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The Polikarpov I-15 (Russian: И-15) was a Soviet biplane fighter aircraft of the 1930s. Nicknamed Chaika (Russian: Чайка, "Seagull") because of its gulled upper wings,[2][3] it was operated in large numbers by the Soviet Air Force, and together with the Polikarpov I-16 monoplane, was one of the standard fighters of the Spanish Republicans during the Spanish Civil War, where it was called Chato (snub-nose).[4]

I-15 and I-15bis
I-15bis
Role	Fighter Type of aircraft
Manufacturer	Polikarpov
Designer	Nikolai Nikolaevich Polikarpov
First flight	October 1933
Status	retired
Primary users	Soviet Air Force Spanish Republican Air Force Chinese Nationalist Air Force
Produced	1934–1937[1]
Number built	3,313 (plus 3,437 I-153)[1]
Developed from	Polikarpov I-5
Variants	Polikarpov I-153

Design and development

The design for the 14th fighter for the VVS, the I-14, started as an advanced (for the era) monoplane under the direction of Andrei Tupolev. He grew concerned that the design would not mature, and ordered two backup biplane designs as the I-14A and B just to be safe. Polikarpov had just been released from prison in August 1932, and was handed the I-14A project. When both the I-14 and I-14A were ordered into production, Polikarpov's design, a development of the I-5 fighter became the famous I-15.^{[citation needed]}

The first flight was made in October 1933 with V.P. Chkalov at the controls, powered by an imported Wright R-1820 Cyclone engine.[5] The I-15, also known by its development name TsKB-3, was a small biplane fighter with a gulled upper wing. The single bay wings were of wooden construction, while the fuselage was of mixed steel and duralumin construction, with a fabric covered rear fuselage.[3]

Production started in 1934, initially being powered by the Shvetsov M-22, a license-built version of the Bristol Jupiter radial engine. While less powerful than the Cyclone, the M-22 powered aircraft were still superior to the I-5 which it replaced, demonstrating excellent manoeuvrability.[3] Production switched to the 515 kW (691 hp) Shvetsov M-25 engine (a license-built, metricified Cyclone) in late 1936.[2] A total of 671 I-15s were built, 284 in the Soviet Union and a further 287 under license by CASA in Spain.[6]

The gulled upper wing of the I-15 was unpopular with some pilots, as it was felt to restrict visibility, so Polikarpov's design bureau produced a revised version, again powered by the M-25, with a longer span un-gulled upper wing.[2] This version, the I-15bis, commenced production in 1937,[7] a total of 2,408 I-15bis' being delivered by the time production finished in 1940.[2]

Operational history

China

In August 1937, the Chinese Kuomintang Government signed a non-aggression pact with the USSR. And, in autumn of the same year, the Soviet Union commenced to ship I-15s as a part of a programme of military aid to the Chinese Air Force (CAF) in its defensive war against Japan. More than 250 Soviet pilots volunteered to fly the 255 I-15s supplied to China in autumn 1937. By 1939, the total number of Polikarpov biplanes delivered to CAF reached 347 I-15/I-15bis.[10] The I-15bis saw a great amount of action in the Soviet–Japanese border conflicts along the China–Mongolia border. From 1938-1941, I-15s in the Nationalist Air Force of China, fought many major battles, and skirmishes against invading and occupying Japanese forces, including the Battle of Taierzhuang, the Battle of Wuhan, the Battle of South Guangxi, the Battle of Chongqing-Chengdu, etc. The tough biplane was quite clearly outmatched during the debut dogfight against the new Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighter over Chongqing on 13 September 1940, although I-15bis pilots Maj. Zheng Shaoyu, Lt. Gao Youxin, and Lt. Xu Jixiang were able to target and damage some of the Zeroes, with Lt. Gao believing he had shot one down (all Zeroes returned to base in Wuhan, with four Zeroes suffering some damage); all three of those pilots survived the battle.[11][12][13]

