TB-3M-17-32

Description

In 1925, the rapidly modernizing and growing Red Army Air Force reached out to TsAGI (Central Aero-Hydrodynamic Institute) in Moscow to create a new "TB", or Тяжёлый Бомбардировщик (Heavy Bomber) to replace the aging TB-1. Building on the existing civilian ANT-6 aircraft, a complete revision of the airframe led to the world's very first cantilever winged four engine heavy bomber. The TB-3M would be produced in many variants, ranging from standard bombers, to transport and paratrooper carriers, to even ideas as wild as specially modified arctic pole explorers and flying aircraft carriers for I-15 and I-16 fighters.

The TB-3M-17-32 is a rare premium gift Soviet bomber. It has been in the game since the start of the Open Beta Test prior to Update 1.27. The TB-3M-17-32 is a truly a force to be reckoned with in the lowtiers of War Thunder. In dedicated air battles modes, primarily Air Realistic Battles, the aircraft shines due to its above average survivability, but moreso for its incredible bomb load, able to destroy up to five bombing points in Air Realistic Battles at its Battle Rating. The powerful ordnance load for the TB-3M is also its trump card in ground battles, albeit a little more difficult to use due to its cumbersome size and manoeuvrability, allowing it to be easily targeted as a giant target if it drops its altitude, but due to its large bomb load against the weakly armoured tanks of this tier, the TB-3M may prove to be a strong aircraft, raining hell from above if it can align its bombing runs properly.

The TB-3 was given away as a reward vehicle for the 2013 Winter Magic!, the 2014 War Thunder's birthday, and the 2022 War Thunder's 10th Anniversary events. With the exception of a few rare appearances in the Warbonds shop, this aircraft is unobtainable.

General info

Flight performance

Details

Survivability and armour

• No armour
• Self-sealing fuel tanks (2 in each wing)

Modifications and economy

Armaments

Suspended armament

The TB-3M-17-32 can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

• 24 x 100 kg FAB-100sv bombs (2,400 kg total)
• 12 x 250 kg FAB-250sv bombs (3,000 kg total)
• 4 x 500 kg FAB-500sv bombs + 4 x 250 kg FAB-250sv bombs (3,000 kg total)

Defensive armament

The TB-3M-17-32 is defended by:

• 2 x 7.62 mm DA machine guns, nose turret (720 rpg = 1,440 total)
• 2 x 7.62 mm DA machine guns, dorsal (forward-facing) turret (720 rpg = 1,440 total)
• 2 x 7.62 mm DA machine guns, dorsal (rear-facing) turret (720 rpg = 1,440 total)
• 1 x 7.62 mm DA machine gun, 2 x underwing turrets (420 rpg)

Usage in battles

TB-3 is, in a nutshell, a typical heavy bomber, and a very heavy, very slow one at that. It packs a truly majestic payload of 3,000 kg of bombs, however, the problem is in getting this payload to its target. The maximum speed of TB-3 is less than 200 km/h and its flight will take a really long time during which the giant TB-3 will become a very easy and enticing target for all enemy fighters and even some bombers. All this combined with practically non-existent manoeuvrability makes this bomber a very vulnerable one and its pilots may consider themselves lucky if they reach the target - not mentioning the route back. However, the TB-3 is not at all defenceless. Five turrets with a total of eight 7.62 mm DA machine guns present quite an effective firepower - at least against fighters of the TB-3 age. When attacked, don't even bother with manoeuvres, man the turrets and open fire, it is the only hope of the TB. The effectiveness of the turret fire is multiplied thanks to one previously mentioned factor - very low speed. As the maximum speed of TB-3 is equal to a terminal speed of most of the fighters, these fighters will often have a hard time intercepting the TB, while the TB gunners will gain a great opportunity of hitting slowly approaching enemy planes. This tactics, however, doesn't work very well when attacked from below. In that case, pray.

Manual Engine Control

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Large payload of up to 3,000 kg (6,613 lb) with different payload configurations, capable of destroying all bombing targets in a single run
• Adequate defensive firepower capable of fending off enemy fighters effectively
• Good damage absorption due to large size and strong construction
• Four engines at Rank I can allow for some to be knocked out without causing the plane to fall drastically
• Difficult to hit by fast Boom & Zoom interceptors thanks to its low speed
• Despite its low speed, not many planes are able to catch up to the TB-3 due to the altitude difference
• It never rips itself from a dive
• Surprisingly manoeuvrable for its size
• Gunners have plenty of ammo before reloading

Cons

• Very slow speed
• Very slow climb rate - the speed loss while climbing is very significant and can be deadly due to the low overall speed
• Almost no speed reserve for manoeuvring, especially apparent when landing
• There are no brakes, that you have to wait for the plane to glide to a full stop before rearming
• Basically incapable of manoeuvring when attacked - survival depends on turret fire
• Have no offensive armament and will require to slightly tip the plane forward for the turret to engage manually
• No armour protection for the crew or modules
• Large size makes large target for enemy fire, even flak
• While relatively safe from fast interceptor fighters, the TB-3 is very vulnerable to agile and manoeuvrable planes

History

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the TB-3M-17-32 from live.warthunder.com.

Videos

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• F.222.2

External links

• [News] TB-3 screenshot competition
• [News] Flying Aircraft Carriers
• [News] New special event aircraft XF5F-1 and TB-3!