Brief Operational History

The Tupolev SB (Skorostnoi Bombardirovshchik - fast bomber) was the result of a Red Air Force requirement that was issued in October 1934.  The requirement dictated that it be capable of supporting front-line forces and with the Navy.  It also would have to carry 500 kg of bombs to a target 400 km away.  When the SB-2 was unveiled many of its detractors outside the Soviet Union claimed that it was mearly a copy of the Martin B-10.  This was untrue.  The SB was an evolutionary development of the AN-21, ANT-29, and ANT-38.  It was also the victim of another Western misunderstanding.  It was known outside the USSR as the SB-2, possibly due to the fact that its full designation included the designations of its engines - SB-2M-100A.  It was a very advanced aircraft for its time.  The all metal construction, enclosed cockpit, and retractable landing gear were all innovative design features.  The ANT-40 was in squadron service by 1935.  They were also used as passenger aircraft by Aeroflot beginning in 1938.  Its peak production period was during 1937 were 13 planes were produced per day of production.

The first conflict that the SB-2 participated in was the Spanish Civil War.  They were first deployed in Spain on October 26 of 1936.  Early in the conflict they were of considerable concern to Nationalist forces.  They were affectionately known as the Katusha (a character in a musical at the time) to Republican forces.  It continued to perform well until 1938, when it was faced with more advanced fighter opposition in the form of the Bf 109.  It was also shown to catch fire when hit in combat despite its protected fuel tanks.

They performed far better in the Soviet border wars with Japan in Manchuria.  The Japanese bi-planes stationed in Manchuria were unable to stop the SB-2.  In addition to the SB's of the Red Air Force, at least 292 SB's were exported to Nationalist China to assist them in their war against the Japanese.  Their success against the Japanese seemed to validate the 'fast bomber' concept.  Unfortunately, this state of affairs would not last.

In Europe the Soviets exported the SB to Czechoslovakia where they were known locally as the B-71.  They did not serve long with the Czech air force, but were transferred to the Luftwaffe after the Nazi annexation of the country.

The next combat action of the SB would be during the Winter War.  In the early stages of the conflict they operated alone and unescorted, but were unopposed by the Finnish Air Force.  This led to very high losses when the bombers raids became more predictable and the Finn pilots ravaged the helpless bombers.  Some Soviet pilots were known to drop their payloads early and return home at the sight of Finnish fighter formations.  The Red Air Force attempted to escort their planes later in the war, but by then the ANT-40 had little strategic impact on the campaign.

The German invasion signaled the end of the ANT-40.  Although it formed 94 percent of Soviet front-line bomber aircraft they were almost wiped out in the first few days of the war.  In the first few days of the German offensive over 1,000 SB's had been destroyed on the ground or in sporadic combat actions.  These losses were largely due to the fact that they were not fast enough to escape the Bf 109 and its armament was seen by many as inadequate for stopping modern fighters.

It was retired from front line service by the end of the war, but some continued to function in the transport role for sometime thereafter.  The total production amounted to 6,967 examples of various models.  It was the most widely produced of any Tupolev aircraft.

Tactical Use and Limitations

The SB-2 'fast bomber' was ahead of its time when it first flew in October of 1934.   Sadly, technology outpaced the bomber before it could be effectively used.  It was designed to follow the 'fast bomber' philosophy, where bombers could fly over their target, drop their bombs, and be far enough away before interceptors could climb to its altitude and engage it.  The advances of the late 1930's made fast bombers obsolete (the German HE-111 also suffered from this problem).

In its early role as a fast day bomber it was successful until the early days of the Great Patriotic War.  Most were destroyed on the ground, but the few that did get airborne faced devastating resistance.  They were not fast enough to escape from modern interceptors, nor did they have the armament to defend themselves.  They were relegated to the paratrooper transport and night bomber roles soon after the beginning of the war.

Deployment Chronology

Here you can see what aircraft the SB-2 replaced and what aircraft eventually replaced it.  You can find out more about these aircraft by clicking on the links below.

Sources Cited

Here are some of the most informative sources that we have used in compiling this information for you.  We hope you can find them as useful as we have.

• World Aircraft 1918-1935, by Enzo Angelucci and Paolo Matricardi, published by Rand McNally, 1979

• The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, edited by Chris Bishop, Copyright 1998 Aerospace Publishing

• Tupolev Aircraft since 1922, by Bill Gunston, published by the Naval Institute Press, Copyright 1995 Bill Gunston.