The total amount of ammunition used: for the ShFK-37 - 2255 rounds, for the ShKAS machine-guns – 26840 rds, RS-82 rockets - 523, FAB-100 HE bombs - 107, AO-25 fragmentation bombs - 87. Attacks on ground targets were accomplished at angles of about 25-30 degrees from altitudes of 1300m to 1000m. According to pilot reports, the ShFK-37 destroyed 2 tanks, 4 parked aircraft, about 50 trucks and cars, 1 weapon stockpile and 2 anti-aircraft batteries. Whats more, pilots noticed hits on 3 tanks, 4 aircraft, 14 vehicles and 1 armored car, confirmation of destructions could not be fully verified. On average, the ammunition expenditure of the ShFK-37 comprised 37,6%. On one hand this means that there were few targets for the ShFK-37. Then again it could also mean that the cannons were ineffective against targets of such small size. During the trials several incidents were noted in which the cannons were used against enemy aircrafts though with no success. During the entire trials period, the cannons showed to be unreliable - the medium percentage of jamming/rejection problems was up to 54%! Every other flight of the IL-2 with the 37mm resulted in the failure of one of the cannons while firing with a single cannon was virtually impossible because of strong recoil force that turned the IL to the side. Plus the minimal steadiness of the aircraft and the technological difficulties with piloting of the IL-2 with the cannons. In addition to that, the weak mounting of the cannon pods and the enormous recoil of the cannons led to the unneeded expenditure of ammunition by 2-3 times. Maximum bomb load was only 200kg. All of this dramatically lowered the aircraft's overall combat effectiveness. Remarks show that in real combat situations, a highly trained pilot on an IL-2 with the ShFK-37 could have achieve the victory over a Pz.III Ausf. G in one fly by attempt he would have killed the tank from the side at a 25-30 degrees having opened fire at a distance of 300-400 metres with probability 0.04-0.02%. An APC such as the Sd.Kfz 250 could be knocked out with probability of about 0.09-0.06%. For the guaranteed destruction of one individual piece of equipment, it was necessary to deploy 20 IL-2s! It resulted, the ShFK-37 cannon didn't find any support among Soviet pilots. In conclusion "Report on Unit Trials of the IL-2 AM-38 Armed with 37mm Cannons Construction of OKB-15." (responsible: Beliakin, Nikitin, Lorchenko) was stated that: "1. IL-2 aircraft with the ShFK-37, tested in combat flights did not give required effectiveness due to unfinished work on the cannons; unable to wage aimed fire against point targets; great dispersal pattern of shells and caused worsening of maneuverability of the aircraft. In conclusion, the IL-2 with the ShFK-37 never saw any widespread production.
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