Mongolia

In 1939 Polikarpov fighters were extensively used during the Battles of Khalkhin Gol fought around the Khalkha River in Dornod Province. The battles were fought during 11 May–16 September 1939, and involved more than 600 planes. When hostilities commenced, the only I-15bis in the area were 14 aircraft of 70th IAP. Their number increased in the following weeks: on 23 May, 35 I-15bis from 22nd IAP arrived from the Trans-Baikal region. However the Polikarpov pilots had been hastily trained and they suffered heavy losses against the more experienced Japanese. During this conflict, the Soviet Union and Japan lost more than 200 aircraft each.[14] 10 aircraft were delivered to the Mongolian People's Army Air Force in mid-July 1939 and flight personnel were trained for rear air defence. Afterwards, they received more than 30 aircraft in March 1942.^{[citation needed]}

Spain

The I-15 was used extensively in combat by the Republicans in the Spanish Civil War and proved to be one of the best fighter biplanes of its time. The Nationalists called the fighter "Curtiss", apparently believing it to be the Curtiss F11C Goshawk. The first batch of 25 Polikarpovs arrived in Cartagena, Spain, on 28 October 1936, with 15 pilots, led by future ace Pavel Rychagov. A few days later a further group of 10 pilots and 15 aircraft arrived in Bilbao.[15]

The Soviet pilots first went into action 4 November, when I-15s shot down two Junkers Ju 52/3ms and two CR.32s over Madrid, and forced a third Ju 52 and a Heinkel two-seater to crash-land. No losses were reported among the Soviet pilots. During the next two days, Chato pilots claimed 12 more victories, at the cost of two I-15s lost.[16]

On 16 November, while dogfighting with Fiat CR.32s over Madrid, future ace Rychagov was shot down [17] and four days later the number of combat-ready Polikarpov in the central area had fallen to 15 aircraft: seven had been lost in combat, two had force-landed and one was undergoing repair.[16]

In December 1936 and January 1937, two more shipments of 30 aircraft arrived in Spain, making it possible to form four full-strength I-15 squadrons. Until the spring of 1937, central Spain was the main war theatre for I-15s. And in May 1937, another batch of 31 Polikarpov landed in Spain, taking the total number of I-15s delivered to 116.[18]

Chato losses in the Spanish Civil War were comparable to those of its principal rival, the Fiat CR.32. By 1 January 1939, 197 Polikarpovs had been lost: 88 shot down by enemy aircraft and nine by anti-aircraft artillery, 27 destroyed on the ground and 67 written off in accidents.[19]

World War II

More than 1,000 I-15bis fighters were still in Soviet use during the German invasion when the biplane was employed in the ground attack role. By late 1942, all examples still in service had been relegated to second line duties.^{[citation needed]}

Variants

This section does not cite any sources. (January 2021)

TsKB-3bis

Prototype.

TsKB-3ter

Prototype fitted with the more powerful M-25V radial piston engine.

I-15

First production series.

I-15bis

Single-seat fighter biplane, armed with four 7.62 mm (0.30 in) PV-1 or ShKAS machine guns, plus up to 150 kg (330 lb) of bombs. The I-15bis was powered by the more powerful 570 kW (760 hp; 770 PS) Shvetsov M-25V radial piston engine. It had a straight upper wing. A total of 2,408 machines were built.

I-152

Modernised version of I-15bis. One built in 1938. Series production was not undertaken, since it was decided to build I-153 instead.

I-152GK

(Germetichyeskoi Kabine – hermetic (pressure) cabin) – One aircraft fitted with a pressure cabin.

I-152TK

(Turbo Kompressor – turbo-charged) – One aircraft fitted with two turbochargers.

I-15ter (I-153)

Development of the I-15 with retractable landing gear, see Polikarpov I-153.

UTI-1

(Oochebno Trenirovochnyy Istrebitel' – fighter trainer) – Factory-built two-seat trainer version, front cockpit moved forwards, dual controls fitted, 20 built in 1934 but not used by VVS

Operators

This section does not cite any sources. (January 2021)

 Republic of China

• Chinese Nationalist Air Force

 Finland

• Finnish Air Force (captured)

 Nazi Germany

• Luftwaffe (captured)

Mongolia

• Mongolian People's Army Air Force- received more than 40 aircraft in July 1939 – 1942

 Soviet Union

• Soviet Air Force
• Soviet Naval Aviation

Spanish Republic

• Spanish Republican Air Force

 Spain

• Spanish Air Force – Post civil war.

