Tupolev Tu-91
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The Tupolev Tu-91 (NATO reporting name Boot) was a Soviet naval attack bomber. It was only built in prototype form, and cancelled after Stalin's death.
Stalin ordered an aggressive naval expansion to counter the US naval superiority. It called for building extra warships and a fleet of aircraft carriers. A fleet of bombers to effectively attack and destroy the US naval flotilla was required, the basis of Tu-91 a carrier-borne bomber. It was practically a flying tank, heavily armed and armoured. However after the death of Stalin, Nikita Khrushchev cancelled such plans, concentrating instead of ICBMs and strategic nuclear forces.
[edit] Specifications (Tu-91)
General characteristics
- Length: 17.70 m (58 ft 1 in)
- Wingspan: 16.40 m (53 ft 10 in)
- Height: 5.06 m (16 ft 7 in)
- Wing area: 47.5 m² (511 ft²)
- Loaded weight: 12,850 kg (28,270 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 14,400 kg (31,680 lb)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 800 km/h (430 kt, 500 mph)
- Range: 2,350 km (1,270 nm, 1,470 mi)
- Service ceiling 8,000 m (26,000 ft)
- Wing loading: 265 kg/m² (55 lb/ft²)
Armament
- Guns: 3× 23 mm (0.91 in) cannon in wings and tail barbette
- Bombs:
- 6× 100 kg (220 lb) or
- 1× anti-submarine bomb or
- 3× RAT-52 torpedoes or
- assortment of naval mines or
- Rockets: 120× APS-85 unguided rockets
[edit] See also
Related lists
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