Tupolev TB-3

the heavy four-engined bomber aircraft Tupolev TB-3 originates from the year 1930 and was with its cantilever low-wing aircraft interpretation the most modern complete metal large airplane of its time. It served in the 2. World war inside at Soviet air forces. One used some particularly reequipped copies under its work designation ANT-6 for the supply of the research camps in the arctic.

development

the construction work began in May 1926 and lasted until December 1929. One supported oneself thereby by likewise the twin-engine TB-1 originating from the OKB Tupolev. After extensive wind tunnel tests the prototype, steered from Mikhail Gromow, rose to 22. December 1930 for the first time into air. As drive four American Curtiss Conqueror served - engines.

The first Serienmaschinen with M-17 engines published starting from at the end of of 1931 and became on the occasion of the 1. May parade publicly demonstrated. In run production into the TB-3 different engines were built and the chassis as well as the armament changed, so that there were altogether 12 main variants. The manufacturing ran up to the year 1937 and ended with the distribution of the 818. Machine.
At the beginning of as bombers assigned, the targeted application for the TB-3 shifted ever more toward the air transport. Like that it was possible, for the heavy, 2.5 tons of weighing to carry amphibian tank T-38 at an external suspension under the trunk. The structure of the Soviet air landing troops is closely linked with the TB-3; with the version G-2 the parachutists could be carried up to 35. In the Chinese-Japanese war 1937 as well as during the Soviet-Japanese border conflict at the Chalchyn Gol 1939 one used the G-2 as air freighter. In the first months of the Great Patriotic War the TB-3 flew it again as bomber, only at night for tasks of transportation was later used. One used some machines in the Huckepackversion with I-16 hunters (Sweno 6) for attacks against the German troops.

variants

• TB-3M-17 / TB-3M-17F

first and/or. second manufacturing lot, the designation refers to
the used engines. To end of 1933 400 pieces were delivered.

• TB-3M-34

in February 1933 improved execution with stronger engines, outwardly
recognizably from the neglected radiators under the wings. Were built
to to 100 machines.

• TB-3M-34R / TB-3M-34RD

1934 published variant with four-leaf propellers at the two
internal engines, tail conditions and oil-pneumatic fitted with springs main wheels.
The civil version M-34RD accomplished 1934 a round trip by Europe.
The transportation variant was used as freight, medical, and
transport glider dragging airplane as well as for partisan supply.

• TB-3M-34RN

this execution appeared 1935/1936 and was optically easy at the nose conditions
in spherical shape, the halfdisguised pilot cabs and the 2-m-Haupträdern
to recognize. The Unterflügel Waffenstände had been omitted.

• TB-3M-34FRN / TB-3M-34FRNV

during the execution M-34 FRN were again all four engines with three-sheet
Propellers equipped and the outer hull was smooth. The M-34FRNV was those
last standard type with spherical weapon conditions on the back.
Were manufactured about 100 pieces.

• TB-3D

test platform for the Tscharomski AN-1 engine.

• ANT-6A (ANT-6M34R)

this civilian special design was vorge for special tasks in the arctic
see equipped and therefore with closed cabs and Skiern. It
five pieces were built, which did their service between 1937 to 1944.

technical data

Characteristic	of TB-3M-17F	TB-3M-34RN
span	39.50 m	41.85 m
length	24.40 m	25.18 m
height	of 8.45 m	8.45 m
wing area	230.0 m ²	234.5 m ²
empty weight	10,976 kg	of 12,585 kg
of takeoff weight	17,200 kg	of 18,877 kg
drive	four water-cooled 12-Zylinder row engines M-17F (ever 526 KW of take-off power)	four water-cooled 12-Zylinder row engines M-34RN (ever 713 KW of take-off power)
most speed	of 179 km/h at ground level 177 km/h in 3.000 m height	of 245 km/h at ground level 288 km/h in 3.000 m height
of service ceiling	of 3,800 m	7,740 m
range	1,350 km	960 km
armament	of two THERE machine guns three DA-2 of machine guns 2,000 kg of bombs	nine SchKAS of machine guns 2,000 kg of bombs
crew	8	6