Tupolev Tu-8 (ANT-69)

[R_nminbiY_n]

Would you like to see this in-game?

• Yes
• No

Tupolev Tu-8 (ANT-69)

TL;DR:
Tactical bomber, super Tu-2, but slower.

Overview:
The final variant of the Tu-2, the Tu-8 was developed in 1946 as a long range bomber featuring a proper bombardier station, a fully pressurized cabin, and electrical driven turrets. The Tu-8 (internally known as the ANT-69) was the last in a series of experimental long-range high altitude bombers, starting from the Tu-2D (aka ANT-62). Originally it was meant to use the new Shvetsov M-93 engines, but because of developmental delays, were downgraded to the Shvetsov M-82Ms. The Tu-8 was converted from the earlier ANT-62T prototype, a torpedo bomber variant of the Tu-2D (and itself converted from the second Tu-2D prototype).

The Tu-8 had a redesigned nose and cockpit, with the navigator/bombardier station and pilots’ seating enlarged, the navigator given a seat and new bombsight and the pilots now sitting side-by-side. The enlarged nose meant that the tail had to be enlarged, and the wheels strengthened to compensate for increased weight. The defensive armament layout was also rebuilt, all the guns were swapped for 20mm autocannons, the radio operator/gunner given an electric-drive turret, and the ventral gunner given a remote-controlled turret taken from a Tu-4, and given a proper seat using window bulges to aim. The co-pilot’s seat could also swivel around to man the defensive gun. The maximum bomb load was increased to 4500kg, and the forward armament reduced to a single gun. The engines ended up remaining the M-82FNs of the ANT-62T because of delays with the M-82M, though with new 4-bladed propellers and a redesigned casing.

The Tu-8 prototype was completed in May 1947, and underwent flight testing for the next year. During the long testing period many issues were encountered, the biggest that the plane did not generate enough power to adequately drive the defensive turrets. Other major issues included slow speed, low flight ceiling, poor de-icing equipment, instability, and a weak structure. Because of these disappointing results, the plane was not accepted and Tupolev proposed upgrades fitting more powerful engines and other fixes to rectify the issues. However by then it was 1948, and it was clear that piston engine aircraft were obsolete, so all work was cancelled in favour of jet development, of which Tupolev had already completed prototypes of.

Specifications:

Weight:
Empty: ~10100 kg
Take-off (standard): 14 000 kg
Take-off (max): 17 250 kg

Dimensions:
Length: 14.61m
Wing Span: 22.06m
Wing Area: 61.26m²
Height: 5.15m

Engine:
2x Shvetsov M-82FN 14-cylinder radial engines
1850 hp
Air cooled

Performance:
Max Speed:
507 km/h at 5700m
Ceiling: 7650m
Range: 4100 km
Max Rate of Climb: 295m/min

Crew: 5

Armament:
1x1 Berezin B-20
1x1 Berezin B-20E in remote controlled turret (or 1x2)
2x1 Berezin B-20E in defensive turrets (190 and 250 rpg in cockpit turret and MV-11 turret respectively)

Ordnance:
4500 kg of bombs

Images:

Drawings:

Sources:
Gordon, Y. (2006). OKB Tupolev: A History of the Design Bureau and its Aircraft (pp. 94-97). Midland.
Gunston, B. (2006). Tupolev Aircraft Since 1922 (p. 127-128). Putnam.
Kotelnikov, V. Saukke, M. (2008). Bombardirovshchik Tu-2 Chast 2 (pp. 23-26). Modelist Konstruktor.
Nemecek, V. (1986). The History of Soviet Aircraft from 1918 (p. 154). Collins Willow.
https://www.airwar.ru/enc/bomber/tu8.html