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Myasishchev M-4



 
 
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Old April 13th 20, 03:16 PM posted to alt.binaries.pictures.aviation
Miloch
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Default Myasishchev M-4


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myasishchev_M-4

The Myasishchev M-4 Molot (Russian: ????? (Hammer), USAF/DoD reporting name
"Type 37", NATO reporting name Bison) is a four-engined strategic bomber
designed by Myasishchev and manufactured by the Soviet Union in the 1950s to
provide a Long Range Aviation bomber capable of attacking targets in North
America.

Following World War II, the Soviet Union prioritized developing a long-range
strategic bomber capable of delivering atomic weapons. Their first aircraft was
the Tupolev Tu-4, a reverse-engineered version of the American B-29
Superfortress. The Tu-4 was only ever a stop-gap solution, as unlike the
American strategic bomber force that could operate from bases in allied
countries close to the USSR, it lacked the range to reach the continental United
States, and experiences in the Korean War demonstrated piston engine bombers
were extremely vulnerable to jet fighter interception. With the advancement of
Western jet bombers like the B-47 Stratojet and Vickers Valiant, Vladimir
Mikhailovich Myasishchev was directed to construct a Strategicheskiy Dahlniy
Bombardirovshchik (SDB/Strategic Long-range Bomber) in spring 1951. The first
M-4 (Bison-A) prototype flew on 20 January 1953, and was handed over to state
acceptance trials in March 1954, with production beginning later that year. It
entered service in 1955, with 34 being built including two prototypes.

The M-4 was made mostly of aircraft aluminum alloys with some steel and
magnesium components. It had wings swept at 35-degrees and powered initially by
four Mikulin AM-3A engines with a maximum thrust of 85.8 kN (8,750 kgp; 19,290
lbf), but later upgraded to RD-3M-500 turbojets with a maximum thrust of 93.2 kN
(9,500 kgp; 20,940 lbf). There were 18 bladder fuel tanks in the fuselage and
wings, providing a total fuel capacity of 123,600 liters (32,610 US gallons);
this gave the aircraft a range of 9,500 km (5,900 mi), although this fell short
of the 12,000 km (7,500 mi) range initially specified. It had a payload of 24
tonnes (26.4 tons) in various configurations. Defensive armament consisted of
six AM-23 23 mm cannons with a rate of fire of 1,250 rpm each in a manned twin
tail turret with 400 rounds per gun and two twin remote controlled turrets in
the top and bottom fuselage with 300 rounds per gun each. The aircraft had a
crew of eight: a navigator/bombardier in the nose; pilot and copilot in the
cockpit; radar operator/navigator, flight engineer/gunner, radio
operator/gunner, and dorsal turret gunner in a compartment behind the cockpit;
and a tail gunner.

3M

While the M-4 had less range than the Tupolev Tu-95, it had greater speed and
payload, sufficient advantages to continue improving on the design. In 1954,
approval was granted for a redesign of the M-4, which flew on 27 March 1956 and
began state trials in early 1958. The 3M "Bison-B" was powered by four Dobrynin
RD-7 turbojets, which had the same thrust as the RD-3M but were 25% more fuel
efficient; a nose inflight refueling probe was also added to further increase
range. The center fuselage was considerably redesigned to reduce weight and
improve aerodynamics, and the wings were updated with a wider span and area. 74
Bison-Bs would be built.


Role
Strategic bomber

National origin
Soviet Union

Manufacturer
Myasishchev

First flight
1953 (M-4/2M)
1956 (M-6/3M)

Introduction
1956 (M-4/2M)
1958 (M-6/3M)

Retired
1994

Status
retired

Primary users
Soviet Air Force
Soviet Navy
Russian Air Force

Produced
93

Number built
2 prototypes, 91 production aircraft

Variants
Myasishchev VM-T

The M-4 was first displayed to the public in Red Square, on May Day, 1954. The
aircraft was a surprise to the United States, which had not known that the
Soviets had built a jet bomber. However, it soon became clear that the bomber
had an insufficient range to attack the United States and still return to the
Soviet Union. Only a few of the original production M-4s were actually put into
service. To remedy this problem, the Myasishchev design bureau introduced the
3M, known to the West as the 'Bison-B', which was considerably more powerful
than the previous version. This new model first flew in 1955. Among other
things, two of the five original gun barbettes were removed to lighten the
aircraft.

