The Yakovlev Yak-6 (NATO reporting name: Crib)[1] was a Soviet twin-engined utility aircraft, developed and built during World War II. It was used as a short-range light night bomber and a light transport.
| Yak-6 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Utility |
| Manufacturer | Yakovlev |
| Status | Retired |
| Primary user | Soviet Air Force |
| Number built | 381 |
| History | |
| Introduction date | 1942 |
| First flight | 1942 |
| Retired | 1950 |
Development
editIn April 1942, the Yakovlev design bureau was instructed to design a twin-engined utility transport aircraft to supplement smaller single-engined aircraft such as the Polikarpov U-2. The design was required to be simple to build and operate.[2][3] Design and construction work proceeded extremely quickly, with the first prototype Yak-6 flying in June 1942. It passed its state acceptance tests in September that year and was quickly cleared for production.[2]
The Yak-6 was a cantilever low-wing monoplane of all-wood construction with fabric covering. It had a retractable tailwheel undercarriage, with the main wheels retracting rearwards into the engine nacelles. The horizontal tail was braced. It was powered by two 140 hp Shvetsov M-11F radial engines driving two-bladed wooden propellers,[nb 1] with the engine installation based on Yakovlev's UT-2 primary training aircraft. In order to minimise the use of scarce resources, the aircraft's fuel tanks were made of chemical-impregnated plywood rather than metal or rubber. Many Yak-6s were fitted with fixed landing gear.[4][5]
The aircraft appeared in two versions, one as a transport and utility aircraft for the supply of partisans, transport of the wounded, and for liaison and courier services. It could accommodate two crew side-by-side in an enclosed cockpit with capacity to carry four passengers or 500 kg (1,100 lb) or cargo.[5][6] The second version was a light night bomber (designated NBB - nochnoy blizhniy bombardirovshchik - Short Range Night Bomber), capable of carrying up to 500 kg of bombs on racks under the wing centre sections and with a defensive armament of a single ShKAS machine gun in a dorsal mounting.[7] A total of 381 examples were built with production ending in 1943.[8][9]
A few examples of an improved version of the Yak-6 with swept outer wings were flown, with the modified version sometimes known as the Yak-6M.[10][11] The Yak-6M led to the larger Yak-8 which flew in early 1944.[12]
Operational history
editThe Yak-6 was used with great effect at the front lines in the Great Patriotic War both as a transport and as a bomber, proving popular with its crews, although the potential for the aircraft to enter a spin if overloaded or carelessly handled resulting in production ending in 1943 in favour of the similarly powered Shcherbakov Shche-2. By 1944, most operational units of the VVS had a Yak-6 as a utility aircraft.[11] In the Battle for Berlin, the Yak-6 was fitted with rocket launchers under the wings for ten 82-mm RS-82 missiles for use against ground targets.[13] After the end of the Second World War, some Yak-6s were supplied to allies, while it remained in large scale service with Soviet forces until 1950.[12][13]
Variants
edit- Yak-6 : Twin-engined light utility transport aircraft.
- NBB : Short-range night bomber aircraft.
- Yak-6M : Improved version of the Yak-6.
Operators
edit- Normandie-Niemen squadron transport plane
- Mongolian People's Army Air Force - Transports units
Specifications (Yak-6 (1943 production))
editData from Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft[12]
General characteristics
- Crew: two
- Capacity: four passengers
- Length: 10.35 m (33 ft 11 in)
- Wingspan: 14.0 m (45 ft 11 in)
- Wing area: 29.6 m2 (319 sq ft)
- Airfoil: Clark-YH
- Empty weight: 1,415 kg (3,120 lb)
- Gross weight: 2,300 kg (5,071 lb)
- Powerplant: 2 × Shvetsov M-11F 5-cylinder radial engines, 100 kW (140 hp) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 187 km/h (116 mph, 101 kn)
- Range: 900 km (560 mi, 490 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 3,380 m (11,090 ft)
- Time to altitude: 5.4 min to 1,000 m (3,300 ft)
Armament
- Guns: 1 × ShKAS machine gun in dorsal position
- Rockets: provision for 10 × RS 82 rockets
- Bombs: Up to 500 kg (1,102 lb) bombs
See also
editRelated development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
References
edit- ^ Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1955-56 p. 188
- ^ a b Gordon, Komissarov and Komissarov 2005, p. 235.
- ^ a b Gunston 1995, p. 467.
- ^ Gordon, Komissarov and Komissarov 2005, pp. 235–236.
- ^ a b Gunston 1995, p. 467–468.
- ^ Alexander 1975, p. 437.
- ^ Gordon, Komissarov and Komissarov 2005, pp. 235, 237.
- ^ Gordon, Komissarov and Komissarov 2005, p. 237.
- ^ "History:Serial Production". A.S. Yakovlev Design Bureau. Retrieved 2011-09-26.
- ^ Gordon, Komissarov and Komissarov 2005, p. 238.
- ^ a b Donald 1997, p. 915.
- ^ a b c Gunston 1995, p. 468.
- ^ a b Alexander 1975, p. 438.
- Alexander, Jean (1975). Russian Aircraft since 1960. London: Purnell Book Services.
- Donald, David, ed. (1997). The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. Aerospace Publishing. ISBN 1-85605-375-X.
- Gordon, Yefim; Komissarov, Dmitry; Komissarov, Sergey (2005). OKB Yakovlev: A History of the Design Bureau and its Aircraft. Hinckley, UK: Midland Publishing. ISBN 1-85780-203-9.
- Gunston, Bill (1995). The Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft 1875 - 1995. London: Osprey. ISBN 1-85532-405-9.