Beriev Be-2/KOR-1

The Beriev Be-2 (originally designated KOR-1) was a two-seat reconnaissance seaplane built for the Soviet Navy shortly before World War II.

It was designed to replace the Navy’s obsolete license-produced Heinkel He 55 aircraft operating from warships and shore bases.

The Be-2 was an all-metal biplane floatplane, with two open cockpits in tandem for the pilot and observer.

The wings were braced but designed to be folded back for storage on a warship.

The float arrangement consisted of a large central float, with two smaller floats on the wings.

The Be-2 was powered by a Shvetsov M-25 radial 9-cylinder air-cooled engine (a copy of the American Wright R-1820) with a rating of 700 hp (520 kW).

From the outset, Be-2 design exhibited serious handling difficulties and maintenance problems.

However, due to the lack of a suitable alternative, the design was placed into production.

A total of around 12 serial aircraft were produced.

By June 1941, six KOR-1 were in the Baltic and five were with the Black Sea Fleet Air Force.

Specifications

Crew

2

Length

8.67 m (28 ft 3 in)

Wingspan

11.00 m (36 ft 1 in)

Height

3.80 m (12 ft 6 in)

Wing area

29.3 m² (315 sq ft)

Empty weight

1,800 kg (3,970 lb)

Gross weight

2,686 kg (5,920 lb)

Powerplant

1 × Shvetsov M-25A radial engine 

522 kW (700 hp)

Performance

Maximum speed

245 km/h (152 mph, 132 kn)

Range

1,000 km (621 mi, 540 nmi)

Service ceiling

6,600 m (21,654 ft)

Armament

2 × fixed, forward-firing 7.62 mm ShKAS machine guns

1 × flexible 7.62 mm ShKAS machine gun for observer

&

100 kg (220 lb) of bombs