Tupolev Tu-2S

The Tu-2 bomber, like the Pe-2, was developed in jail by designers in prison, headed by A.N. Tupolev, who was arrested in 1937. The new aircraft was designed for high precision strikes while diving, using bombs of up to 1000 kg. The aircraft was powered by the M-120 (1500 h. p.) 18-cylinder liquid-cooled engines developed by a team headed by V. Ya. Klimov, which was expected to develop a maximum speed of 700-740 km p h, reach a 13000 to 14000 m ceiling and a 2500 km operational range, which surpassed the characteristics of the known foreign counterparts. Due to the delayed manufacture of the M-120, the first prototype was powered by the AM-37 engines (1 400 h. p. each).

The new bomber made its first flight on January 29, 1941, piloted by test-pilot M.A. Nukhtikov, and on May 18, 1941 - the second prototype, dubbed the "103U"was tested modified upon the AF requirements with one more person in a crew. In May 1941, both aircraft were transferred for state tests, and in June 1941, the decision was taken about the "103"aircraft series-production. In war conditions it was not possible to organize the AM-37 production run and it was necessary to modify the bomber, so that the M-82 (1700 h. p.) air-cooled engines produced in large quantities could be used.

In summer 1942 the series-production of the "103S" aircraft, dubbed the Tu-2, was launched in Omsk and in September the first three Tu-2s were in the Kalinin Front for testing. The aircraft demonstrated high survivability in combat conditions, powerful defensive armament and easy handling. Totally, eighty Tu-2 aircraft were manufactured in Omsk in 1942 through 1943. But for some reason the decision was made to stop aircraft production at Factory No.166.

By the end of 1943, Moscow Factory No.23 manufactured 16 upgraded Tu-2s (dubbed the Tu-2S) powered by the ASh-82FN, in 1944 - 378, and in 1945 - 742 aircraft. The Tu-2s were widely used since early 1944 and successfully operated both in the Air Force and Navy. The Irkutsk Factory manufactured the Tu-2S aircraft from 1947 through 1950 and produced 218 Tu-2s out of the total number of 2527. The Tu-2T torpedo carriers manufactured for the Navy were capable of carrying two 45-36AN torpedoes and they had an 11,423 kg takeoff weight, 505 km p h maximum speed, 7750 ceiling and up to 2075 km flight range. The Tu-12 first national jet bomber was manufactured on the basis of the Tu-2.