Every Soviet Ground Attack Aircraft Used in WWII

WW2 Loadout presents a complete WWII inventory of Soviet ground-attack aircraft, tracing how the Red Air Force built its low-altitude strike power from improvised early-war types to armored assault platforms. This documentary covers the aircraft that operated directly over the front, striking troops, vehicles, artillery, and supply routes from the opening months of the war through 1945.

From emergency adaptations to mature battlefield systems, this video defines the full wartime span of Soviet ground-attack aviation with clear start-to-finish scope and verified operational use.

This inventory documents 19 aircraft types flown by the Soviet Union during World War II, spanning early-war stopgaps, tactical bombers, purpose-built shturmoviks, and frontline fighters adapted for strike missions. All aircraft listed saw confirmed wartime service in ground-attack or battlefield strike roles.

The progression follows a clear operational flow: improvised early-war assault aircraft, bomber formations used in direct ground attack, armored shturmovik development, and late-war fighter-bomber integration. Each category reflects how Soviet doctrine evolved under combat pressure.

Iconic aircraft such as the Il-2, Pe-2, and Il-10 anchor the story, while lesser-known types like the R-5Sh, R-ZSh, and Yak-9B reveal the depth and adaptability of Soviet strike aviation beyond the most famous names.

Chapters:
[0:00] Soviet Ground-Attack Aviation Overview
[0:37] Early-War Improvised Assault Aircraft
[0:51] Polikarpov R-5Sh
[1:37] Polikarpov R-ZSh
[2:24] Polikarpov R-10 (KhAI-5)
[3:13] Polikarpov I-16 (Fighter-Bomber)
[4:12] Polikarpov I-153 Chaika (Ground Attack)
[5:05] Bombers in Direct Ground-Attack Roles
[5:22] Tupolev SB
[6:14] Arkhangelsky Ar-2
[7:05] Sukhoi Su-2
[7:53] Petlyakov Pe-2
[8:43] Ilyushin Il-4 (DB-3F)
[9:37] Purpose-Built Armored Shturmovik Aircraft
[9:54] Ilyushin Il-2 (Single-Seat)
[10:47] Ilyushin Il-2 (Two-Seat Standard)
[11:41] Ilyushin Il-2M3 (Late-War Variant)
[12:42] Ilyushin Il-10
[13:40] Fighter-Bombers and Rocket Attack Aircraft
[14:01] MiG-3 (Ground-Attack Use)
[14:53] Yakovlev Yak-1B
[15:44] Yakovlev Yak-7B
[16:39] Yakovlev Yak-9B
[17:35] Lavochkin LaGG-3
[18:29] Lavochkin La-5FN
[19:28] Lavochkin La-7
[20:23] Conclusion: Soviet Ground-Attack Doctrine in WWII

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