Specifications (I-15 M-25)

Data from Of Chaika and Chato…[20]

General characteristics

• Crew: One
• Length: 6.10 m (20 ft 0 in) (tail up)
• Upper wingspan: 9.75 m (32 ft 0 in)
• Lower wingspan: 7.50 m (24 ft 7 in)
• Height: 2.20 m (7 ft 3 in) (tail down)
• Wing area: 21.90 m² (235.7 sq ft)
• Airfoil: Clark YH [21]
• Empty weight: 1,012 kg (2,231 lb)
• Gross weight: 1,385 kg (3,053 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 1,689 kg (3,724 lb)
• Fuel capacity: 260 L (57 imp gal; 69 US gal)
• Powerplant: 1 × Shvetsov M-25 9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 520 kW (700 hp) at 2,300 m (7,500 ft)
• Propellers: 2-bladed variable-pitch propeller

Performance

• Maximum speed: 367 km/h (228 mph, 198 kn) at 3,000 m (9,800 ft)
• Cruise speed: 285 km/h (177 mph, 154 kn) at 2,000 m (6,600 ft) (max. continuous cruise)
• Range: 510 km (320 mi, 280 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 9,800 m (32,200 ft)
• Time to altitude:
  
  • 1.1 min to 1,000 m (3,300 ft)
  • 6.1 min to 5,000 m (16,400 ft)

Armament

• 4 × 7.62mm machine guns 7.62×54mmR PV-1 machine guns
• Up to 100kg (220 lb) of bombs

See also

Related development

• Polikarpov I-5
• Polikarpov I-153

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• Blériot-SPAD S.91/5
• Curtiss F11C Goshawk
• Fiat CR.32
• Fokker D.XVI
• Gloster Gauntlet
• Grumman F2F
• Heinkel He 51
• Nakajima A4N

Related lists

• List of interwar military aircraft
• List of aircraft of the Spanish Republican Air Force
• List of aircraft of World War II

References

Notes

Bibliography

• Abanshin, Michael E. and Nina Gut. Fighting Polikarpov, Eagles of the East No. 2. Lynnwood, Washington: Aviation International, 1994. ISBN 1-884909-01-9.
• Cheung, Raymond. OSPREY AIRCRAFT OF THE ACES 126: Aces of the Republic of China Air Force. Oxford: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, 2015. ISBN 978 14728 05614.
• Drabkin, Artem. The Red Air Force at War: Barbarossa and the Retreat to Moscow – Recollections of Fighter Pilots on the Eastern Front. Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK: Pen & Sword Military, 2007. ISBN 1-84415-563-3.
• Gordon, Yefim and A. Dexter. "Polikarpov Biplane Fighter Variants". Wings of Fame, Volume 17. London:Aerospace Publishing, 1999, pp. 106–129. ISBN 1-86184-041-1.
• Gordon, Yefim and Keith Dexter. Polikarpov's Biplane Fighters (Red Star, vol.6). Earl Shilton, Leicester, UK: Midland Publishing, 2002. ISBN 1-85780-141-5.
• Gordon, Yefim and Dmitri Khazanov. Soviet Combat Aircraft of the Second World War, Volume One: Single-Engined Fighters. Earl Shilton, Leicester, UK: Midland Publishing Ltd., 1998. ISBN 1-85780-083-4.
• Green, William and Gordon Swanborough. "Of Chaika and Chato... Polikarpov's Fighting Biplanes". Air Enthusiast. Issue 11, November 1979 – February 1980, pp. 9–29. ISSN 0143-5450.
• Gunston, Bill. The Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft 1875–1995. London: Osprey, 1995. ISBN 1-85532-405-9.
• Lannon, Frances. The Spanish Civil War 1936–1939 (Essential Histories 37). London: Osprey Publishing, 2002. ISBN 9781841763699.
• Laureau, Patrick (May 1978). "Polikarpov I-15 "Chato": Un chasseur russe au destin exotique..., partie 1" [Polkarpov I-15 "Chato": A Russian Fighter in an Exotic Destination, Part 1]. Le Fana de l'Aviation (in French) (102): 34–41. ISSN 0757-4169.
• Laureau, Patrick (June 1978). "Polikarpov I-15 "Chato": Un chasseur russe au destin exotique..., partie 2" [Polkarpov I-15 "Chato": A Russian Fighter in an Exotic Destination, Part 2]. Le Fana de l'Aviation (in French) (103): 42–45. ISSN 0757-4169.
• Léonard, Herbert. Les avions de chasse Polikarpov (in French). Rennes, France: Editions Ouest-France, 1981. ISBN 2-85882-322-7.
• Léonard, Herbert. Les chasseurs Polikarpov (in French). Clichy, France: Éditions Larivière, 2004. ISBN 2-914205-07-4.
• Maslov, Mikhail A. Polikarpov I-15bis (Wydawnictwo Militaria 199) (in Polish). Warsawa, Poland: Wydawnictwo Militaria, 2004. ISBN 83-7219-178-6.
• Maslov, Mikhail A. Polikarpov I-15, I-16 and I-153. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing, 2010. ISBN 978-1-84603-981-2.
• Stapfer, Hans-Heiri. Polikarpov Fighters in Action, Part 1 (Aircraft in Action number 157). Carrollton, Texas: Squadron/Signal Publications, Inc., 1995. ISBN 0-89747-343-4.
• 徐 (Xú), 露梅 (Lùméi). 隕落 (Fallen): 682位空军英烈的生死档案 - 抗战空军英烈档案大解密 (A Decryption of 682 Air Force Heroes of The War of Resistance-WWII and Their Martyrdom). 东城区, 北京， 中国: 团结出版社, 2016. ISBN 978-7-5126-4433-5.

