- 16 fighter
- 10 fighter
- 21/22 fighter
- 29 attacker
- No
I-16 Type 16 BR 1
Type 10 with synchronized ShVAK 12.7mm prototypes. Only three were built, all in January 1939, with serial numbers 16211-16213. They passed factory trials and were delivered to the VVS for military trials.[46]
I-16 Type 10
Four ShKAS machine guns (two synchronized in the fuselage and two in the wings), windscreen replaced the sliding canopy, could be fitted with retractable skis for winter operations, M-25B engine with 560 kW (750 hp). Hispano-Suiza-built aircraft were powered by the Wright Cyclone R-1820-F-54 engine.
I-16 Type 12 BR2 fighter
Version of I-16 Type 5 with 2 ShKAS machine guns and 2 ShVAK cannons.
I-16 Type 17
Type 10 with two ShKAS machine guns and two ShVAK cannon, rubber tail wheel, M-25V engine with 560 kW (750 hp). Some aircraft were fitted with an additional 12.7 mm (0.5 in) Berezin UB machine gun for strafing.
I-16 Type 21 and Type 22
These were planned to have four synchronized machine guns all firing through the propeller. Type 21 was to use only ShKAS, while type 22 was supposed to use a mixture of ShKAS and SN machine guns. Both types however existed only on paper; no aircraft of these types went into service.[46]
- 12 attacker
- 17 attacker
- 23 attacker
- No
I-16 Type 23 BR2
Type 10 additionally armed with RS-82 rockets; 35 were built starting in May 1939. Further production of this type was cancelled in August 1939.[46]
I-16 Type 29 BR1
Two synchronized ShKAS in the nose and a single 12.7 mm (0.50 in) UBS in the bottom of the fuselage; it had no guns in wings which were reserved for ground attack weapons. Three rocket racks were mounted in each wing. Additionally, starting in 1941, the external fuel tank hardpoint was changed so that it became multipurpose: it could carry the new type of drop tank, PLBG-100, or a FAB-100 bomb. Wartime photographs from the summer of 1941 show two configurations: one with 6 RS-82 rockets and two FAB-100 bombs and another with four RS-132 rockets.[48]
You are going to hear this a lot, like the War Thunder/Enlisted Type 5 only it. only the type 16 unlike the type 5 trades its two hull mounted 7.7mms for 2 12.7mm guns. A good fighter for br1 trading volume of fire for heavier shells. The type 10** just doubles the guns of the type 5 two in the hull and two in the wings.
Type 21/22 are still br1 four weak guns all just in the center of the aircraft.
the first br2 in the type 12 with two hull mounted 7.7mm guns and two 12mm guns in the wings. again a good fighter without bombs or rockets. type 17 has four 7.7 mm and 1 12.7 mm putting it easily again at br2 as a fighter.
the type 23 and type 28 are unique in that they are attackers having 4 to 6 rockets. poorly armed with guns with only 4 7.7mm guns or one underslung 12.7mm gun. the type 23 would make a good br2 attacker and the type 29 would fit at br1.
With all the varieties of I-16 it is a shame warthunder and enlisted only have a single br1 attacker with two of the weakest guns. the weakest of its line ever mad. a nice looking chunky plane not the most agile but god enough for br1 2.