Fo an article I’m working on re. ground-attack aircraft, I’m trying to figure out which of these two Soviet aircraft was produced in greater numbers. Typical Il-2 numbers are 36,000+ (some sources say 36,183, some 36,160), and Po-2 fans insist that “40,000” of the ubiquitous biplane were built. Other sources give Po-2 numbers as low as 20,000. All of the Polikarpov numbers I’ve seen are very round numbers, while the Shturmovik figures seem to be pretty precise, which makes me wonder if the Po-2 production claims are valid. Can anybody shed any reasonably authoritative light on this? (By which I mean don’t just go Gargle them–I’ve already done that.)
By: Stepwilk - 1st April 2014 at 16:57
Actually, that’s of great help. Thank you.
By: Arabella-Cox - 31st March 2014 at 17:46
Well… [puffs cheeks] A contentious question. In fact, to my knowledge (and please anyone correct me if they know better) the total numbers manufactured for both types are not resolved to everyone’s satisfaction, and indeed not to a standard approaching consensus.
The Il-2 is closer. The total for Il-2 manufacture was 34692 according to the VVS’ official accounting (GSh VVS 45 del. 103). Additionally, there were orders placed for 1600 training models (UIl-2), of which 1206 were certainly delivered. The remainder… no one is sure.
For the old Po-2/U-2, many truly impressive figures gave been bandied about for years: 30000, 35000, 40000.. and so on. I find none of these convincing.
The total wartime manufacture of all models was 13569 (same ref above). Post war manufacture must be in the region of 2000 units, or thereabouts, but again I do not know of any exact figure which can be agreed upon. That leaves us with the total of pre war production (1930-41) to make up the total. Once again, this number is not agreed. Minimal estimates range in the 5500-6000 bracket, whilst authors like Golukov and Andersson have given 14900 examples (I do not know the exact source of this number). I believe that Mr Rodinov is working on a pre war total, and I presume that eventually he will succeed in working out the correct number. Until then, I am afraid we are all in limbo via speculation.
Sorry to be of so little help.
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March 30, 2014 at 8:14 pm