I-15 with M-22 Engine in Spain?

[Old Man]

The 'Red Star' number on Polikarpov biplane fighters (Yefim Gordon and Kieth Dexter) states that the first I-15 fighters to arrive in Spain (some thirty or so in October 1936) were fitted with M-22 motors (Jupiter derived), and that those arriving in November at Bilbao also had M-22 engines. It states that the first batch equipped with M-25 motors did not arrive until February 1937.

Is this true?

I have yet to see a photograph of an I-15 in Spain in which the engine is visible that shows anything but an M-25 Cyclone style motor.

Does anyone have a photograph or even a good drawing of an I-15 with an M-22 motor?

To put it into modeler's terms: could one simply swap the motor and cowling from an ICM I-5 onto an ICM I-15 to get an early production I-15 with an M-22 motor (whether in Soviet service or in Spain)?

[KL]

The 'Red Star' number on Polikarpov biplane fighters (Yefim Gordon and Kieth Dexter) states that the first I-15 fighters to arrive in Spain (some thirty or so in October 1936) were fitted with M-22 motors (Jupiter derived), and that those arriving in November at Bilbao also had M-22 engines. It states that the first batch equipped with M-25 motors did not arrive until February 1937.

Is this true?

Not true...

Maslov says that first 94 I-15s made in 1934 had American-made Wright "Cyclones" and that remaining 188 I-15 made in 1935 had Soviet-made M-22 engines (which was actually a licence made "Cyclone").

HTH,
KL

[Old Man]

Thank you for the prompt reply, Sir.

I was aware some early examples got imported Cyclones, but was under the impression only a small number of these were available. The Gordon/Dexter account is that 1934 production was split between imported Cyclones and M-25s, and that while 1935 production was intended to have M-25s, not enough were available and so M-22s were substituted on some machines. Having looked over the book again, I see I mis-remembered in taking M-22 example as early production.

Everything I have ever seen on the Shvetsov M-22 describes it as a derivative of the Jupiter radial, with the Cyclone derivative being designated Shvetsov M-25.

The production figures in the 'Red Star' are larger than those you cite: 94 in 1934 (60 Zavod 1, 34 Zavod 39), and 288 in 1935 (273 Zavod 1, 15 Zavod 39), but perhaps there is a typo involved? Or is it possible that 188 received M-22 and 100 received M-25 in the 1935 production run?

[KL]

Thank you for the prompt reply, Sir.

I was aware some early examples got imported Cyclones, but was under the impression only a small number of these were available. The Gordon/Dexter account is that 1934 production was split between imported Cyclones and M-25s, and that while 1935 production was intended to have M-25s, not enough were available and so M-22s were substituted on some machines. Having looked over the book again, I see I mis-remembered in taking M-22 example as early production.

Everything I have ever seen on the Shvetsov M-22 describes it as a derivative of the Jupiter radial, with the Cyclone derivative being designated Shvetsov M-25.

It was so prompt that a couple of typos creepped in...  

288 I-15 fighters were made in 1935...  all those I-15s made in 1935 had M-25 engines (licence "Cyclone")... Hope it's clear now...  

The production figures in the 'Red Star' are larger than those you cite: 94 in 1934 (60 Zavod 1, 34 Zavod 39), and 288 in 1935 (273 Zavod 1, 15 Zavod 39), but perhaps there is a typo involved? Or is it possible that 188 received M-22 and 100 received M-25 in the 1935 production run?

It looks that confusion with M-22 engines has been created by V.B. Shavrov (author of the "soviet aviation bible").  Shavrov says (page 522) that "only some of the earliest I-15 had american made "Cyclones" and that M-25 wasn't available in 1934.  M-22 (480 HP) engine was available in large quantities and it was installed on I-15s which were made after those first few.  Several hundreds of I-15s with M-22 engines were produced from 1934 to 1936.  Planes with M-25 engines were produced in 1937."

Production numbers you have are correct: those are from TsAGI book "Samoletostroenie v SSSR 1917-1945".  A total of 384 I-15s was made between 1934 and 1936.

Spain received 131 I-15. (from Abrosov and Maslov).

HTH,
KL  

[Old Man]

Thank you for the clarification, Sir. Much appreciated. You have been a big help.