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From: Miloch <Miloch_member@newsguy.com>
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Subject: Tupolev SB aka Tupolev ANT-40
Date: 2 Feb 2017 09:13:07 -0800
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_SB
The Tupolev ANT-40, also known by its service name Tupolev SB (Russian:
development co-name TsAGI-40, was a high speed twin-engined three-seat monoplane
bomber, first flown in 1934. The Tupolev design was advanced but lacked
refinement, much to the dismay of crews, maintenance personnel and of Stalin,
who pointed out that "there are no trivialities in aviation".
Numerically the most important bomber in the world in the late 1930s, the SB was
the first modern stressed skin aircraft produced in quantity in the Soviet Union
and probably the most formidable bomber of the mid-1930s. It was produced in
Soviet Union and licensed production in Czechoslovakia also took place. Many
versions saw extensive action in Spain, the Republic of China, Mongolia, Finland
and at the beginning of World War II against Germany in 1941. It was also used
in various duties in civil variants, as trainers and in many secondary roles.
Successful in the Spanish Civil War because it outpaced most fighters, the
aircraft was obsolete by 1941. By June 1941, 94 percent of bombers in the Red
Army air force (VVS RKKA) were SBs.
The SB was an all-metal monoplane powered by two Klimov M-100 12-cylinder
water-cooled engines (license production version of Hispano-Suiza 12-Yrds
engine) which drove fixed-pitch two-bladed metal propellers. The engines were
provided with honeycomb-type frontal radiators enclosed by vertical
thermostat-controlled cooling shutters. At an early production stage, the M-100
engine gave place to an improved M-100A engine, driving ground-adjustable
three-pitch propellers, with speed being boosted to 423 km/h (263 mph) at 4,000
m (13,000 ft). Because of its broad, high aspect ratio wing, that gave it a good
Role
Fast bomber
Manufacturer
Tupolev
Designer
Alexander Arkhangelsky
First flight
7 October 1934
Introduction
1936
Retired
1950 (Spanish Air Force)
Primary users
Soviet Air Forces
Czechoslovakian Air Force
Chinese Nationalist Air Force
Luftwaffe
Produced
Number built
6,656
On 30 November 1939, the Soviet Union attacked Finland in the conflict that
became known as the Winter War, with the forces deployed against Finland
including several hundred SBs. Losses were heavy, with bomber formations often
un-escorted, and forced to operate at low level, where they were vulnerable to
Finnish anti-aircraft fire and fighters. While in 1936 in Spain, the SB could
outpace enemy fighters, by now it was vulnerable and poorly armed. SBs were
fitted skis for operation from snow covered airfields, slowing the aircraft and
making them more vulnerable, while the need to wear heavy winter clothing made
the gunner's job even harder. By the end of the 15 week war, at least 100 SBs
had been lost, with the Finns claiming nearly 200 shot down, 92 of them to
Finnish fighters.
When Germany invaded the Soviet Union in June 1941, re-equipment with more
modern aircraft such as the Pe-2 had begun. Still, 94% of the Soviet operational
Western border districts of the Soviet Union. The Luftwaffe started Operation
Barbarossa with co-ordinated strikes against 66 major Soviet airfields,
destroying a large proportion of Soviet air strength on the ground or air on the
first day of the invasion. The SBs that survived the carnage of the first day
continued to be poorly used, many being frittered away in unescorted low-level
attacks against German tanks, where the SB's relatively large size and lack of
armour made it highly vulnerable to German light Flak, while German fighters
continued to take a heavy toll. Within a few days, losses forced most of the
remaining SBs to switch to night attacks.
SBs continued to be used, in the defense of Leningrad and Moscow, mainly at
night by attacking German artillery. By December 1941 almost all of the SBs had
either been replaced or lost, although it remained in large-scale use until
March 1942 in the North against Finland. SBs continued in use for non-combat
roles such as supply dropping, glider towing and training, and continued in use
in the Far East until 1945.
Specifications (SB 2M-103)
General characteristics
Crew: 3
Wingspan: 20.33 m (66 ft 8 in)
Empty weight: 4,768 kg (10,512 lb)
Loaded weight: 6,308 kg (14,065 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 7,880 kg (17,370 lb)
Performance
Maximum speed: 450 km/h (243 knots, 280 mph) at 4,100 m (13,450 ft)
Range: 2,300 km (1,243 nmi, 1,429 mi)
Service ceiling: 9,300 m (30,510 ft)
Climb to 1,000 m (3,280 ft): 1.8 min
Climb to 9,000 m (29,500 ft): 32 min
Armament
ventral position)
(550 lb) bombs on wing racks
*
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