Tupolev SB
Tupolev / Khrunichev / Irkutsk · Soviet Union · first flew 1934 · bomber
The Tupolev SB (Skorostnoĭ Bombardirovshchik, 'high-speed bomber') was a Soviet twin-engine monoplane bomber that was faster than most contemporary fighters when it entered service in 1936. It became one of the most widely used bombers of the 1930s.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 12.27 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Twin-engine mid-wing monoplane bomber — faster than most contemporary fighters when introduced
- Glazed nose with bombardier station
- Smooth stressed-skin construction with retractable undercarriage
A smooth, streamlined twin-engine mid-wing monoplane with a glazed nose section, retractable undercarriage, and a clean profile that was distinctly modern for its 1934 introduction.
Specifications
- The Tupolev SB has a length of 12.27 m (40 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 20.33 m (67 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 450 km/h (280 mph).
- Typical crew: 3.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The SB first flew in 1934 and saw combat in the Spanish Civil War, the Second Sino-Japanese War, and the Winter War against Finland. It was produced in very large numbers and also exported; Czechoslovakia produced licence-built versions as the Avia B-71. By 1941 it was obsolete and suffered catastrophic losses at the hands of the Luftwaffe.
Variants
The SB-2, SB-2bis, and SB-2M-103 series differed in engines and equipment; the Avia B-71 was the Czechoslovak licence version; China received large numbers of SB-2 aircraft.
Where you'll see it
Served with the Soviet VVS, Republican Spain, China, Czechoslovakia, Mongolia, and Turkey; captured examples were evaluated by Finland, Germany, and Japan.
Related aircraft
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