BB-1
| This page is about the Soviet strike aircraft BB-1. For the Soviet naval depth charge, see BB-1 depth charge. |
Contents
Description
In the mid-1930s, tensions were rising in Europe and the Soviet Union. The Soviets determined a need for a new multipurpose combat aircraft, which would not specialise in a role but could be utilised as a bomber, attacker, and even as a combat fighter if needed. However, its main job would be as a reconnaissance aircraft which would then attack targets it came across. Joseph Stalin personally issued the requirement for this aircraft and the project was code-named *"Ivanov"*. P.O. Sukhoi became the chief designer of this proposed aircraft while working at the Tupolev experimental design bureau and designed what initially was known as the ANT-51, which first flew in 1937. Though a disappointment due to being outfitted with an 820 hp Shvetsov M-62 engine, the aircraft was re-equipped with a Tumansky M-87 engine and began production as the BB-1 (Blizhniy Bombardirovschik; Russian: Ближний Бомбардировщик — "short-range bomber").
In the game since the start of the Open Beta Test prior to Update 1.27, the BB-1 is a very forgiving aircraft, especially to those who are new to attack aircraft. While not a fast aircraft, it does allow pilots to buzz treetops and follow the terrain on the way to the targets. Though it cannot adequately bomb bases, it does have a keen ability to "loiter", slowly weaving around a battlefield where light trucks, anti-aircraft artillery, and light tanks will be about. The bomb options and the machine gun loadouts allow for this attacker to drop bombs on ground targets along with strafing them with machine guns. Once past the targets, the BB-1 can easily manoeuvre around and begin the attack run again. Enemy attackers and fighters which come along will quickly find the rear-facing 7.62 mm ShKAS machine gun turret, which is relatively fast-firing and can be quite effective at times, damaging and disabling aircraft which choose to sit on the BB-1's tail. Though not a strong suit of the attacker, it can, if need be, engage as a fighter. This attacker will not win any speed records when dogfighting, but with its large wings and rudder, it does have the ability to turn remarkably fast, making it difficult for an enemy fighter to get a firing solution.
General info
Flight performance
The BB-1 has relatively good top speed and manoeuvrability for its battle rating. It can outrun most things it fights, and handles like a fighter without any bombs, albeit climbing isn't its strong suit. You shouldn't have to worry about rip speed or compression; being an attacker it should never reach a speed where that will become an issue.
| Characteristics | Max Speed (km/h at 6,600 m) |
Max altitude (metres) |
Turn time (seconds) |
Rate of climb (metres/second) |
Take-off run (metres) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AB | RB | AB | RB | AB | RB | |||
| Stock | 449 | 435 | 8900 | 23.9 | 24.7 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 420 |
| Upgraded | 490 | 467 | 22.1 | 23.0 | 15.2 | 9.8 | ||
Details
| Features | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combat flaps | Take-off flaps | Landing flaps | Air brakes | Arrestor gear |
| ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | X | X |
| Limits | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wings (km/h) | Gear (km/h) | Flaps (km/h) | Max Static G | |||
| Combat | Take-off | Landing | + | - | ||
| 620 | 350 | 394 | 340 | 340 | ~9 | ~4 |
| Optimal velocities (km/h) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ailerons | Rudder | Elevators | Radiator |
| < 280 | < 240 | < 500 | > 190 |
Survivability and armour
- No armour plating
- No armour glazing
- Critical components located at the front of aircraft (fuel, pilot, engine, controls)
- More fuel tanks located in wings near the fuselage
The BB-1 was meant to be a light-weight attacker/bomber which could be produced rather quickly. To perform its mission adequately with the engines which were slated to be used, this aircraft needed to remain as light as possible, but still be able to carry an effective load of bombs. To eliminate weight where possible included not installing any protective armour or bulletproof windshields. Crazy as it sounds, another weight-saving method was to utilize wood panelling which is poor protection even against smaller 7 mm machine gun rounds. Though three fuel tanks are found in the aircraft (one in the fuselage in front of the cockpit and one in each wing), an ingenious solution of the time aided in the prevention of fuel tank fires and that was due to the aircraft having the ability to vent exhaust into the fuel tanks, preventing the burning of the fuel if the tank becomes ruptured. In-game, the BB-1 can tank a fair few hits from rifle-calibre MGs, but anything armed with 12.7 mm or larger will tear it apart.
Modifications and economy
| Flight performance | Survivability | Weaponry | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
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Armaments
Offensive armament
The BB-1 is armed with:
- 4 x 7.62 mm ShKAS machine guns, wing-mounted (850 rpg = 3,400 total)
Suspended armament
The BB-1 can be outfitted with the following ordnance:
- Without load
- 4 x 50 kg FAB-50sv bombs (200 kg total)
- 4 x 100 kg FAB-100sv bombs (400 kg total)
- 12 x 50 kg FAB-50sv bombs (600 kg total)
- 6 x 100 kg FAB-100sv bombs (600 kg total)
- 2 x 250 kg FAB-250sv bombs (500 kg total)
- 2 x 220 kg BRAB-220 (1930) bombs (440 kg total)
- 2 x 500 kg FAB-500sv bombs (1,000 kg total)
Defensive armament
The BB-1 is defended by:
- 1 x 7.62 mm ShKAS machine gun, dorsal turret (900 rpg)
Usage in battles
The BB-1 is one of the best low-BR ground attackers available, and is potent in every game mode. In Air Battles, it's advisable to take the 12 x 50 kg loadout, as it will allow you to do a bit of base-bombing. In Mixed battles, the most potent loadout is the 2 x 250 kg option, which will destroy or critically damage most tanks around this BR, even if you don't get a precise hit. It is recommended to set a 1.5s fuse for low-altitude attacks. After you are out of bombs, you can engage other fighters/attackers or strafe out AAA, light tanks and open topped vehicles (these are plentiful in low tier ground battles). It is not advised to dogfight but it does well in a head-on (because of the rate of fire, not the armour).
