Mikulin AM 37

Updated on Dec 23, 2024

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The Mikulin AM-37 was a Soviet aircraft piston engine designed prior to Russia's entry into World War II. An improved version of the Mikulin AM-35 V-12 engine, it was only produced in small numbers because of its unreliability.

Development

Design work on a development of the AM-35 with boosted supercharging and an intercooler positioned behind the supercharger began on the factory's initiative in December 1939. A batch of ten prototypes was completed in 1940 and bench-testing began on 5 January 1941. It passed its State acceptance trials the following April and was approved for production. It was tested in a variety of aircraft, but proved to be unreliable and prone to overheating. Factory No. 24 in Moscow built only twenty-nine AM-37s, as the new engine was designated, in 1941 before the German advance forced the factory to evacuate in October. Mikulin had been unable to resolve the issues with the AM-37 in the meantime and production was not resumed.

Variants

AM-37A

Planned version to be tested in February 1940, but no information if it was tested or it was even completed. 1,600 hp (1,200 kW) and a weight of 850 kg (1,870 lb).

AM-37TK

TK for toorbokompressor. Planned version with a turbocharger, no further information known.

AM-37P

P for Pushechnyy or cannon. A 1940 project for a model with an autocannon mounted in the space between the cylinders, firing through a hollow reduction-gear shaft. No further information available.

Am-37u/v or AM-37UV

UV for udlinyonniy val or lengthened shaft. An engine with a lengthened shaft and remote gearing for use in the Gudkov G-1 fighter that carried the engine behind the pilot. Ordered developed in 1940 and design work started in 1941, but it was not completed.