View source for Polikarpov ITP

{{Short description|Soviet fighter prototype}}
{{Infobox aircraft
 |name =ITP
 |image =PolikarpovITP.jpg
 |caption =The M-2 prototype of the ITP
 |type =Fighter
 |national_origin=[[Soviet Union]]
 |manufacturer =[[Polikarpov]]
 |designer =
 |first_flight =23 February 1942
 |introduction =
 |retired =
 |status =Cancelled
 |primary_user =
 |more_users =
 |produced =
 |number_built =2
 |unit cost =
 |variants =
}}
The '''Polikarpov ITP''' (''Istrebitel Tyazholiy Pushechniy''; {{langx|ru|Истребитель Тяжелый Пушечный}}; Heavy Cannon Fighter) was a [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] [[fighter aircraft|fighter]] prototype designed during [[World War II]]. Development was prolonged by the evacuation of the design bureau forced by the [[Operation Typhoon|German advance on Moscow]] in the fall of 1941. By the time the second prototype was finished the Soviets had fighters with equivalent or better performance  already in production and the program was cancelled.

==Development==
In November 1940, [[Nikolai Nikolaevich Polikarpov|Nikolai Polikarpov]] proposed a heavy cannon-armed fighter for bomber escort duties and ground attack missions. The new '''ITP''' was designed around either the 1,230&nbsp;kW (1,650&nbsp;hp) [[Klimov VK-107|Klimov M-107]]P or the [[Mikulin AM-37]] [[Inline engine (aviation)|inline engine]]s. Two armament configurations were planned. The first consisted of a {{convert|37|mm|adj=on}} cannon firing through the propeller hub and two synchronized {{convert|20|mm|adj=on}} [[ShVAK cannon]] mounted on each side of the fuselage nose. The 37&nbsp;mm cannon was provided with 50 rounds and the ShVAK had 200 rounds each. The second configuration substituted an additional ShVAK with 200 rounds for the 37&nbsp;mm cannon.<ref name=g8>{{Harvnb|Gordon|2008|p=278}}</ref> It had racks for eight unguided [[RS-82 rocket]]s underneath the wings.<ref name=g0>{{Harvnb|Gunston|1995|p=310}}</ref>

The ITP was a low-wing, mixed construction monoplane with a wooden [[monocoque]] fuselage made from 'shpon', molded birch [[plywood]]. The two-[[spar (aviation)|spar]] metal wing was built in three sections with automatic [[leading edge slats]]. The engine radiators were built into the wing center section with intakes in the wing roots while the oil cooler was located under the engine. The curved, one-piece windshield lacked a flat front panel which gave the pilot a rather distorted view. The [[conventional undercarriage]], including the tailwheel, was fully retractable.<ref name=g8/> It carried {{convert|624|L}} of fuel in tanks between the spars of the wing center section. The rear fuselage, cockpit and tail resembled that of the [[Polikarpov I-185]].<ref name=g0/>

The first ITP prototype (M-1) was completed in October 1941 with a {{convert|1300|hp|adj=on}} M-107P engine. Due to German attacks, the aircraft was evacuated to [[Novosibirsk]] and did not make its first flight until 23 February 1942. The M-107P engine proved unreliable and was changed to a M-107A  in late 1942. The 37&nbsp;mm gun was removed in exchange for another 20&nbsp;mm gun mounted on the side of the fuselage. Flight testing was not completed because the airframe was used for ground static testing,<ref>{{Harvnb|Gordon|2008|pp=278–79}}</ref> but the estimated maximum speed at {{convert|6300|m|0}} was {{convert|655|km/h|abbr=on}} with a time to {{convert|5000|m|0}} of 5.9 minutes.<ref name=g0/>

The second ITP prototype (M-2) was built in 1942 and fitted with a [[Mikulin AM-37]] engine which also proved unreliable and was replaced with a 1,345&nbsp;kW (1,800&nbsp;hp) [[Mikulin AM-39]] that December. It first flew on 23 November 1943 but the manufacturer's flight tests were not completed until June 1944. Since several other aircraft with about the same level of performance were already available, it was not placed into production.<ref>{{Harvnb|Gordon|2008|p=279}}</ref>

==Specifications (M-2)==
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Gordon, ''Soviet Airpower in World War 2''
|prime units?=met
<!--
        General characteristics
-->
|crew=1
|capacity=
|length m=9.2
|length ft=
|length in=
|span m=10
|span ft=
|span in=
|height m=
|height ft=
|height in=
|wing area sqm=16.5
|wing area sqft=
|wing area note=
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=2910
|empty weight lb=
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=3570
|gross weight lb=
|gross weight note=
|fuel capacity=
|more general=
<!--
        Powerplant
-->
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=[[Mikulin AM-39]]
|eng1 type=liquid-cooled [[V engine|V-12]]
|eng1 kw=1268
|eng1 hp=<!-- prop engines -->
|power original=
|thrust original=
|more power=
|prop blade number=3
|prop name=
|prop dia m=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia ft=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia in=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop note=
<!--
        Performance
-->
|max speed kmh=
|max speed mph=
|max speed kts=
|range km=980
|range miles=
|range nmi=
|combat range km=
|combat range miles=
|combat range nmi=
|endurance=<!-- if range unknown -->
|ceiling m=11500
|ceiling ft=
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate ftmin=
|time to altitude=six minutes to {{convert|5000|m}}
|lift to drag=
|wing loading kg/m2=216
|wing loading lb/sqft=
|wing loading note=
|more performance=
<!--
        Armament
-->
|guns=3 × 20&nbsp;mm [[ShVAK cannon]]s, 200 rpg
|rockets= 8 × unguided [[RS-82 rocket|RS-82]]
|avionics=
}}

==See also==
{{aircontent|
|sequence=
|related=
* [[Polikarpov I-185]]
|similar aircraft=
* [[Yakovlev Yak-9]]T
|lists=
|see also=
}}

==References==
;Notes
{{Reflist|2}}

;Bibliography
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book|last=Gordon|first=Yefim|title=Soviet Airpower in World War 2|year=2008|publisher=Midland Publishing|location=Hinckley, England|isbn=978-1-85780-304-4 }}
* {{cite book|last=Gunston|first=Bill|authorlink=Bill Gunston|title=The Osprey Encyclopaedia of Russian Aircraft 1875–1995|year=1995|publisher=Osprey Aerospace|location=[[London]]|isbn=1-85532-405-9|edition=2Rev. }}
{{refend}}

==External links==
* [http://www.airwar.ru/other/draw/itp.html Line drawings]
* [http://www.airwar.ru/enc/fww2/itp.html Information on Polikarpov ITP]

{{Polikarpov aircraft}}
{{WWIIUSSRAF}}

{{good article}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Polikarpov Itp}}
[[Category:1940s Soviet fighter aircraft]]
[[Category:Polikarpov aircraft|ITP]]
[[Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft]]
[[Category:Low-wing aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1942]]
[[Category:Aircraft with retractable conventional landing gear]]
[[Category:Single-engined piston aircraft]]