Type: Light Bomber/Dive Bomber
Wingspan: 18.9 m
Length: 13.8 m
Wing area: 48.8 sq. m
Engines: 2xAM-34 or 2xASh-82FN, 1824 hp each
Empty weight: 8260 kg
Power: Indicated: 1460 HP Take-off: 1850 HP
Takeoff weight: 11600 kg
Max. speed: 545 km/h Sea level: 482 km/h (509 km/h with 10min boost).;
Climb rate: 8.3 m/s
Ceiling: 9500 m
Range: 2100 km

Armament: 2x20 mm guns, 3x12.7 mm machine guns, 2000 kg of bombs

The Tu-2 was the last of the mass-produced Soviet bombers of WWII. This plane was in development from March 1 of 1940. As early as January 8, 1941, the first prototype was built and on January 29, this plane had its first flight. The Tu-2 prototype was in trials up until June 1941. With the onset of the war, the Tupolev’s design bureau's manufacturing was moved to the city of Omsk and only in July of 1942 did the first limited large-scale production get underway. All of these first planes were sent to a special regiment for troops’ trials on Kalinin’s front. With the urgent needs for new Yak-9 fighters, the production of the Tu-2 was stopped until September 1943, when large-scale production of the aircraft was again launched. In 1944, Tu-2s became widely used as level and dive bombers.

Tu-2 was in production until 1952 and was the best Soviet bomber of WWII.

Advantages: Excellent flight performance. Simple and easy controls. Good maneuverability. Excellent crew armor and gunnery protection of fighter attacks.

Disadvantages: Small life space for gunners.