Manual Engine Control
| MEC elements | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mixer | Pitch | Radiator | Supercharger | Turbocharger | ||
| Oil | Water | Type | ||||
| Controllable | Controllable Not auto controlled |
Controllable Not auto controlled |
Controllable Not auto controlled |
Separate | Controllable 2 gears |
Not controllable |
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Excellent ground attacker, decent dogfighter
- Very effective offensive guns for ground strafing
- Large bombload, several size options for different targets
- Bomb bay holds most smaller bombs which reduces drag
- Decent performance
- Has bombsight for accurate bombing
- Good manoeuvrability and responsive controls
Cons:
- No armour
- Defensive turret only has one 7.62 mm machine gun
- Only useful for bombing targets as the plane isn't competitive against faster fighter planes
- Works best at low altitudes, typically where fighters are hunting
- No dive flaps/brakes
- Relatively slow turn rate when damaged
History
| Archive of the in-game description | |
|---|---|
|
OKB Sukhoi BB-1 (Su-2) "Ivanov" Short-Range Bomber with M-87 engine A single-engine, mixed-construction monoplane light bomber with retractable landing gear and tail wheel. This project was developed as an entry in the 1936 competition for the best high-speed long-range ground-attack reconnaissance plane, to be known as the "Ivanov". The design and construction were completed in a record time of 6 months. The first flight of the SZ-1 (SZ: "Stalin's Mission"), with an M-62 engine, was made on August 25, 1937. The prototype selected for mass production was the SZ-3, equipped with an M-87 engine. In March of 1939, even before government tests were completed, the "Ivanov" airplane (with the M-87A engine) was accepted by the Red Army Air Force. It entered mass production under the designation BB-1 (short-range bomber one). Unlike the prototypes, the production model had a mixed construction. The fuselage was a wooden monocoque with plywood paneling, and the wings and stabilizer were metal. This choice was made because, due to the many all-metal aircraft in the USSR at the time, metal was in short supply. The first production aircraft were fitted with air-cooled radial 14-cylinder OKB Tumansky M-87 engines, rated at 950 hp. The aircraft's armament included a battery of 4 fixed ShKAS 7.62 mm machine guns with 850 rounds each, mounted in pairs on each wing. To protect the aircraft's rear, the navigator had a rotating MB-5 turret with another 7.62 mm machine gun with 900 rounds of ammunition. The prototypes had a ventral MB-2 turret with a ShKAS machine gun, but this was removed as it seemed unlikely that any enemy fighter attacks would come from below when the plane was flying at a low altitude. However, it was soon shown that this was a poor decision, as such attacks were frequent in actual combat. The plane's usual bomb load, when flying at its maximum range, was 400 kg. Overweight capacity was up to 600 kg. The maximum bomb load was 1200 kg. Bombs of up to 100 kg could be placed both in the internal bomb bay and suspended under the outer wings. KD-1 or KD-2 bomb racks were used to carry and drop these bombs. Rockets were not carried. | |
Media
- Skins
- Videos
See also
- Related development
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
External links
- [Wikipedia] Sukhoi Su-2
- [Militaryfactory website] Sukhoi Su-2 - Light bomber / Close support / High-speed attack / Reconnisance aircraft
- [Worldwarphotos website] Photo gallery of Su-2 aircraft from World War II
| Sukhoi Design Bureau (Сухого Опытное конструкторское бюро) | |
|---|---|
| Jet fighters | Su-9 · Su-11 |
| Su-27 | Su-27 · Su-27SM |
| Strike aircraft | |
| Su-2 | BB-1 · Su-2 (M-82) · Su-2 MV-5 · Su-2 TSS-1 |
| Su-6 | Su-6 · Su-6 (AM-42) · Su-6 (M-71F) |
| Su-7 | Su-7B · Su-7BKL · Su-7BMK |
| Su-8 | Su-8 |
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| Su-24 | Su-24M |
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| Export | ◊Su-22UM3K · ◔Su-22M3 · ◊Su-22M4 · ◄Su-22M4 WTD61 |
| J-11* | |
| *CKD and SKD kits assembled by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation | |
| USSR strike aircraft | |
|---|---|
| IL-2 | IL-2 (1941) · IL-2 (1942) · IL-2M (1943) · IL-2M type 3 · IL-2M "Avenger" · IL-2-37 · IL-2 M-82 |
| IL-8 | IL-8 (1944) |
| IL-10 | IL-10 · IL-10 (1946) |
| Pe-3 | Pe-3 (e) · Pe-3 · Pe-3bis |
| Su-2 | BB-1 · Su-2 MV-5 · Su-2 TSS-1 · Su-2 (M-82) |
| Su-6 | Su-6 · Su-6 (AM-42) · Su-6 (M-71F) |
| Su-8 | Su-8 |
| Tandem MAI | Tandem MAI |
| TIS MA | TIS MA |
| Tu-1 | Tu-1 |
| Yak-2 | Yak-2 KABB |
