Main Menu

Soviet Tupolev TB-3 bomber^1,2
ANT-6²

Tupolev ANT-6 bomber dropping paratroopers:

Design

Vladimir Petliakov was asked in 1926 to design the first monoplane bomber with engines on the leading edge of the wings.¹

The Tupolev TB-3 was one of the most advanced four engine bombers in the early 1930s.²

Engines

The early models of the Tupolev TB-3 had Mikulin M17 V-12 inline engines that had a tendency to overheat.¹ These were replaced by the Mikulin M34 with Allison superchargers.¹

Wing

The TB-3's wing was one of the largest wings of the time period.¹ It was constructed in five sections and was transportable by rail when taken apart.¹

Landing Gear

The TB-3 used the components of the TB-1's landing gear.¹ They were strengthened and had tandem tires due to the extra weight of the TB-3.¹ The undercarriage was fixed.²

Tail

The elevators were very hard work for the pilot and could cause vibration in flight.¹

Skin

The skin of the Tu-2 was made from corrugated metal.² The last version had smooth skin.²

Prototype

The prototype first flew on December 22, 1930.^1,2 It was initially known as the ANT-6.¹

Production

The first production version of the TB-3 was delivered in 1931.² Production ended in 1937.²

When the first TB-3 came off the production line it was 2,200 lb / 1,000 kg heavier than the prototype.¹

• Total: 818²

Variants

• TB-3??: One used for Zveno (link) trials with I-16 fighters.¹
• G-2: Conversion to be a transport.² Converted in late 1930s.²

Usage

Goodwill Flights

Nine TB-3s were used in goodwill flights in the summer of 1935.¹

Altitude Record

A Yumashev, in September 1936, set an altitude record of reaching 8,116 m with a load of five tons.¹

Polar Expedition

An ANT-6 (SSSR-N169) flew on the last Polar expedition before the war in 1941.¹

Soviet Air Force

The VVS (Soviet Air Force) first received the TB-3 in 1932.¹

Paratroop Drop

The TB-3 was the first Soviet plane to drop paratroopers.¹

Against Japan

The TB-3 saw combat against the Japanese during the Mongolian / Manchurian battles of 1938 - 1939.²

Against Finland

During 1939 - 1949 the TB-3 was used against Finland.²

Great Patriotic War

When Germany invaded the Soviet Union in June 1941 most of the TB-3s had been converted into G-2 transports.² However in the early months some G-2s were used as night bombers.² These later went back to being used as transports and glider tugs.² Some were capable of carrying light tanks or trucks between the main undercarriage legs.²

	Tupolev TB-32					Tupolev TB-3/M34R1
Type	Heavy bomber2 Transport2					Bomber1 Transport1
Crew	6 - 102					51
Engine (Type)	4: M-17F2	4: AM-342	4: AM-34R2	4: AM-34RN/FRN2	4: AM-34FRNV2	4: Mikulin M-34 piston1
Cylinders	V 122	V 122	V 122	V 122	V 122	Inline V-121
Cooling						Water1
HP	730 each2	830 each2	900 each2	970 each2	1,200 each2	825 each1
Propeller blades
Fuel capacity
Dimensions
Span	132' 10.5"2 40.5 m2					137' 3"1 41.85 m1
Length	82' 8"2 25.2 m2					82' 4"1 25.1 m1
Height						18' 4"1 5.6 m1
Wing area						2,523 ft2 1 234.5 m2 1
Weight
Empty	24,000 lb2 10,886 kg2			24,154 lb2 10,956 kg2		27,687 lb1 12,585 kg1
Loaded	37,920 lb2 17,200 kg2			42,990 lb2 19,500 kg2		61,917 lb1 18,877 kg1
Maximum overload				54,012 lb2 24,500 kg2
Performance
Speed	122 mph2 196 kph2			179 mph2 288 kph2		179 mph1 288 kph1
Climb						745'/minute1 227 m/minute1
Service ceiling	12,470'2 3,800 m2			25,393'2 7,740 m2		25,400'1 7,740 m1
Range	839 miles2 1,350 km2			1,939 miles2 3,120 km2		868 miles1 1,400 km1
Range - operating						595 miles1 960 km1
Armament	Up to 10: 7.62 mm MG2					6: DA MGs1
Nose						2: DA MGs1
Rear fuselage						2: DA MGs1
Tail turret						2: DA MGs1
Bombs	4,409 - 8,818 lb2 2,000 - 4,000 kg2
Bombs late models	12,786 lb2 5,800 kg2

Sources:

1. Aircraft of WWII, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
2. Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998

---