Russian attack bomber Tupolev Tu-2.
History, development, service, specifications, pictures and 3D model.
Tupolev Tu-2
Type: Attack bomber.
History
Table of Contents
The Tupolev Tu-2 remained in production from 1942 to 1948. As a medium bomber it was second only to the Pe-2 in terms of importance and numbers produced. Modern in concept and very well armed, it remained in service until the 1950s in the Soviet, Polish and Chinese air forces; it was also used in the Korean War.
An all-metal midwing monoplane, the Tu-2 was powered by a pair of 1,850 hp Shvetsov M-82 radial engines. The prototype took to the air in October 1940 and immediately demonstrated that it had more than acceptable speed, range and armament.
Production started in 1942, and the Tu-2 entered service early the following year. Alongside the Petlyakov Pe-2, the Tupolev Tu-2 was used in large quantities at the end of WW2, proving to be one of the finest aircraft of its type.
Users: Red Air Force (Russia; during WW2).
Animated 3D model Tupolev Tu-2
Specifications Tupolev Tu-2S
Specifications:
Tu-2S | Specification |
|---|---|
Type | Attack bomber |
Power plant | Two 1,850-hp Shetsov Ash-82FN (alter FNV) 14-cylinder two-row radials |
Accommodation | 4 |
Wing span | 61 ft 10.5 in (18.86 m) |
Length overall | 47 ft 3.75 in (13.80 m) |
Height overall | 14 ft 11 in (4,56 m) |
Wing area | 523.3 sq.ft (48.80 m²) |
Weight empty | 18,240 lb (8,260 kg) |
Weight maximum loaded | 28,219 lb (12,800 kg) |
Max wing loading | ? |
Max power loading | ? |
Max level speed | empty 342 mph at 17,720 ft (550 km/hr at 5,400 m) |
Cruising speed | 275 mph (442 km/hr) |
Initial climb | 2,300 ft/min (700 m/min) |
Time to height | 9 min 30 sec to 16,405 ft (5,000 m) |
Service ceiling | 31,168 ft (9,500 m) |
Range | 1,243 miles (2,000 km) |
Range with 3,307 lb (1,500 kg) bomb load | 1,553 miles (2,500 km) |
Range maximum | ? |
Combat radius | ? |
Armament:
Tu-2S | Specification |
|---|---|
Wing roots | 2 x 20-mm-ShVAK (later 23-mm) cannon, each with 200 rounds |
Rear positions | 3 x manually aimed 12.7-mm-Beresin-BS; one in upper rear of crew compartment, one in rear dorsal position and one in rear ventral position |
Bomb load | 5,000 lb (2,270 kg); later 6,615 lb (3,000 kg) |
Service statistics:
Tu-2 | figures |
|---|---|
First flight (ANT-58) | 29 January 1941 |
First production (Tu-2) | August 1942 |
Service delivery (Tu-2) | September 1942 (only small numbers) |
First flight (Tu-2S) | 26 August 1943 |
Service delivery (Tu-2S) | January 1944 |
Combat operations on large scale | June 1944 on the Finnish front; autumn 1944 others |
Final delivery | 1948 |
Unit cost | ? |
Total production figure (all versions) | 1,111 (wartime production) |
References and literature
Luftkrieg (Piekalkiewicz)
Das große Buch der Luftkämpfe (Ian Parsons)
Combat Aircraft of World War II (Bill Gunston)
World Aircraft World War II (Enzo Angelucci, Paolo Matricardi)
