Jump to content

Tupolev Tu-4: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Cydebot (talk | contribs)
6,812,251 edits
m Robot - Moving category Soviet bomber aircraft 1940-1949 to Category:Soviet bomber aircraft 1940–1949 per CFD at Wikipedia:Categories for discussion/Log/2011 September 20.
Ligand (talk | contribs)
255 edits
Line 63: Line 63:
==={{PRC}}===
==={{PRC}}===
;[[People's Liberation Army Air Force]]
;[[People's Liberation Army Air Force]]
A number of ex-Soviet Tu-4<ref>Nowicki 1994, p. 18.</ref> aircraft were operated by [[People's Liberation Army Air Force|PLAAF]] until the late 1960s.<ref>Rigmant 1996, p. 59.</ref> In 1967 China attempted to develop its first [[airborne early warning]] aircraft, based on the Tu-4 airframe. The project was named KJ-1 and mounted a Type 843 rotordome on top of the aircraft. However, the radar and equipment was too heavy, and the KJ-1 did not meet PLAAF's requirements. The project was canceled in 1971.<ref>[http://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/row/aew-prc.htm "Chinese Airborne Early Warning (AEW)."] ''fas.org.'' Retrieved: 31 July 2011.</ref>
On 28th February, 1953, [[Stalin]] endowed China with 10 Tu-4 heavy bombers, with which the 4th Separate Heavy Bomber Regiment. These Tu-4's were refitted with AI-20K turbopropellers in 1966. In 1967 China attempted to develop its first [[airborne early warning]] aircraft, based on the Tu-4 airframe. The project was named KJ-1 and mounted a Type 843 rotordome on top of the aircraft. However, the radar and equipment was too heavy, and the KJ-1 did not meet PLAAF's requirements. The project was canceled in 1971.<ref>[http://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/row/aew-prc.htm "Chinese Airborne Early Warning (AEW)."] ''fas.org.'' Retrieved: 31 July 2011.</ref>All Tu-4 bombers of PLAAF retired in 1988.


==Survivors==
==Survivors==

Revision as of 04:32, 24 October 2011

Tu-4
Tupolev Tu-4 at Monino Central Air Force Museum, Moscow
Role Strategic bomber
Manufacturer Tupolev
First flight 19 May 1947
Introduction 1949
Retired mid 1960s (Soviet Union)
Primary users Soviet Air Force
PLA Air Force
Produced 1949-1952
Number built 847
Developed from B-29 Superfortress
Variants Tupolev Tu-70
Tupolev Tu-75
Tupolev Tu-80
Tupolev Tu-85

The Tupolev Tu-4 (NATO reporting name: Bull) was a piston-engined Soviet strategic bomber that served the Soviet Air Force from the late 1940s to mid 1960s. It was a reverse-engineered copy of the U.S.-made Boeing B-29 Superfortress.

Design and development

Towards the end of World War II, the Soviet Union saw the need for a strategic bombing capability similar to that of the USAAF. The U.S. regularly conducted bombing raids on Japan, virtually in the Soviet Union's backyard, from distant Pacific forward bases using B-29 Superfortresses. Stalin ordered the development of a comparable bomber.

The U.S. declined to supply the Soviet Union with B-29 heavy bombers under Lend Lease.[1] However, on three occasions during 1944, individual B-29s made emergency landings in Soviet territory after bombing raids on Manchukuo and Japan. In accordance with the Soviet–Japanese Neutrality Pact, the Soviets were neutral in the Pacific War and the bombers were therefore interned and kept by the Soviets, despite American demands for their return.[2] Stalin tasked Tupolev with cloning the Superfortress, and Soviet industry was to produce 20 copies of the aircraft in just two years. The three B-29s were flown to Moscow and delivered into Tupolev OKB. One B-29 was fully dismantled, down to the smallest bolt, the second was used for flight tests and training, and the third one was left as a standard for cross-reference.[3]

The Soviets used a different engine, the Shvetsov ASh-73, which had some parts in common with the Superfortress' Wright R-3350 but was not identical. The remote-controlled gun turrets were also redesigned to accommodate Soviet Nudelman NS-23 23mm cannon.

