Tupolev Tu-2

1940

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Tupolev Tu-2

The origin of the Tupolev Tu-2 lay in the ANT-58, ANT-59 and ANT-60 light bomber prototypes that came from the design bureau of Andrei N. Tupolev during 1938-40; powered by two 1044kW Mikulin AM-37 V-12 engines, the ANT-58 made its first flight on 29 January 1941. The ANT-60 was re-engined with the big and powerful 1104kW M-82 radials because of the relative unreliability of the AM-37s. The result was the definitive Tu-2 bomber that was to see service with the V-VS during the last year of World War II and well into the 1950s. Soviet industry was still in a state of upheaval following the terrible years of 1941-2, when the German army struck deep into Belorussia and the Ukraine. The Tu-2 was too complicated an aircraft for the conditions prevailing, and after many months in which the Tu-2 was modified and simplified for the mass production lines, the Tu-2S (Seriinyi, or series) appeared, flying for the first time on 26 August 1943. A small number of Tu-2s had previously been passed to frontline regiments in September 1942, where their performance, armament and bombload had received general enthusiasm.

By January 1944 the first production Tu-2 and Tu-2S bombers had been passed to the regiments of the V-VS, but it was not until June of that year that Tu-2s saw action on a large scale. The sector was the Karelian (Finnish) front in the north where the V-VS forces, under the overall command of General A.A. Novikov, numbered 757 aircraft of the 13th VA (Air Army), the V-VS KBF (Red Banner Baltic Fleet) and the 2nd GVIAK (guards fighter corps). Of the 249 Tu-2 and Petlyakov Pe-2 light bombers in the Soviet order of battle, many came under Colonel I.P. Skok's 334th Bomber Air Division which subseguently received a citation for its work. Reconnaissance work was now being carried out by Tu-2D and Tu-2R aircraft with modified mainplanes, nose glazing, and capacity for vertical and oblique cameras. Wartime production of the Tupolev Tu-2 and its sub-types amounted to 1,111. As a bomber it did not come into its own until the autumn of 1944. However, as German resistance stiffened on nearmg the eastern borders of the Reich V-VS bombers, including Tupolev Tu-2s, were called up to attack strongpoints at Kustrin, K?nigsberg and other fortified ports and cities. September 1945 saw many Tu-2s in action against the Japanese Kwantung Army in Manchuria before the final surrender.

Tupolev Tu-2

Specification 
 MODELTu-2S
 CREW4
 ENGINE2 x ASh-82FNV, 1380kW
 WEIGHTS
  Take-off weight11360 kg25045 lb
  Empty weight7474 kg16477 lb
 DIMENSIONS
  Wingspan18.86 m62 ft 11 in
  Length13.8 m45 ft 3 in
  Height4.55 m15 ft 11 in
  Wing area48.8 m2525.28 sq ft
 PERFORMANCE
  Max. speed550 km/h342 mph
  Ceiling9500 m31150 ft
  Range1400 km870 miles
 ARMAMENT2 x 20mm cannons, 3 x 12.7mm machine-guns, 4000kg of bombs

3-View 
Tupolev Tu-2A three-view drawing (592 x 810)

Comments
Martijn K, e-mail, 09.09.2015 16:24

Some versions (most)had guns in wing roots (one in each) pitot tube was left , greets

reply

jarecki, e-mail, 02.04.2008 14:12

The Tu-2 was, at first, fast, horizontal bomber, but Pe-2 was primarly diving bomber (Tu-2 couldn't dive in sharp angle). Tu-2 had radial engines, Pe-2 - in-line (in serial models).They are only main differences, of course.

reply

Sgt.KAR98, 10.03.2008 03:30

What´s the difference of this plane to the Pe-2?

reply

malcolm smith, e-mail, 02.05.2007 14:51

left hand wing
is it a machine gun or a pitot tube
mal

reply

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