Tupolev Tu-10

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Tupolev Tu-10

TL;DR:
Tactical bomber, faster Tu-2.

Overview:
The final series of serially produced Tu-2s, the Tu-10 started life as the ANT-68, a high-speed tactical bomber. It was based on an earlier Tu-2 development, the SDB (fast day bomber) or ANT-63, which while successful in testing was not accepted for service. Development of the ANT-68 (which originally had the designation of Tu-4, but that was given to Tupolev’s B-29 copy, while the Tu-10 designation was taken from a cancelled heavy bomber project) started in 1945, and a prototype was built in February of that year, converted from a standard Tu-2S.

The biggest difference was its engines, using the Mikulin AM-39FNV inline engines instead of the radial Shvetsov M-82s. Additional structural changes included a widened canopy for the pilot and navigator, radiators buried in the wing roots, enlarged fins, and new defensive turret mountings. The prototype finished construction in May 1945 and began flight testing. Test flights showed great performance with a max speed of over 600 km/h, being the fastest Tu-2 variant. The only caveat compared to the Tu-2S being a reduced operational range of about 1740 km, about 300 km less than the base plane. During one flight the plane crash landed, but after repairs and further test flights, the ANT-68 was declared ready for service. However the Air Force also recommended that the prototype be refitted with the improved AM-39FN-2 (aka AM-40) engines, that the 3-bladed propellers be changed to 4-bladed ones, the fins enlarged again, and some small structural changes. This refit was carried out in May 1946, and after more test flights was approved for production, with the only demand being an increased range of 2100 km. Production began in 1947 as the Tu-10, however after only 10 examples it was cancelled because of developments in jet powered aircraft, which had made piston engine bombers obsolete. As such, none of the Tu-10s entered service with the Soviet Air Force.

Specifications:

Weight:
Empty: 8870 kg
Take-off (normal): 11 650 kg
Take-off (max): 13 725 kg

Dimensions:
Length: 13.8m
Wing Span: 18.86m
Wing Area: 48.8m²
Height: 4.85m

Engine:
2x Mikulin AM-39FN-2 inline V-12 engines
1870 hp
Liquid cooled

Performance:
Max Speed:
531 km/h at ground level
631 km/h at 7550m
641 km/h at 8600m
Ceiling: 10 450m
Range: ~2100 km
Rate of Climb: 450m/min

Crew: 4

Armament:
2x1 20mm ShVAK (150 rpg)
3x1 12.7mm Berezin UB in defensive turrets (190, 250, 350 rpg in VUS-1, VUB-65, and ventral turret respectively)

Ordnance:
3000 kg of bombs

Images:

The ANT-68 with AM-39FNV engines and 3-bladed propeller

Drawings:

Sources:
Gordon, Y. (2006). OKB Tupolev: A History of the Design Bureau and its Aircraft (pp. 93-94). Midland.
Gunston, B. (2006). Tupolev Aircraft Since 1922 (p. 127). Putnam.
Kotelnikov, V. Saukke, M. (2008). Bombardirovshchik Tu-2 Chast 2 (pp. 10-16). Modelist Konstruktor.
Nemecek, V. (1986). The History of Soviet Aircraft from 1918 (pp. 154-155, 420-421). Collins Willow.
https://www.airwar.ru/enc/bww2/tu10.html

Ту-10 High speed day bomber