Beriev MBR-2 explained

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

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

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

• Aeroflot
• Soviet Naval Aviation

• North Korean Air Force

Bibliography

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

Notes and References

1. MBR stands for its Russian role - Morskoi Blizhniy Razvedchik (Cyrillic: Морской Ближний Разведчик) "Naval Short Range Reconnaissance".
2. http://www.gudok.ru/newspaper/?ID=766411 Bogatko, Sergei. Recce's of tradeways