Aviation Naval Warfare Land Systems Small Arms By Flag By Year By Tag

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-1 / MiG-3

1941 WORLD WAR 2

History

Although the MiG 3 was one of the fastest Soviet piston engine designs in the early days of the war, it was characterized by less-than-stellar handling and still outperformed its German counterparts in the Messerschmitt Bf 109 and Focke - wo Golf Fw 190 series. The system was also severely deficient in its early versions, being relegated to bomber escort and close support missions during its tenure.

Eventually, the system will give way to the more powerful Lavochkin series of radial power platforms, although around 3,400 examples of the MiG-3 will be produced.

The MiG-3 is a single-seat, single-engine, low-wing fighter. The elongated nose section represents the clearance required to install a long Mikulin brand motor. The system initially appeared as the I-61 prototype and later entered production as the MiG-1. The MiG-1 proved to be unrivaled in the early rounds of the conflict, with only three machine guns but still having handling issues, and a 1,200-horsepower Mikulin V-12.

Only about 100 MiG-1 series were produced in 1940 and were replaced by the slightly improved MiG-3 in 1941.

The MiG-3 had only a slight increase in processing power, and initially deployed the same poor three-shot weapon. Later models would improve this figure by adding an extra large bore (.50) under each wing.

Inventory of underwing missiles (6 in total) and two bombs are part of the MiG-3's armament capabilities. Other modifications to the MiG-3 resulted in a sunroof arrangement, a slightly redesigned wing system and a constant speed propeller system.

Horsepower from the Mikulin AM-35A V-12 totals a whopping 1,350 hp, bringing the overall top speed to about 400 mph.

Still, the MiG-3 will never be free from the shackles of "hot rod" aircraft, that's all. The Lavochkin family of aircraft will succeed it, offering better performance than the MiG-3 family.

In the end, Mikoyan-Gurevich would still design one of the most memorable piston-engine aircraft of the war, and lay the foundation for decades of further work on interceptor design, culminating in the mythical MiG-29 Fulcrum multipurpose platform.

Specification

Basic

Year:

1941

Status:

Retired, out of service

Staff:

Production

[3,422 units]:

Mikoyan-Gurevich OKB - USSR

Roles

- Fighter

Dimensions

Length:

26.74 ft (8.15 m)

Width:

10.3m

Height:

8.76 ft (2.67 m)

Weight

Curb Weight:

2,595 kg

MTOW:

3,350 kg

(difference: +1,664 pt)

Performance

1 x Mikulin AM-35A V-12 piston engine, 1,350 hp.

Performance

Maximum Speed:

398 mph (640 km/h; 346 knots)

Service Limit:

39,370 ft (12,000 m; 7.46 mi)

Maximum range:

777 miles (1,250 km; 675 nautical miles)

Rate of climb:

1,199 m/min (3,935 ft/min)

Armor

Default:

1 x 12.7mm Berezin BS machine gun mounted above the engine.

2 x 7.62mm ShKAS machine guns mounted on the nose.

Later models will add 2 x 12.7mm machine guns under the wings, one for each wing.

Optional:

6 x 3.23" Rocket

2 x 220 lb bombs

Changes

I-61 - Prototype model name

MiG-1 - First production model of which about 100 prototypes were produced; Mikulin AM-35 V-12 engine with 1,200 hp; 3 machine guns.

MiG-3 - Production model designation for improved MiG-1 samples; with 1,350 hp AM-35A engine; later models added 1 x 12.7 mm machine gun under each wing; sliding cockpit canopy; Improved handling.