| National origin:- Soviet Union |
| Role:- Medium bomber |
| Manufacturer:- Tupolev |
| Designer:- Andrei Tupolev |
| First flight:- 29 January 1941 |
| Introduction:- 1942 |
| Produced:- 1941–1948 |
| Status:- Retired late 1970s (PLAAF) |
| Number built:- 2,257 |
| Primary users:- VVS, Soviet Naval Aviation, People's Liberation Army Air Force, Polish Air Forces |
| Variants:- Tupolev Tu-1. Tupolev Tu-8 |
Tupolev Tu-2
The Tupolev Tu-2 (development names ANT-58 and 103; NATO reporting name Bat) was a twin-engine Soviet high-speed daylight and frontline (SDB and FB) bomber aircraft of World War II vintage. The Tu-2 was tailored to meet a requirement for a high-speed bomber or dive-bomber, with a large internal bombload, and speed similar to that of a single-seat fighter. Designed to challenge the German Junkers Ju 88, the Tu-2 proved comparable, and was produced in torpedo, interceptor, and reconnaissance versions. The Tu-2 was one of the outstanding combat aircraft of World War II and it played a key role in the Red Army's final offensives.
Operational service
The aircraft had its baptism of fire over Velikiye Luki. There, in November–December 1942, this Tupolev bomber flew 46 sorties. On February 11, 1943, 132 BAP was transferred to 17 VA to support the drive toward River Dnepr and it flew another 47 sorties - attacking airfields and rail junctions - until April 13, when the unit was removed from frontline. By that time only three Tu-2s were lost in action, while seven were damaged. The Tu-2 remained in service in the USSR until 1950.
Some surplus Tu-2s were provided to the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force for use in the Chinese Civil War. Some Chinese Tu-2s were shot down by United Nations airmen during the Korean War. In the 1958–1962 'counter-riot actions' in the 1959 Tibetan uprising in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau covering Qinghai, Tibet, southern Gansu, and western Sichuan, Chinese PLAAF Tu-2s took on the roles of ground-attack, reconnaissance and liaison. The Chinese Tu-2s were retired at the end of the 1970s.
Editor for Asisbiz: Matthew Laird Acred