Engineering:Beriev MBR-2

Beriev MBR-2
Aeroflot MP-1 at Yalta, circa 1938.
Role	Patrol aircraft
Manufacturer	Beriev OKB
Designer	Georgy Mikhailovich Beriev
First flight	1931
Introduction	1935
Status	Out of production; retired
Primary user	Soviet Navy
Produced	1934-1941
Number built	1,365

The Beriev MBR-2 was a Soviet multi-purpose (including reconnaissance) flying boat which entered service with the Soviet Navy in 1935. Out of 1,365 built, 9 were used by foreign countries including Finland and North Korea. In Soviet Union it sometimes carried the nickname of "Kорова" (cow) and "Амбар" (barn).

Design

The MBR-2 was designed by Georgy Mikhailovich Beriev and first flew in 1931, powered by an imported 373 kW (500 hp) BMW VI.Z engine. Production models, which arrived in 1934, used a licence-built version of this engine, the Mikulin M-17 of 508 kW (680 hp), and could be fitted with a fixed wheel or ski undercarriage.

Beriev also designed a commercial airliner derivation, the MP-1, which entered airline service in 1934, and a freighter version, which followed in 1936.

In 1935, an improved version was developed, the MBR-2bis, powered by the Mikulin AM-34N engine, and fitted with an enclosed cockpit, dorsal gun-turret and enlarged vertical tail. In this configuration, the machine remained in production until 1941. As with the MBR-2, the bis spawned a commercial derivative and the MP-1bis entered service in 1937.

Variants

• MBR-2M-17 : Short-range maritime reconnaissance, bombing flying-boat, powered by a 508 kW (680 hp) Mikulin M-17B piston engine.
• MBR-2AM-34 or MBR-2bis : Improved version, powered by a Mikulin AM-34N engine.
• MBR-2M-103 : One MBR-2AM-34 was fitted with the more powerful M-103 engine. One prototype only.
• MP-1 : Civil version of the MBR-2M-17 flying-boat. It could carry six passengers in an enclosed cabin.
• MP-1bis : Civil version of the MBR-2AM-34 flying-boat.
• MP-1T : Freight transport conversion of MBR-2.

Operators

Finland

• The Finnish Air Force operated five captured aircraft from 1941.

Soviet Union

• Aeroflot
• Soviet Naval Aviation

North Korea

• North Korean Air Force

Specifications (MBR-2 AM-34)

Data from L'hydroaviation MBR-2, pillier de la reconnaissance naval soviétique

General characteristics

• Crew: 4-5
• Length: 13.50 m (44 ft 3 in)
• Wingspan: 19.00 m (62 ft 4 in)
• Height: 5.00 m (16 ft 5 in)
• Wing area: 55 m² (590 sq ft)
• Airfoil: root: MOS-27 (18%); tip: MOS-27 (10%)
• Empty weight: 2,718 kg (5,992 lb)
• Gross weight: 4,245 kg (9,359 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Mikulin AM-34NB V-12 liquid-cooled piston engine, 620 kW (830 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 275 km/h (171 mph, 148 kn) at 5,000 m (16,000 ft)
• Cruise speed: 190 km/h (120 mph, 100 kn)
• Range: 1,600 km (990 mi, 860 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 6,000 m (20,000 ft)

Armament

• Guns:
  
  • 1× 7.62 mm (0.30 in) PV-1 machine gun in bow
  • 1× 7.62 mm ShKAS machine gun in dorsal turret
• Bombs:
  

• 300 kg (660 lb) of bombs, mines, and depth charges carried underwing

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Supermarine Walrus
• Loire 130

Related lists

• List of interwar military aircraft
• List of aircraft of World War II

Bibliography

• Green, William (1968). War Planes of the Second World War, Volume Five, Flying Boats. London: Macdonald & Co. (Publishers) Ltd.. ISBN 0-356-01449-5. 
• Kulikov, Victor (September 1998). "L'hydroaviation MBR-2, pillier de la reconnaissance naval soviétique" (in French). Avions: Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire (66): 22–29. ISSN 1243-8650. 
• Munson, Kenneth (1969). Bombers, Patrol and Transport Aircraft 1939-45. Blandford. ISBN 0-7137-0379-2. 

External links

• Beriev MBR-2 at aeroflight.co.uk
• Century of Flight
• Beriev MBR-2, TsKB-25 (project and prototype) at Russian Aviation Museum
• MBR-2 series with M-17 engine at Russian Aviation Museum
• Beriev MP-1, MP-1bis, MP-1T (civilian variant) at Russian Aviation Museum