Polikarpov ITP: When a MiG-3 and an I-185 love each other very much . . .

[Milocat 4,857]

The Polikarpov ITP was an attempt to make a fighter that could perform both ground attack missions and escort Soviet bombers.  It had a monocoque wooden fuselage and metal wings.  Armament consisted of a 37mm autocannon with 50 rounds firing through the propeller hub and two 20mm cannons in the nose; underwing racks could fit four 100kg bombs or eight rockets.  The German advance forced the prototype to be evacuated and it did not have its first flight until February 1942.  It was originally fitted with an unreliable 1,300 hp Klimov M-107P engine but this was later upgraded to a more powerful Mikulin AM-39 engine with 1,800 hp.  The armament was also modified, with the 37mm cannon ultimately replaced with another 20mm gun with a larger ammunition count.  Due to a series of delays in the program, flight testing was not completed until June 1944.  The aircraft performed impressively, but it was equal in performance to other designs already in production at the time and therefore the decision was made to not approve it for serial production, as this would have decreased production of other types of fighters already in service.  Therefore, the program was cancelled.  

 

The ITP is a good example of an aircraft that never got its due because of political considerations rather than any failure of the design itself.  I think it would be a perfect addition to the game with an AM-39 engine and the option to switch its weapon loadout between the two 20mm and one 37mm cannon and the three 20mm cannons.  

 

Specifications: 

Engines:  One Mikulin AM-39 12-cylinder inline engine, 1,800 hp

Length: 9.2m

Wingspan:  10m

Height:  2.65m

Empty Weight:  2,910 kg (6,415 lb)

Loaded Weight:  3,570 kg (7,871 lb)

Maximum Speed:  655 kmh (407 mph)

Crew:  1

Armament:  One 37mm Shpitalny Sh-37 cannon (50 rounds) and two 20mm ShVAK cannons (200 rpg) in the nose or three 20mm ShVAK cannons (200 rpg) in the nose

Bombload:  Four 100kg bombs or eight RS-82 rockets under the wings

Number Built:  2

 

Images:  

Spoiler

 

Sources:  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polikarpov_ITP 

http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_polikarpov_ITP.html 

http://www.aviastar.org/air/russia/pol_itp.php 

http://www.airwar.ru/enc/fww2/itp.html 

http://www.wardrawings.be/WW2/Files/2-Airplanes/Allies/2-USSR/01-Fighters/ITP/ITP.htm 

Edited May 19, 2019 by Milocat

[Princess_Pinch 5,625]

Open for discussion. 

[Milocat 4,857]

Just now, Princess_Pinch said:

Open for discussion. 

 

Thank you!  

[Z3r0_ 4,128]

I could see two versions of this being in the game (one with three 20s, the other with two 20s and a 37), perhaps between the I-185s and the I-225.

[Milocat 4,857]

16 minutes ago, Z3r0_ said:

I could see two versions of this being in the game (one with three 20s, the other with two 20s and a 37), perhaps between the I-185s and the I-225.

 

That could work but I'd rather see one version with the ability to switch out the main armament.

[Z3r0_ 4,128]

8 hours ago, Milocat said:

 

That could work but I'd rather see one version with the ability to switch out the main armament.

 

Except that there was another difference between the two variants: the engine swap.  The one with three 20s would have a significantly more powerful engine.

Now that I think about it, it'd be best to put the one with the 1300 horsepower engine and the 37 mm BEFORE the I-185s, and the one with the 1800 horsepower engine and the three 20s after them.

[Milocat 4,857]

3 hours ago, Z3r0_ said:

 

Except that there was another difference between the two variants: the engine swap.  The one with three 20s would have a significantly more powerful engine.

Now that I think about it, it'd be best to put the one with the 1300 horsepower engine and the 37 mm BEFORE the I-185s, and the one with the 1800 horsepower engine and the three 20s after them.

 

The way I read it was that the armament change didn't happen until after the engine swap.  

[Z3r0_ 4,128]

8 hours ago, Milocat said:

 

The way I read it was that the armament change didn't happen until after the engine swap.  

 

In any event I think having two variants with different engines and armament loadouts would be the best way to get the most variety out of this suggestion, since the MiG/Polikarpov line is pretty sparse at the mid tiers compared to the other fighter branches on the Soviet tree.  Just call them the ITP M-107P and ITP AM-39, or the ITP Early and ITP Late.

Edited May 20, 2019 by Z3r0_

[Borotovas 4,500]

+1

[FlipAllTheTables 61]

I would really like to see this aircraft in the game. It would add more diversity for the Polikarpov/MiG, instead of just being high altitude aircraft, this would add a somewhat good ground attack plane. Although from what I was able to read, the 655kmh max speed was with the VK-107P engine, not completely sure though.

[Adiarka454@psn 10]

On 20/05/2019 at 07:09, Milocat said:

 

That could work but I'd rather see one version with the ability to switch out the main armament.

 

Yes please. Would be nice to have it in between the I-185 (M-71) and the I-225. Seems to have decent performance and an impressive ammo load for a Russian fighter (200 RPG). Looks really sleek too!

[leroyonly 4,311]

As the ITP has been previously implemented with the 2nd Battlepass season,

 

Moved to Implemented Suggestions.