Tupelov SB-2 Katiuska

Technical data

Type                         SB-2M-100A
Function                  Bomber
Year                         1936
Crew                        4
Engines                    2*860hp M-100A
Length                     12.27m
Wingspan                20.33m
Wing area               56.7m2
Empty weight         4138kg
Loaded weight        5748kg
Maximum wt.         6420kg
Wing load               101kg/m2
Power load              3.3kg/hp
Speed (0m)              372km/h
Speed (4000m)        424km/h
Speed (5200m)              -
Climb (1000m)        1.6min
Climb (5000m)        7.5min
Ceiling                     9560m
Range                       2150km
Take off                    300m/16sec
Landing                    300m/32sec

Armament
Guns                        4*mg7.62mm ShKAS
Bombs                     2*250kg or 6*100kg

Sb-2 (Skorostnoi Bombardirovschik). Literally: fast bomber. It flew for the first time on the 7th of Octobe,1933.Designed by A.A. Arkhangelski under the direction of Andrei Nikolaevich Tupolev. It was a revolutionary bomber in it's day, based on the heavy fighter MI-3 and driven by two M 100 motors which produced 860 H.P ea.

Of entirely metallic construction, with flaps, hydraulic retractable undercarriage, cushioning and pneumatic brakes. It had a clean, aerodynamic line, that combined with the power of its motors allowed it to reach a maximum velocity of 430 km./h.

It went into service at the beginning of 1936, the first one arriving the 15th of October in Cartagena, immediately entering combat, bombing Tabllada and Talavera on the 28th of October.
The SB-2 initially was able to take advantage of its superior speed, but their their fuel tanks were prone to catching fire if hit and their delicate maintenance, together with the arrival of the ME-109s, drastically increased their losses.
Approximately 100 units were received and they saw action on all the fronts in both strategic and tactical missions including the bombing of the German ship Deutschland.

The first Katiuskas were manned exclusively by Russians, gradually incorporating Spanish pilots and crews over time.
A total of 6,656 units were constructed until 1940, some in service until 1943, in spite of the numerous losses caused during 2nd World War, fundamentally by the harassment of the Bf-109s.