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Russian aviation in WW1 and Civilian War

All of b&w photos are historical.

Илья Муромец

Ilya Murometz (the 1st flight in 1913 !) was a 4-engined plane of gigantic size designed by Sikorsky and built by Russo-Balt factory in Riga. It was an excellent aircraft for long-range recon and bomb (starting from V version, which had the bombsights installed) missions. Ilya Murometz's endurance equaled 4..5 hours with the bombs or 10 hours for reconnaissance. The bombload consisted of multiple small bombs or several big bombs (160, 240, 400 and even 640 kg i.e. 300, 400, 750 and 1200 lbs). The bombsights accuracy was excellent with 60..90% of the bombs hitted a targets. Another instruments were very good too, ones allowed even to perform night operations from the begin of the war. Defensive armament was upgraded during the war and consist of 3..8 mashineguns and automatic rifles).
Starting from G-series IM had the spherical area of fire. That was quite enough to hold enemy fighters away: only one IM (commander - lt. Maksheyev) was shot down by the interceptors during the war, and Germans lost 3 planes of 4 in this battle (Sept. 12, 1916). In total the IMs have shot down at least 12 German and Austrian planes.
The 1st air combat of IM was on 19th July 1915, when the plane of lt. Bashko was attaked by 3 Branderburgs and shot down 1 of them. The IM was damaged, but landed with only 2 engines working.
Another combats: in June 6, 1915 alone Ilya Murometz was attacked by 3 Heinkels and shot down 2 of them.
In June 1916 Ilya Murometzs of capt. Lavrov was attacked by 4 Fokkers and shot down 3 of them and damaged the 4th one. IM took some damage too, and one of his engines was quit, but the plane managed successfully return to the homebase.

On 8th May 1917 IM of capt. Klembovskiy had a battle with 3 Fokkers and shot down 2 of them.

In 1914 "Squadron of Air Ships", the 1st world group of heavy strategic bmrs was created and served during whole War. This group consisted of several platoons of IMs and support (recon and escort) planes that have served all around German and Austrian fronts. Few other squadrons (ex: 14KAO) had IMs too.
During the war the IMs acomplished about 400 combat flights, and lost only 2 planes (1 by flak fire on 5th Novenber 1915).
Most of the flights were performed by single IMs, but sometimes were group operations: for example 4th Septermber 1916 four IMs destroyed German hydroplane base at Angern lake.

Russian Empire Details (data and photos) insignia of Air Ships Sqd


Modern replica - click to enlarge

AnadeAnasalDS
Two-seaters built by Anatra factory: Anade and Anasal. These Russian designed planes were used in WW1. Anades were unstable planes, but it was enough for recon, artillery spotting and bomb missions (25..30 kg of bombs, defensive rear-firing MG). Anasals were strongly improved: more rugged, more stable, faster and had additional synchronized MG; ones were used in CW by both White and Red armies.
Name - YearEngine, h.p.Speed, km/h Empty/Combat Weight, kgCeiling, mClimb time to 1 km ArmamentEndurance
Anade - 1915100..110132..135515 / 86540007 min1 MG3.5 h
Anasal- 1916150..160144..153810 / 11604300..44005.5 min2 MGs3..3.5 h

Anade

Flying boats

Mosca-Bystritsky folding planes.


MB


MB-bis


MB-bis

missioncrewenginespeed weight enmty/readyceilingclimb time to 1 km
MB - 1915recon250 hp100 kmph 400 / 610 kg1500 m20 min
MB-bis - 1916fighter180 (110) hp130 kmph 322 / 487 kg4000 m3,5 min

S-XVI
S-XVI

The 1st world escort ftr, series started in 1915 at Russo-Balt factory. It used by "Squadron of Air Ships" and 7th fighter squadron in WW1; then S-XVI took a part in Civilian War.

C-XVI

Other planes

Though there were some more Russian-designed combat planes, but the bigger part of Russian WW1 air forces consist of the foreign designed planes. Mostly ones were built by Russian factories (ex: Duks), also were purchased in France, GB, Italy.

Nieuport aircrafts

Foreign designed 2-seaters, gallery 2

Foreign designed 2-seaters, gallery 1

Nieuport IX, X, XII; Moran Parasol L, P; Sopwith 1 1/5; Voisin L, LA, LAS, LBS, "Voisin with cannon", "Ivanov Voisin"; Farman F.15, F.16, F.20, F.22, F.27, F.30, F.30bis, F.40, F.42; Caudron G.3, G.4; SPAD A2, A4; B.E.2; F.E.2.

Also captured German Albatros B, C; Rumpler; L.V.G.; Brandenburg C; Aviatik; Roland;
Flying boats Fridrichsgaven-49c, Brandenburg-Hanza, GW, W-12, W-25, W-32, Sablatnig-5;
Austrian Berg; Bristol; Schneider;
British and French R.E.8; Avro 504; D.H.4, D.H.9; Breguet 14; Salmsom 2a; Wilson-Sturtevan were used.
There were even some sqds, completely equipped with captured planes.
And a number of Russian version of captured German Albatros C "Lebed XII" was built.

Foreign designed 1-seaters

Nieuport Xbis, XI, XVI, XVII, XVIII, XXI, XXIII, XXIV, XXIVbis, XXV; SPAD VII, XXIII; Moran G, N,; Vickers FB; Sopwith Triplane.


During Civilian War and Intervertion a number of foreign planes were captured and used: British Sopwith Pup, Camel, Snipe; S.E.5a; German Fokker D.VII; Albatros D; Halberstadt D; Austrian Oefagg D.III; etc.


Russian field gun transformed to the flak and the anti-aircraft MG.
Even 'Red Baron' himself said "Russian AA guns were good".


Flack battery on the rails.

Russo-Balt T Russo-Balt T
Russo-Balt-T armoured car armed with the 76mm flak.

Self-Propelled Flaks

baloon
Russian balloon.


The balloon from the armored train.

Photos presented by Sergey "Corsar" Efimov

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WW1 aces list of Russian Empire

Russian/Soviet air symbols

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