S everal ground attack variants of series series Tu-2
were converted for ground attack service. They were tested, but not enter production because
Il-2 and later Il-10 did not
require replacement until jet age.
The most unusual variant (flown and tested in 1944) carried 88 infantry PPSh
sub-machineguns in the bomb bay, bringing
concept of weapon designer A.V.Nadashkevich (first realized on TSh-1) into
it final shape. All guns were fired simultaneously, providing devastating fire... but for very short time. In-flight reloading
of 88 machineguns was too non-practical, and this concept was abandoned.
Another 1944
variant was intended for train busting. In addition to conventional weapons, it carried 75mm cannon.
Reloading of the cannon was duty of navigator. Aircraft and its armament were tested, but no series followed.
In 1946 two-seater variant (single defensive
UBT instead of three) was armed with two 45mm
NS-45 and two 37mm NS-37 cannons placed in nose in addition to 20mm
ShVAK guns in the wing root. Technical data of this aircraft is presented on this
page.
57mm RShR anti-tank cannon replaced four cannons of previous two-seater aircraft late in
1946. Long barrel of the cannon is clearly visible on the picture. To improve
landing/takeoff handling, landing gear was moved forward by 125mm. State trial were completed on February 28,
1947.
No production followed.
| Technical data |
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