Soviet aircraft and aircrew participated in the Spanish Civil War, and in March 1937, during the Battle of Guadalajara, air attack played an important role in the defeat of the Italians. The success of this operation, flown mostly by the R-5, R-Z, I-15 and I-16, convinced Stalin of the need to develop a dedicated ground support aircraft. The VVS duly prepared new specifications, this time for an armoured ground attack aircraft, a Bronirovannyi Shturmovik.

For Stalin this was a change of direction, for before the experience in Spain the Kremlin had seen more advantages in a light, fast multi-role aircraft, the so-called Ivanov programme. Some of the aircraft developed for this specification were now offered in ground attack versions with additional armour. Sukhoi’s successful BB-1 (also known as the Su-2) was the basis for the BB-2, or ShB (attack bomber). Similarly, Kotcherigin developed his R-9 into the LBSh (Legky Bronirovannyi Shturmovik or “lightly armoured attack aircraft”). The American Vultee V-11G light bomber, for which a license was acquired in 1936, was the basis for the BSh-1. Such aircraft had increased armour, armament optimised for ground attack missions, and more powerful engines to compensate for the increased weight. Kotcherigin also replaced the retractable landing gear of the R-9 by a supposedly more rugged fixed landing gear.

Tank vs. Plane

Next serious attempts was in the Spanish Civil War were Soviet-supplied Poliarpov I-15 biplanes and Polikarpov I-16 monoplanes armed with two ShKAS 7.62mm (0.3in) machine-guns (1800 rounds per minute) attacked 65 CV-33 and CV-35 tankettes. Using armour-piercing bullets they damaged several of the tankettes.

The Soviet “observers” concluded that a dedicated tank-attack aircraft would be an asset, and the Polikarpov design bureau started to design such a plane, but never complete any. A second design bureau started up in 1937, Ilyshin, and came up with the BSh (Bronirovannii Shturmovik, or armoured attacker), first flight in 1939. Armed with 2 20mm ShVAK cannons and 2 7.62mm ShkAS machine-guns and racks for 8 82mm (3.2in) RS-82 rockets and 2 100kg (220lb) bombs. It entered production as Il-2 (36.160 produced).

When Barbarossa started, Russia had 70 Il-2 in service and the first unit in combat was the 215th Assault Aviation Regiment, in the Veliki Luki area, where seven Il-2 attacked a German armoured column with bombs, rockets and cannons. Several tanks and trucks were destroyed, and the German advance was stopped.

Several attacks followed in the next weeks, but the Germans answer with Flak, and every pilot surviving 10 operational missions were automatically awarded the “Hero of the Soviet Union” decoration.