Tupolev TB-1 (ANT-4)

History of Tupolev TB-1 (ANT-4)

The Russian Civil War ousted the Russian Empire from World War I (1914-1918) and lasted until October 1922, when the Soviet Empire rose from the ashes. Also composed of the remnants of the Russian Imperial Air Service was the Soviet Air Force Division, more simply known as the "Soviet Air Force".

By mid-1924, the service's appeal to local ingenuity to meet the need for long-range heavy bombers led Tupolev to lead the project.

The design would be a major undertaking for a recovering nation, powered by multiple engines and requiring the attention of multiple crew members. The all-metal construction (including the corrugated duralumin housing, influenced by earlier works by Hugo Junker) would give it a modern look and advanced functionality for the time.

The end result was Andrei Tupolev's Tupolev TB-1 - which the company called "ANT-4".

The aircraft became the largest all-metal aircraft built in the Soviet Union until its debut in 1925. The engine family chosen is the British Napier "Lion", two of which will be mounted on the wings (one per wing).

A low-position monoplane main aircraft was chosen, and a conventional single-tail tail was used. A stepped cockpit was mounted forward of the board-side fuselage. Trailing gear is used.

The first flight was recorded on November 26 of the same year. After a successful system evaluation, it was ordered as "TB-1" for mass production.

Internally, the bomber was operated by a crew of six. Structurally, it is 59 feet long, with a wingspan of 94.1 feet and a height of 16.8 feet. Empty weight is 10,000 lbs and maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) is 15,015 lbs.

Production form is powered by a 680 hp M-17 liquid-cooled inline V-12 engine - these are licensed-build V-12 engines from the BMW VI range.

In terms of performance, the aircraft can reach speeds of 110 mph and fly comfortably at close to 100 mph. Range is 620 miles and service is capped at 15,845 feet. The climb rate is 595 feet per minute.

For point defense, the bomber was equipped with 6 x 7.62 mm Degtyaryov (DA) machine guns, mounted in various positions on the frame. Arrange to carry up to 2,205 pounds of conventional ordnance.

After two prototypes were completed, the arrival of the TB-1 as an operational weapon system was slow due to logistical issues with procuring the necessary engines (the original Napier Lions) and aluminum. As a result, serial production began only in 1929 and continued until 1932, by which time a total of 216 aircraft (excluding the two prototypes) had been completed. Most were done with a wheeled chassis, although about 66 buoys appeared on the water (playing the role of TB-1P torpedo bombers).

The ANT-4bis became the third prototype, while the designation G-1 was the designated transport version of the bomber.

The first available example was for community service and planned as a newsreel from Moscow to New York City. The journey took a total of 137 flight hours and is still a sensation. Deliveries to the Soviet Air Force began at this point and soon became standard "heavy" service.

The aircraft served with passenger planes of the Luftwaffe, Soviet Naval Aviation and Aeroflot before ending.

The TB-1 also became the focus of the Soviet tests of the "Parasite Fighter," a large aircraft that served as a mothership for small recoverable fighter jets launched from the cargo bay. Known under the name "Zveno", the project included a pair of Tupolev I-4 biplanes.

The TB-1 series was succeeded by the more modern TB-3 (also Tupolev) in 1932. Eight hundred and eighteen such constructions followed.

Many TB-1 bombers under Aeroflot's direction ended their days as the aforementioned G-1 transports.

Specification

Basic

Production

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Dimensions

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Performance

Performance

Changes