Quote:
Originally Posted by Pibwl
On the other hand, it's lousy to use such a big plane to deliver only 2x16 57 mm rockets (speaking of 4-hardpoint version, before 32-rocket pods were introduced), which are of limited efficiency (and none against armour).
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Then again it is what was usually done.
The Su-7 was for all practical purpose an air to air machine adapted for the delivery of a bucket of instant sunshine. And like most of the soviet fighter/interceptor of that era air to air performance was emphasized at the expense of everything else in the design. As an earlier example of such philosophy the basic Mig-15 could carry only two 100 kg bombs, the Sabre could handle 1000 Ibs ones.The former however had an higher ceiling than the latter.
The priority in the Khrushchev was fighters, interceptors and bombers. This was highly sensensible in the context of the time but it meant that tactical strike units were equipped with hand me down planes (typically surplus Mig-17), an hand me down design like the Su-7 and even an hand me down weapon like the
57mm rocket (originally meant as an air to air weapon).
I prefer to use typical payloads that were actually used most of the time, instead of rare or theoretical ones.