Beriev MBR-2
| Beriev MBR-2 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Aeroflot MP-1 at Yalta, circa 1938. | |
| Role | Patrol aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Beriev OKB |
| Designer | Georgy Mikhailovich Beriev |
| First flight | 1931 |
| Introduction | 1935 |
| Status | Out of production; retired |
| Primary user | Soviet Navy |
| Produced | 1934-1941 |
| Number built | 1365 |
The Beriev MBR-2[1] was a Soviet multi-purpose (including reconnaissance) flying boat which entered service with the Soviet Navy in 1935. Out of 1365 built, 9 were used by foreign countries including Finland and North Korea. In Soviet Union it sometimes carried the nickname of "Kорова" (cow).
Design
The MBR-2 was designed by Georgy Mikhailovich Beriev and first flew in 1931, powered by an imported 373 kW (500 hp) BMW VI.Z engine. Production models, which arrived in 1934, used a licence-built version of this engine, the Mikulin M-17 of 508 kW (680 hp), and could be fitted with a fixed wheel or ski undercarriage.
Beriev also designed a commercial airliner derivation, the MP-1, which entered airline service in 1934, and a freighter version, which followed in 1936.
In 1935, an improved version was developed, the MBR-2bis, powered by the Mikulin AM-34N engine, and fitted with an enclosed cockpit, dorsal gun-turret and enlarged vertical tail. In this configuration, the machine remained in production until 1941. As with the MBR-2, the bis spawned a commercial derivative and the MP-1bis entered service in 1937.
Variants
- MBR-2M-17 : Short-range maritime reconnaissance, bombing flying-boat, powered by a 508 kW (680 hp) Mikulin M-17B piston engine.
- MBR-2AM-34 or MBR-2bis : Improved version, powered by a Mikulin AM-34N engine.
- MBR-2M-103 : One MBR-2AM-34 was fitted with the more powerful M-103 engine. One prototype only.
- MP-1 : Civil version of the MBR-2M-17 flying-boat. It could carry six passengers in an enclosed cabin.
- MP-1bis : Civil version of the MBR-2AM-34 flying-boat.
- MP-1T : Freight transport conversion of MBR-2.
Operators
- The Finnish Air Force operated five captured aircraft from 1941.
Specifications (MBR-2bis)
General characteristics
- Crew: 4-5
Performance
Armament
- Guns:
- 1× 7.62 mm (0.30 in) PV-1 machine gun in bow
- 1× 7.62 mm ShKAS machine gun in dorsal turret
- Bombs: 300 kg (660 lb) of bombs, mines, and depth charges carried underwing
See also
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
References
- ^ MBR stands for its Russian role - Morskoi Blizhniy Razvedchik (Cyrillic: Морской Ближний Разведчик) "Naval Short Range Reconnaissance".
- Munson, Kenneth (1969). Bombers, Patrol and Transport Aircraft 1939-45. Blandford. ISBN 0-7137-0379-2.
External links
- Beriev MBR-2 at aeroflight.co.uk
- Century of Flight
- Beriev MBR-2, TsKB-25 (project and prototype) at Russian Aviation Museum
- MBR-2 series with M-17 engine at Russian Aviation Museum
- Beriev MP-1, MP-1bis, MP-1T (civilian variant) at Russian Aviation Museum