The Soviet Union used the metric system, thus 1/16 inch (1.6 mm) thick sheet aluminum and proper rivet lengths were unavailable. The corresponding metric-gauge metal was thicker; as a result, the Tu-4 weighed about 3,100 lb (1,400 kg) more than the B-29, with a corresponding decrease in range and payload.

Tu-4 engineers were under very heavy pressure to achieve an exact clone of the original B-29. Each minute alteration had to be scrutinized and was a subject to a lengthy bureaucratic process. For instance, because 1/16 inch nominal sheet thickness equals 1.5875mm, no industry in the USSR was willing to take the responsibility to produce sheets with such accuracy. Engineers had to lobby high-ranking military officials even for the most basic common sense decisions. In another example, the Soviets reverse-engineered and copied the American IFF system and actually had it installed in the first Tu-4 built. As yet another example, Kerber, Tupolev's deputy at the time, recalled in his memoirs that engineers had to obtain an authorization from a high-ranking Air Force general in order to use Soviet-made parachutes for the crew.[3]

The Tu-4 first flew on 19 May 1947, piloted by test pilot Nikolai Rybko.[4] Serial production started immediately, and the type entered large-scale service in 1949. Entry into service of the Tu-4 threw the USAF into a virtual panic, since the Tu-4 possessed sufficient range to attack Chicago, Los Angeles and New York City with a worthwhile load on a one-way mission, and this fear may have informed the maneuvers and air combat practice conducted by US and British air forces in 1948 involving fleets of B-29s.[5] Some limited attempts to develop midair refueling systems were made to extend the bomber's range, but these were fitted to only a few aircraft.

Public display surprises the West

The aircraft was first displayed during a flyover at the Aviation Day parade on 3 August 1947 at the Tushino Airport in Moscow. Three aircraft flew overhead. It was assumed that these were merely the three B-29 bombers that were known to have been diverted to the USSR during World War II. Minutes later a fourth aircraft appeared. Western analysts then concluded that the Soviets had the capability to reverse-engineer the B-29.[6] The appearance of an obviously Superfortress-derived Tu-70 transport over the crowd removed any doubt about the success of the reverse-engineering task.

People's Republic of China

In 1967, China attempted to develop its first Airborne Early Warning aircraft, based on the Tu-4 airframe outfitted with turboprop engines. The project was named KJ-1, with a Type 843 rotordome mounted on top of the aircraft. However, the radar and equipment was too heavy and the KJ-1 did not meet PLAAF's requirements, thus the project was cancelled in 1971.[7]

Operational history

Eight hundred and forty-seven Tu-4s had been built when production ended in the Soviet Union in 1952, some going to China during the later 1950s. Many experimental variants were built and the valuable experience launched the Soviet strategic bomber program. Tu-4s were withdrawn in the 1960s, being replaced by more advanced aircraft: the Tupolev Tu-16 (starting in 1954) and the Tupolev Tu-95 (starting in 1956). By the beginning of the 1960s, the only Tu-4s still operated by the Soviets were used for transport or airborne laboratory purposes.

Variants

Tu-4
Main production version.
Tu-4K
Anti-naval version, armed with KS-1 Komet missiles.
Tu-4 AWACS
Chinese prototype with KJ-1 AEWC, "AWACS" radar and powered by Ivchenko AI-20K turboprop engines.[8]
Tu-70
Airliner derivative, never reached mass production.
Tu-75
Cargo aircraft derivative, never reached mass production.
Tu-80
Bomber derivative, never reached mass production.
Tu-85
Bomber derivative, never reached mass production.

Operators

 Soviet Union

Soviet Air Force

The Soviet Air Force operated 847 Tupolev Tu-4 bombers between 1948 and early 1960.[9] They were initially used as long range bombers. In 1954 the Soviets began phasing out the Tu-4; units upgraded to Tupolev Tu-16 bombers and, beginning in 1956, to Tupolev Tu-95 bombers. Tu-4s withdrawn from front line units were used for transport duties.[10]

 People's Republic of China

People's Liberation Army Air Force

On 28th February, 1953, Stalin endowed China with 10 Tu-4 heavy bombers, with which the 4th Separate Heavy Bomber Regiment. These Tu-4's were refitted with AI-20K turbopropellers in 1966. In 1967 China attempted to develop its first airborne early warning aircraft, based on the Tu-4 airframe. The project was named KJ-1 and mounted a Type 843 rotordome on top of the aircraft. However, the radar and equipment was too heavy, and the KJ-1 did not meet PLAAF's requirements. The project was canceled in 1971.[11]All Tu-4 bombers of PLAAF retired in 1988.

