Polikarpov I-153 fighter [USSR]

copeab · 12-11-2005, 05:10 AM

Polikarpov I-153
Copyright 2005 by Brandon Cope

In the late 1930’s, most nations had moved to monoplanes for front-line fighters. Unfortunately for the Soviets, they were the victims of the success of the I-15 biplane in the Spanish Civil War. Thinking that biplanes were still viable as fighters, they set about creating an improved version of the I-15, which eventually became the I-153.

One of the more advanced biplanes ever built, it featured retractable landing gear and cranked upper and lower wings that connected directly to the fuselage. Used successfully against the Japanese and Finns, it was overwhelmed by more modern German fighters in 1941. While it was reasonably effective in experienced hands, experienced Russian pilots were in short supply. It was pulled from service as a fighter in 1942 and the remaining aircraft were used in the ground attack role.

Over 90 were sent to China and used against the Japanese. Around 20 captured planes were used by the Finns. Some 3,500 I-153’s were built in 1939-1940.

The I-153 uses 34 gallons of aviation fuel per hour at routine usage.

Subassemblies: Light Fighter chassis +2, Recon Fighter Wings with Biplane option +2, three retractable wheels +0.
Powertrain: 746-kW aerial HP gasoline engine w/746-kW old prop and 73-gallon fuel tank [Body].
Occupancy: 1 XCS Cargo: 5.

Armor
Body: 2/2C
Wings: 2/2C

Weaponry
4¥Aircraft LMG/7.62mm ShKAS [Body:F] (500 each)
2¥220-lb bombs [Wings:U]

Equipment
Body: Medium radio receiver and transmitter, navigation instruments, autopilot. Wings: 220-lb hardpoint under each.

Statistics
Size: 20’¥33’¥9’
Payload: 0.65 tons
Lwt.: 2.33 tons
Volume: 144
Maint.: 52 hours.
Price: $14,800.

HT: 9.
HPs: 100 Body, 100 each Wing, 10 each Wheel.

aSpeed: 276
aAccel: 8
aDecel: 36
aMR: 9
aSR: 1
Stall speed 61.

gSpeed: 315
gAccel: 14
gDecel: 10
gMR: 0.25
gSR: 2
Takeoff 257 yards, Landing 180 yards.

Design Notes
Design speed was 263 mph. The historical value has been used, as well as the actual wing area (238 square feet). The body and wing’s HPs (and cost and weight) were doubled to provide a more realistic aMR and better match historical weight. Even with that, loaded weight was increased by 9.5%.

Armor uses the cloth option.

Some aircraft replaced the two main wheels with retractable skids, for operating from snow-covered fields.

Instead of bombs, up to six RS-82 rockets could be carried underwing.

Variants
The I-153BS replaced the ShKAS guns with four 12.7mm BS guns (Aircraft HMG). Likewise, the I-153P replaced the machineguns with two 20mm ShVAK cannons. Neither were built in large numbers.

The I-153DM (1940) was a single plane used for ramjet tests.

The I-153V and I-153TKGK were each single planes used for pressurized cockpit tests.

The I-190 was an attempt to boost the performance of the I-153; fitted with a 820-kW engine, it could reach 304 mph. The only example crashed and the project was canceled.

12-11-2005, 05:10 AM	#1
copeab Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: near Houston	Polikarpov I-153 fighter [USSR] Polikarpov I-153 Copyright 2005 by Brandon Cope In the late 1930’s, most nations had moved to monoplanes for front-line fighters. Unfortunately for the Soviets, they were the victims of the success of the I-15 biplane in the Spanish Civil War. Thinking that biplanes were still viable as fighters, they set about creating an improved version of the I-15, which eventually became the I-153. One of the more advanced biplanes ever built, it featured retractable landing gear and cranked upper and lower wings that connected directly to the fuselage. Used successfully against the Japanese and Finns, it was overwhelmed by more modern German fighters in 1941. While it was reasonably effective in experienced hands, experienced Russian pilots were in short supply. It was pulled from service as a fighter in 1942 and the remaining aircraft were used in the ground attack role. Over 90 were sent to China and used against the Japanese. Around 20 captured planes were used by the Finns. Some 3,500 I-153’s were built in 1939-1940. The I-153 uses 34 gallons of aviation fuel per hour at routine usage. Subassemblies: Light Fighter chassis +2, Recon Fighter Wings with Biplane option +2, three retractable wheels +0. Powertrain: 746-kW aerial HP gasoline engine w/746-kW old prop and 73-gallon fuel tank [Body]. Occupancy: 1 XCS Cargo: 5. Armor Body: 2/2C Wings: 2/2C Weaponry 4¥Aircraft LMG/7.62mm ShKAS [Body:F] (500 each) 2¥220-lb bombs [Wings:U] Equipment Body: Medium radio receiver and transmitter, navigation instruments, autopilot. Wings: 220-lb hardpoint under each. Statistics Size: 20’¥33’¥9’ Payload: 0.65 tons Lwt.: 2.33 tons Volume: 144 Maint.: 52 hours. Price: $14,800. HT: 9. HPs: 100 Body, 100 each Wing, 10 each Wheel. aSpeed: 276 aAccel: 8 aDecel: 36 aMR: 9 aSR: 1 Stall speed 61. gSpeed: 315 gAccel: 14 gDecel: 10 gMR: 0.25 gSR: 2 Takeoff 257 yards, Landing 180 yards. Design Notes Design speed was 263 mph. The historical value has been used, as well as the actual wing area (238 square feet). The body and wing’s HPs (and cost and weight) were doubled to provide a more realistic aMR and better match historical weight. Even with that, loaded weight was increased by 9.5%. Armor uses the cloth option. Some aircraft replaced the two main wheels with retractable skids, for operating from snow-covered fields. Instead of bombs, up to six RS-82 rockets could be carried underwing. Variants The I-153BS replaced the ShKAS guns with four 12.7mm BS guns (Aircraft HMG). Likewise, the I-153P replaced the machineguns with two 20mm ShVAK cannons. Neither were built in large numbers. The I-153DM (1940) was a single plane used for ramjet tests. The I-153V and I-153TKGK were each single planes used for pressurized cockpit tests. The I-190 was an attempt to boost the performance of the I-153; fitted with a 820-kW engine, it could reach 304 mph. The only example crashed and the project was canceled. __________________ A generous and sadistic GM, Brandon Cope GURPS 3e stuff: http://copeab.tripod.com