In July 1955 American observers saw 28 Bisons in two groups during a Soviet air
show. The United States government believed that the bomber was in mass
production, and the Central Intelligence Agency estimated that 800 would be
available by 1960. The display was a hoax; the first group of ten repeated the
flyby with eight more. The classified estimates led, however, to American
politicians warning of a "bomber gap".

This time, it was not the Soviet Air Force (VVS) that wanted the 3M, but rather
Naval Aviation (AV-MF). Though it could still not bomb Washington, D.C., the 3M
had a sufficient range to fulfill the need for a long-range maritime patrol
aircraft. In 1959, the 3M broke numerous world records for payload to height,
including 10,000 kilograms (22,000 lb) to 15,317 metres (50,253 ft) and 55,220
kilograms (121,740 lb) to 2,000 metres (6,600 ft).

However, it was thought by the West (and would continue to be thought until
1961) that the 3M was the original M-4, meaning that the capability of the M-4
was vastly overestimated by Western intelligence agencies.

In the early 1960s, the 'Bison-C', with a specialized search radar, was
introduced. By this time, many of the original M-4s had been converted to M-4-2
fuel tankers for aerial refueling. Later, 3Ms were converted to 3MS-2 and 3MN-2
tankers as well.

Neither the M-4 nor the 3M ever saw combat, and none were ever converted for
low-altitude attack, as many American B-52s were, nor were any ever exported to
the Soviet Union's allies.

Production of the Bison aircraft stopped in 1963, by which time 93 of them had
been built. The last aircraft, an M-4-2 fuel tanker, was withdrawn from service
in 1994.

Specifications (M-4)

General characteristics
Crew: 8
Length: 47.2 m (154 ft 10 in)
Wingspan: 50.5 m (165 ft 8 in)
Height: 14.1 m (46 ft 3 in)
Wing area: 326.35 m2 (3,512.8 sq ft)
Empty weight: 79,700 kg (175,708 lb)
Gross weight: 138,500 kg (305,340 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 181,500 kg (400,139 lb)
Powerplant: 4 × Mikulin AM-3A turbojets, 85.75 kN (19,280 lbf) thrust each

Performance
Maximum speed: 947 km/h (588 mph, 511 kn)
Range: 5,600 km (3,500 mi, 3,000 nmi)
Ferry range: 8,100 km (5,000 mi, 4,400 nmi)
Service ceiling: 11,000 m (36,000 ft)
Wing loading: 425 kg/m2 (87 lb/sq ft)
Thrust/weight: 0.25

Armament

Guns: 9 × 23 mm NR-23 cannon or 6 × 23 mm AM-23 cannon in ventral, dorsal and
tail barbettes. 1,100 rounds in ventral and dorsal barbettes, 2,000 rounds in
tail barbette.
Missiles: Up to four cruise missiles carried externally.
Bombs: Typically 12,000 kilograms (26,000 lb) of internal stores. Up to 24,000
kilograms (53,000 lb) could be carried, including nuclear and conventional
bombs: two nuclear bombs, or
two 9000 kg FAB-9000 or 5000 kg FAB-5000 general purpose bombs, or
four 6000 kg BRAB-6000 armor-piercing bombs, or
six 3000 kg FAB-3000 general purpose bombs, or
28 x 500 kg FAB-500 general purpose bombs, or
52 x 250 kg FAB-250 or 100 kg FAB-100 general purpose bombs




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