The Beriev MBR-2 was a Soviet multi-purpose (including reconnaissance)

flying boat A flying boat is a type of fixed-winged seaplane with a hull, allowing it to land on water. It differs from a floatplane in that a flying boat's fuselage is purpose-designed for floatation and contains a hull, while floatplanes rely on fusela ...

which entered service with the Soviet Navy in 1935. Out of 1,365 built, 9 were used by foreign countries including Finland and North Korea. In Soviet Union it sometimes carried the nickname of "Kорова" (cow) and "Амбар" (barn).Bogatko, Sergei. Recce's of tradeways
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Design

The MBR-2 was designed by

Georgy Mikhailovich Beriev Georgy Mikhailovich Beriev (Beriashvili) (russian: Георгий Михайлович Бериев ''Georgij Michajlovič Beriev''; Georgian: გიორგი მიხეილის ძე ბერიაშვილი ''Giorgi Mikheilis Dz ...

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 The Mikulin M-17 was a Soviet-licensed copy of the German BMW VI V-12 liquid-cooled aircraft piston engine, further developed by Alexander Mikulin and used by Soviet aircraft and tanks during World War II. Production began in 1930 and continued ...

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-34 The Mikulin AM-34 (M-34) was a Soviet mass-produced, liquid-cooled, aircraft engine of domestic design. Its initial development was troubled, but it eventually became one of the most successful Soviet aircraft engines of the 1930s. It was utilize ...

N 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)

B piston engine. * MBR-2AM-34 or MBR-2bis : Improved version, powered by a

N 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 The Finnish Air Force (FAF or FiAF; fi, Ilmavoimat, , Air forces; sv, Flygvapnet, , Air weapon) is one of the branches of the Finnish Defence Forces. Its peacetime tasks are airspace surveillance, identification flights, and production of Finnis ...

operated five captured aircraft from 1941. ; *

Aeroflot PJSC AeroflotRussian Airlines (russian: ПАО "Аэрофло́т — Росси́йские авиали́нии", ), commonly known as Aeroflot ( or ; russian: Аэрофлот, , ), is the flag carrier and the largest airline of Russia. The ...

Soviet Naval Aviation Soviet Naval Aviation (AV-MF, for ''Авиация военно-морского флота'' in Russian, or ''Aviatsiya voyenno-morskogo flota'', literally "aviation of the military maritime fleet") was the naval aviation arm of the Soviet Na ...

; *

North Korean Air Force The Korean People's Army Air and Anti-Air Force (KPAAF; ; Hanja: 朝鮮人民軍航空 및 反航空軍 ) is the unified military aviation force of North Korea. It is the second largest branch of the Korean People's Army comprising an estimated ...

Specifications (MBR-2bis)

References

Bibliography

* *

External links

Beriev MBR-2
at aeroflight.co.uk

at Russian Aviation Museum

at Russian Aviation Museum

(civilian variant) at Russian Aviation Museum {{WWIIUSSRAF MBR-2 High-wing aircraft Single-engined pusher aircraft Flying boats 1930s Soviet military reconnaissance aircraft Aircraft first flown in 1931 World War II aircraft of Finland