Sukhoi Su-8

Sukhoi Su-8 or DDBSh (Russian: Су-8 ДДБШ - Двухмоторный Двухместный Бронированный Штурмовик - Twin-engine two-seat armored ground attack aircraft) was a Soviet prototype heavy attack aircraft of the Great Patriotic War.

Development

While Sukhoi was perfecting the light Sukhoi Su-6 attack aircraft, the OKB also developed the massive, heavily armed and armored Su-8. Two prototypes were completed in 1943 and underwent factory testing in 1944, but did not advance to government trials or production due to the unavailability of M-71 engines.An attempt to re-engine the aircraft with Mikulin AM-42 engines did not see further development.

The Su-8 was of mixed construction. The cockpit area was armored, with an aluminum mid-fuselage and a wooden monocoque tail. The wings were of steel and aluminum construction with plywood outer sections. The twin rudders were of all-metal construction. In addition to the cockpit, the engines, the fuel tanks, and the oil coolers were fully armored, with a total armor weight of 1680 kg (3,705 lb), more than twice as heavy as the armor shell on an Ilyushin Il-2
Specifications (Su-8)

General characteristics

* Crew: 2
* Length: 13.5 m (ft in)
* Wingspan: 20.5 m (ft in)
* Height: ()
* Wing area: 60 m² (646 ft²)
* Empty weight: 9180 kg (20,240 lb)
* Loaded weight: 12425 kg (27,390 lb)
* Max takeoff weight: 13380 kg (29,500 lb)
* Powerplant: 2× Shvetsov M-71F radial engines, 1640 kW (2,200 hp) each

Performance

* Maximum speed: 550 km/h (300 knots, 340 mph) at 4600 m (15,090 ft)
* Range: 1450 km (785 nm, 900 mi)
* Service ceiling 9000 m (29,530 ft)
* Rate of climb: 9 min to 5 000 m (16,405 ft)

Armament

* 4x 37 mm (1.46 in) Nudelman N-37 or 4x 45 mm (1.78 in) Nudelman N-45 cannon under the fuselage
* 8x 7.62 mm (0.30 in) ShKAS machine guns (four in each wing)
* 1x 12.7 mm (0.50 in) UBT machine gun in upper turret
* 1x 7.62 mm ShKAS in lower turret
* Total ammunition weight 232 kg (510 lb)
* Up to 1400 kg (3,085 lb) of bombs