Further reading

• Falco, José (February 1989). "Mes derniers victoires; Villajuiga, Février 1939" [My Last Victories; Villajuiga, February 1939]. Le Fana de l'Aviation (in French) (231): 18–19. ISSN 0757-4169.

External links

• https://web.archive.org/web/20070727063151/http://www.aviation.ru/Po/#15
• http://www.wio.ru/tacftr/polikarp.htm

The initial version of this article was based on material from aviation.ru. It has been released under the GFDL by the copyright holder.

На других языках

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[de] Polikarpow I-15

Die Polikarpow I-15 (russisch Поликарпов И-15) war ein einsitziges Doppeldecker-Jagdflugzeug aus sowjetischer Produktion, das in der ersten Hälfte der 1930er Jahre erstmals flog und noch im Zweiten Weltkrieg zum Einsatz kam. Wegen der markanten Form des Oberflügels, der nicht durchgehend verlief, sondern zum Rumpf hin abknickte, erhielt sie den Beinamen Tschaika (Чайка, Möwe). Von ihr sowie der Weiterentwicklung I-15bis wurden insgesamt 3082 Exemplare gebaut.

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- [en] Polikarpov I-15

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[fr] Polikarpov I-15

Le Polikarpov I-15 (russe : И-15) est un chasseur biplan soviétique des années 1930. Surnommé Tchaïka (russe : И-15 Чайка, larini), en raison de son aile supérieure en mouette[2],[3], il a été largement utilisé par l'armée de l'air soviétique. Avec le chasseur monoplan Polikarpov I-16, il a été l'un des chasseurs standards des Républicains espagnols durant la guerre d'Espagne, pendant laquelle il fut surnommé Chato[4] par les forces aériennes républicaines, ou Curtiss (à cause de sa ressemblance avec le Curtiss F9C Sparrowhawk) par les Nationalistes.

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[it] Polikarpov I-15

Il Polikarpov I-15 (in caratteri cirillici Поликарпов И-15) era un caccia monomotore biplano realizzato dall'OKB 84 diretto da Nikolaj Nikolaevič Polikarpov e sviluppato in Unione Sovietica negli anni trenta.

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[ru] И-15

И-15 «истребитель пятнадцатый» «лёгкий манёвренный» (прозвище «Чато» исп. «Курносый»)[4] — советский одномоторный истребитель-полутораплан, созданный в 1933 году в Конструкторской бригаде № 2 ЦКБ-39 под руководством советского авиаконструктора Николая Поликарпова. Впервые поднялся в воздух осенью 1933 года (октябрь). Серийно выпускался с 1934 года. Состоял на вооружении лётных частей Военно-воздушных сил Рабоче-крестьянской Красной Армии с 1935 года. С 1934 года по 1939 год всего выпущено: 384 машины в СССР + 237 машин в Испании. Применялся в войнах и вооружённых конфликтах в Азии и Европе.

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