Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-1 / MiG-3 Piston Engine Fighter - History, Specs and Pictures

Authored By Staff Writer | Last Updated: 7/6/2010

The MiG-3 was one of the faster Soviet piston-engine designs at the outset of hostilities, though still outclassed by the German Bf 109 and Fw 190 designs.

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Despite being one of the fastest Soviet piston-engine designs in the early years of the war, the MiG-3 was dogged by less-than-stellar handling characteristics and was genuinely still outclassed by German counterparts in the Messerschmitt Bf 109 and the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 series. The system was also woefully under-armed in its early versions and was relegated to bomber escort and close-support duty during its tenure. Eventually, the system would give way to the more capable Lavochkin series of radial-engined platforms even though some 3,400 examples of the MiG-3 were to be produced.

The MiG-3 was a single-seat, single-engine, low-wing monoplane fighter. The elongated nose section depicted the spacing needed to mount the long engine fielding the Mikulin brand. Appearing in initial forms as the I-61 prototype, the system graduated into production as the MiG-1. The MiG-1 proved no match in the early opening rounds of conflict, armed with just three machine guns and still operating with handling problems and fitted with a 1,200 horsepower Mikulin V-12. Only about 100 of the MiG-1 series were produced in 1940, giving way to the slightly improved MiG-3 in 1941.

The MiG-3 offered up only a slight boost in handling capability and was initially fielded with the same woeful three gun armament. Later models would improve this count by adding one additional heavy caliber (.50) under each wing. Provisions for under wing rockets (totaling 6) and two bombs were part of the MiG-3's armament capabilities. Additional modifications to the MiG-3 resulted in a sliding canopy assembly, slightly redesigned wing systems and a constant speed propeller system. Horsepower from the Mikulin AM-35A V-12 amounted to an impressive 1,350hp putting the overall top speed somewhere near 400 miles per hour.

Despite all this, the MiG-3 would never shake the handle of being a "hot rod" aircraft and nothing more. The Lavochkin series of aircraft would take the mantle and offer up exceedingly better performance over the MiG-3 series. In the end, Mikoyan-Gurevich would still end up designing one of the more memorable piston engine aircraft of the war and lay down the groundwork for decades more work in the field of interceptor design culminating with the fabulous MiG-29 Fulcrum multi-role platform. Text ©2003-2013 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • No Reproduction Permitted
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Picture of Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-1 / MiG-3

Pic of the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-1 / MiG-3

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Specifications for the
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-1 / MiG-3
Piston Engine Fighter

Country of Origin: Soviet Union
Manufacturer: Mikoyan-Gurevich - Soviet Union
Initial Year of Service: 1941
Production: 3,422

Focus Model: Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-3
Crew: 1

Length: 26.74ft (8.15m)
Width: 33.79ft (10.30m)
Height: 8.76ft (2.67m)
Weight (Empty): 5,721lbs (2,595kg)
Weight (MTOW): 7,385lbs (3,350kg)

Powerplant: 1 x Mikulin AM-35A V-12 piston engine generating 1,350hp.

Maximum Speed: 398mph (640kmh; 346kts)
Maximum Range: 777miles (1,250km)
Service Ceiling: 39,370ft (12,000m; 7.5miles)
Rate-of-Climb: 3,935 feet per minute (1,199m/min)

Hardpoints: 2
Armament Suite:
1 x 12.7mm Beresin BS machine gun mounted over engine.
2 x 7.62mm ShKAS machine guns mounted over nose.

Later models would feature additional 2 x 12.7mm machine guns underwing, one per wing.

6 x 3.23 inch rockets
2 x 220lb bombs

Variants:
I-61 - Prototype Model Designation

MiG-1 - Initial Production Models of which some 100 examples were produced; fitted with Mikulin AM-35 V-12 engine of 1,200hp; 3 x machine guns.

MiG-3 - Production Model Designation of improved MiG-1 samples; fitted with AM-35A engine of 1,350hp; later models added 1 x 12.7mm machine guns under each wing; sliding cockpit canopy; improved handling.

Operators:
Soviet Union

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