ICARUS GOLD - TUPOLEV TB-3 - FlightSim Pilot Shop

ICARUS GOLD - TUPOLEV TB-3
[ICA-100] Earn 37 Rewards Points
For FS2004.

$18.50

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CFS2/FS2004 compatible

3 texture sets
2 models, wheel and ski
simulated gunfire
Pilot and Gunner Animation
Weapons pack and two ground attack-equipped I-16s with 250 kg bombs (CFS2 only)
Paratroopers Effect (thanks to Pierino Primavesi for his permission)
specular reflectivity (dynamic shine)
detailed virtual cockpit fully animated
2D panel pop-ups for fuel, throttle and airspeed
bomb door, crew noise door, exit door animation
Multiresolution landing light + gunners and pilots virtual cockpit light
Night lights panel
Shock absorber movement
Wheel rotation
Tutorial about Tb.-3
Detailed specifics, assignments and history included into FS2004 Learning Center.

In the thirties, this airplane was the first strategic bomber in the history of aviation. Three ABON (Air brigades for Special Purposes) were formed in the Leningrad, Kiev and Belorussian Military Districts, with a number of TB-3 and R-5 eskadrii attached to serve as transports for paratroops and equipment. During maneuvers in the Belorussian Military District in 1934 900 paratroopers with equipment were dropped from TB-3s and in 1935 1800 paratroopers were carried during another exercise.

It was also utilized for other diversified missions : sometimes equipped with gliding torpedoes, sometimes transporting paratroopers, sometimes performing polar expeditions, or transporting tanks. But, its most original utilization was that of an aircraft carrier, under the name "Samolyot Zveno"

The first tests occurred on December 31st 1931 from a TB-1 twin engine airplane; transporting two modified I-4 fighters (the lower wing had been removed) perched atop the wing of the transporter. As a result of those tests, Vakhmistrov and the pilots were decorated and made recipients of the order of the red star. The range of the TB-1s being insufficient, the Zveno Z-2 which was comprised of a TB-3 transporting a Polikarpov I-5 on its fuselage and two on its wings was developed between 1933 and 1935.

The object was the protection of the bomber formation, the fighter's engines were kept running during the entire mission permitting rapid intervention. The range of the fighters being obviously limited, they received their fuel supply from their transporter until their eventual separation.

Vakhmistrow's initial idea, which was the defense of the heavy bombers with interceptors carried aboard a Mother Ship, was not the only idea that he formulated. As early as 1935, he found another application for his concept although not as spectacular.

The TB-3 could carry 1000 kg of bombs 2200 km at a cruising speed of 180-200 km/h and it was soon realized that an aircraft of this type with this performance would be an easy prey for modern fighters. The TB-3 4M-17 remained active military service until 1939, but was gradually transferred to Aeroflot. The TB-3s also served as military transports. Initially this was a secondary role, but during the later part of the type s operational career it became the primary duty.

As a paratroop transport the TB-3 was lightened by reducing the amount of defensive armament, at first by removing the retractable ventral turrets. Taking into consideration the important payload capacity of the TB-3, as well as the moral necessity to permit the range limited fighter to easily rejoin their lines, he thought of applying his composite system for the defense of sensitive areas, such as the urbane or industrial agglomerations.

Thirty of thirty-five paratroopers could be accommodated in the fuselage and in the wings. The bomb racks were adapted to carry equipment, including small tanks, armored cars, 45mm cannons and 76mm guns. The first operational mission of the composites took place on the 26th of July 1936, during which time two Zveno-SPBs released their four I-16s near the Constanza harbor.

Interesting detail: the FLAK did not even attempt to shoot them down, their presence so far from their bases being so hard to believe. The operation's success therefore brought a repeated utilization of the Zveno against the pipelines, bridges, and miscellaneous terrestrial objectives.

By the end of October 1941, the arrival of the German Wehrmacht at the Evpatoria factory where the Zveno were assembled put an end to those missions. None the less, it should be noted that despite the experimental nature of the concept, the results were interesting. In 29 sorties, only three I-16s were lost (no TB-3 was ever lost) and the percentage of the target destroyed was very significant.
Sixty TB-3s participated in the undeclared war with Japan at Lake Khasan in 1938. Six TB-3 AM-34RNs were flown by Soviet volunteers in China and were transferred to the Chinese Nationalist Air force for use in the transport role. On 1 January 1939 a total of 546 TB-3s were in service with the VVS, mainly with units based in the Leningrad, Belorussian and Kiev Military Districts, with the AON-3 (armya osobogo naznacenia) formed at Rostov in May 1938 and with the 1st OKA (Otdelnaya Krasnoznamennaya Armya) in the Far East.

Aircrafts of the 1st OKA were used in the Halkin-Gol incident, and in 1939-40 other TB-3s operated against Finland. In June 1941 the VVS had 516 TB-3s on its inventory. During the opening stages of the war with Germany many of these now by all standards obsolete bombers were committed to desperate diurnal attacks on advancing German armored units and on other tactical targets.

Many were shot down by Luftwaffe fighters and the heavy losses dictated a change to night operations. The TB-3s were also used in the transport role and carried personnel, arms and equipment to the fronts in large airborne operations. They flew supplies to the besieged city of Leningrad and supported partisan operations.

Aircraft: TB-3