A number of parasite fighter experiments were carried out at NII VVS (Scientific-research Institute of Red Army air force) between 1931-39. Vladimir Sergeevich Vakhmistrov was a designer and project engineer who suggested the use of air-launched fighters in order to improve their range and payload. Number of fighters (both biplanes and monoplanes) were either attached to a bomber on the ground or engaged and disengaged in-flight. In cases where fighters were mounted on the ground, take off was made fighter engines set at full power.
'Zveno-1'
December 3, 1931
Involved
Tupolev
twin-engined TB-1 aviamatka (mother-ship) and two specially modified
Tupolev I-4bis biplane fighters mounted above the
wing of the bomber. The test took place over Monino with Zelevsky piloting TB-1, Chkalov and
Anisimov at the controls I-4's and Sharapov and Vakhmistrov as observers. Both fighters were released simultaneously at altitude
of 3,000 meters. Despite of the number of the mishaps the idea was found feasible and experiments were continued.
Zveno-1A September 1933
Consisted of
A.N.Tupolev TB-1
mother-ship flown by Stefanovskij and two
N.N.Polikarpov
I-5 biplane
fighters mounted on above the bomber wing. I-5s were piloted
by Grozd and Kokkinaki.
Zveno-2 (or 2A) August 1934
Consisted of
A.N.Tupolev TB-3
four-engined bomber piloted by Zalevskii
and three I-5 fighters flown by Suzi,
Suprun and Altnov. Two I-5s were attached on the top of the bomber's
wings and third mounted above the fuselage. All three "took off" from
bomber successfully.
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Zveno-3
Consisted of a
A.N.Tupolev TB-3
bomber and two
D.P.Grigorovich I-Z
fighters suspended by a special attachment under the wings of the
TB-3. Grozd
and Korotkov piloted the I-Z
fighters. Test flight ended tragically -
Korotkov was killed in a collision with the wing of
TB-3.
Zveno-4 Unknown
Zveno-5 April 1935
Single I-Z fighter was suspended under
TB-3. The large steel-tube
trapeze mounted under the fuselage of the bomber and hook-equipped
fighter was able to engage and disengage in flight. Test pilot
Stepanchenok was able to perform the maneuver. The randevu took
place at 1,000m above Monino airfield. I-Z
disengaged after few moments - TB-3
was not capable of landing with fighter underneath. TB-3 was
flown by Stefanovskij and I-Z by
Stepanchenok. Final hook-on was completed successfully on
23 March 1935 - first underfuselage hook-up in the world.
Zveno-6 August 1935
Involved a TB-3/AM-34
with two
N.N.Polikarpov
I-16 suspended between
two large V-strut links under the wings of the bomber. Bomber was
flown by Stefanovskij and fighters by Budakov and Nikishin.
Zveno-? November 1935
Culmination of the parasite fighter experiments was this Zveno
consisted of two I-5 fighters
fixed above and two
N.N.Polikarpov
I-16
mounted beneath the wings of TB-3/AM-34.
The bomber was modified with under fuselage
trapeze so that I-Z canon fighter piloted
by Stepanchenok was hooked in flight. This combination consisted
of six (!) aircraft of four various types. All fighters were
released simultaneously. I-5s were flown by Nikishin and Suprun.
Zveno-SPB July
1937
Two
N.N.Polikarpov
I-16 type 5
dive-bombers were suspended under the
wings of the TB-3/AM-34RN with
Stefanovskij at the controls. Each
I-16 flown by Nikolaev and
Taborovskii carried two FAB-250 250kg
bombs and were not able to take off under its own power with both
full fuel load and 500kg payload. The takeoff weight of this Zveno
was 22,000kg and top speed reaching 268km/h. Fighters were using
the fuel of the mother-ship up to the moment of disengagement. Upon
release I-16
within 50km of target fighters were supposed to return
to the closest base.
This zveno was adopted by Morskaya aviatsiaya of the VMF for anti-shipping
operations. The combat unit was based at Yevpatoria equipped with six modified
TB-3/AM-34RN
and 12 SPB.
SPB was used operationally in WWII from
Crimean bases against ships, bridges and other targets till
1942.
Most famous combat mission took place on August 25,
1941
against Dunabe bridge at Chyernovod, Romania (railroad bridge to Constanta). The mission
was successfully completed and bridge was destroyed.
Zveno-7 November
1939
Same as previous entry but three I-16 tip 5
fighter-bombers were used instead. Flown by Stefanovskij, Suprun and Nukhtikov.
Modified January 25, 1996 | ![]() |
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