Nicknamed Chaika (Seagull) the I-153 was Polikarpov’s third development of the earlier I-15. It featured design improvements intended to maximize performance without sacrificing the biplanes’ maneuverability. This ultimately misguided belief that biplanes still had a role to play in aerial combat was based upon the observed difficulty which I-16 pilots had while dueling with Fiat CR.32 biplanes during the Spanish Civil War.
The I-153 retained the more advanced wing configuration developed for the I-15bis, but now employed four ShKAS machine guns, which fired far more rapidly than the earlier model’s 7.62mm PV-1 weapons. The biplane fighter also featured a Shvetsov M-62 engine, roughly 25% more powerful than its predecessor’s M-25.Â
The I-153 first saw combat over Mongolia during the Battle of Khalkhin Gol in 1939. Combined units of I-16s and I-153s were arrayed against the Japanese flying the Nakajima Ki-27. Although problems with the I-153’s design did reveal themselves, it still performed well, and played a key role in the Soviet victory over the Japanese Sixth Army.Â
The Museum’s I-153, serial number 6316, was found in a swamp outside Murmansk. It is believed to have flown with the 2nd Aviation Fighter Squadron of the Soviet’s Northern Navy.
Did You know?
During the Winter War of 1939/1940 and the subsequent Continuation War against the Soviet Union between 1941 and 1944, the Finnish Air Force operated some 21 captured I-153s, 11 of which they purchased from Germany. Finnish pilots claimed at least 5 aerial victories against Soviet Pilots in the type.
Specifications
- Number Built: 3,437Â
- Year Produced: 1938
- Serial Number:Â 6316
- Crew: (1) Pilot
- Current Pilots:
Dimensions
- Length:Â 20 ft. 3 in.
- Wingspan:Â 32 ft. 10 in.
- Empty Weight:Â 3,201 lbs.
- Loaded Weight:Â 4,321 lbs.
- Engine:Â 1x Warbirds-engines of Prague ASz-62 (modern copy of a Shvetsov ASh-62) nine-cylinder, air-cooled, radial piston engine
- Â Engine Power:Â 1,000 hp
Performance
- Cruising Speed:Â 185 mph
- Max Speed:Â 276 mph
- Range:Â 290 miles
- Ceiling:Â 35,100 ft.
- Rate of Climb:Â 3,000 ft./min. initial
Armament
- 4x fixed, forward firing ShKAS 7.62 mm machine guns – 2x mounted in the upper fuselage firing between the upper cylinders of the engine, and 1x in each of the wings
- Up to 8x 82 mm rockets
- *MAM aircraft are unarmed