Yakovlev Yak-6

The Yakovlev Yak-6 (NATO reporting name: Crib) was a Soviet twin-engined utility aircraft, developed and built during World War II. It was used as a short-range light night bomber and a light transport.

Development

In April 1942, the Yakovlev design bureau was instructed to design a twin-engined utility transport aircraft to supplement smaller single-engined aircraft such as the Polikarpov U-2. The design was required to be simple to build and operate.Gordon, Komissarov and Komissarov 2005, p. 235.Gunston 1995, p. 467. Design and construction work proceeded extremely quickly, with the first prototype Yak-6 flying in June 1942. It passed its state acceptance tests in September that year and was quickly cleared for production.

The Yak-6 was a cantilever low-wing monoplane of all-wood construction with fabric covering. It had a retractable tailwheel undercarriage, with the main wheels retracting rearwards into the engine nacelles. The horizontal tail was braced. It was powered by two 140 hp Shvetsov M-11F radial engines driving two-bladed wooden propellers, with the engine installation based on Yakovlev's UT-2 primary training aircraft. In order to minimise the use of scarce resources, the aircraft's fuel tanks were made of chemical-impregnated plywood rather than metal or rubber. Many Yak-6s were fitted with fixed landing gear.Gordon, Komissarov and Komissarov 2005, pp. 235–236.Gunston 1995, p. 467–468.

The aircraft appeared in two versions, one as a transport and utility aircraft for the supply of partisans, transport of the wounded, and for liaison and courier services. It could accommodate two crew side-by-side in an enclosed cockpit with capacity to carry four passengers or 500 kg (1,100 lb) or cargo.Alexander 1975, p. 437. The second version was a light night bomber (designated NBB - ''nochnoy blizhniy bombardirovshchik'' - Short Range Night Bomber), capable of carrying up to 500 kg of bombs on racks under the wing centre sections and with a defensive armament of a single ShKAS machine gun in a dorsal mounting.Gordon, Komissarov and Komissarov 2005, pp. 235, 237. A total of 381 examples were built with production ending in 1943.Gordon, Komissarov and Komissarov 2005, p. 237.

A few examples of an improved version of the Yak-6 with swept outer wings were flown, with the modified version sometimes known as the Yak-6M.Gordon, Komissarov and Komissarov 2005, p. 238. The Yak-6M led to the larger Yak-8 which flew in early 1944.

Operational history

The Yak-6 was used with great effect at the front lines in the Great Patriotic War both as a transport and as a bomber, proving popular with its crews, although the potential for the aircraft to enter a spin if overloaded or carelessly handled resulting in production ending in 1943 in favour of the similarly powered Shcherbakov Shche-2. By 1944, most operational units of the VVS had a Yak-6 as a utility aircraft.Donald 1997, p. 915. In the Battle for Berlin, the Yak-6 was fitted with rocket launchers under the wings for ten 82-mm RS-82 missiles for use against ground targets.Alexander 1975, p. 438. After the end of the Second World War, some Yak-6s were supplied to allies, while it remained in large scale service with Soviet forces until 1950.

Variants

* Yak-6 : Twin-engined light utility transport aircraft.
* NBB : Short-range night bomber aircraft.
* Yak-6M : Improved version of the Yak-6.

Operators

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* Normandie-Niemen squadron transport plane
;
*Soviet Air Force
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*Mongolian People's Army Air Force - Transports units

Specifications (Yak-6 (1943 production))

See also

References

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External links

* https://web.archive.org/web/20130430162446/http://www.aviation.ru/Yak/#6

{{Yakovlev aircraft

1940s Soviet military utility aircraft
Yak-006
Low-wing aircraft
Aircraft first flown in 1942
Twin piston-engined tractor aircraft
Aircraft with retractable conventional landing gear
Aircraft with fixed conventional landing gear