Survivors

Tu-4 4114 (c/n 286501), ex-KJ-1 AEWC, "4114"
Stored at Datangshan, China [12][13]
Tu-4 4134 (c/n 2205008), "4134"
Stored at Datangshan, China [14]
Tu-4 unknown (c/n 2805103), "01"
Stored at the Central Air Force Museum, Monino, Russia [15]

Specifications (Tu-4)

This aircraft article is missing some (or all) of its specifications. If you have a source, you can help Wikipedia by adding them.

General characteristics

  • Crew: 11

Performance Armament

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References

Notes
  1. ^ "Aircraft Deliveries." airforce.ru. Retrieved: 21 September 2007.
  2. ^ "Soviet Union Impounds and Copies B-29." National Museum of the USAF. Retrieved: 21 September 2007.
  3. ^ a b Kerber, Leonid. "Tu-4 bomber epic". militera.lib.ru: a compilation of articles published in 1988-1990 (in Russian). Retrieved: 29 December 2009.
  4. ^ Duffy and Kandalov 1996, p. 98.
  5. ^ "Archival RAF film of combat with B-29s." google.com. Retrieved: 29 December 2009.
  6. ^ Dow, James. "Parade." The Arrow. Retrieved: 29 December 2009.
  7. ^ "Chinese Airborne Early Warning (AEW)." fas.org. Retrieved: 29 December 2009.
  8. ^ "Tu-4." simonb6.co.uk. Retrieved: 29 December 2009.
  9. ^ Nowicki 1994, p. 17.
  10. ^ Rigmant 1996, p. 66.
  11. ^ "Chinese Airborne Early Warning (AEW)." fas.org. Retrieved: 31 July 2011.
  12. ^ Photo of the Tu-4 (c/n 286501) at the FAS.org website
  13. ^ "Photo of the Tu-4 (4114, cn 2806501) AWACS example exhibited in the Datangshan Museum, China." airliners.net. Retrieved: 29 December 2009.
  14. ^ "Photo of the Tu-4 (4134, cn 225008) "missile carrier" exhibited in the Datangshan Museum, China." airliners.net. Retrieved: 29 December 2009.
  15. ^ "Photo of the Tu-4 exhibited in the Central Air Force Museum in Monino, Russia." airliners.net. Retrieved: 29 December 2009.
Bibliography
  • Bowers, Peter M. Boeing B-29 Superfortress. Stillwater, Minnesota: Voyageur Press, 1999. ISBN 0-933424-79-5.
  • Duffy, Paul and A. I. Kandalov. Tupolev: The Man and his Aircraft. Warrendale, Pennsylvania: SAE, 1996. ISBN 1-56091-899-3.
  • Gordon, Yefim and Vladimir Rigmant. Tupolev Tu-4: Soviet Superfortress. Hinckley, Leicestershire: Midland Counties Publications Ltd., 2002. ISBN 1-85780-142-3.
  • Hess, William N. Great American Bombers of WW II. St. Paul, Minnesota: Motorbooks International, 1999. ISBN 0-7603-0650-8.
  • Nowicki, Jacek. B-29 Superfortress. Gdansk, Poland: AJ Press, 1994. ISBN 978-8386208098.
  • Pace, Steve. Boeing B-29 Superfortress. Ramsbury, Marlborough, Wiltshire, UK: Crowood Press, 2003. ISBN 1-86126-581-6.
  • Rigmant, Vladimir. B-29, Tу-4 - стратегические близнецы - как это было (Авиация и космонавтика 17 (Крылья 4)) (in Russian). Moscow, Russia, 1996.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tupolev Tu-4.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tupolev_Tu-4&oldid=457094652"