Aviation of World War II

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NB (T)

Night Bomber

Polikarpov

The Polikarpov NB during tests in Moscow, May 1944.

The Polikarpov NB during tests in Moscow, May 1944.

Manufactured in the autumn of 1943, the NB (Nochnoi Bombardirovshchik - night bomber) prototype had been designed at the Polikarpov Design Bureau and was given the factory designation 'T'. It had refined aerodynamics, a twin-fin empennage and high capacity bomb bay, and its overall dimensions were practically the same as those of the production Ilyushin II-4, though its flying weight and bomb load were significantly greater. The bomber's structure incorporated several innovations, and it had a crew of five. A 4,409 lb (2,000kg) bomb load was attached to special carriers in the bomb bay, and externally mounted bombs brought the total bomb load to 1,102 lb (5,000 kg).

The NB's powerplanl consisted of two 1,850 hp (1,380kW) ASh-82FNV air cooled engines. Variants were projected powered by 2,000 hp (1,492 kW) ASh-71s and water cooled AM-39s. Its armament consisted of a fixed 12.7 mm UB machine gun mounted in the nose, one UB in an upper turret, and another machine gun in a lower hatch mount.

The maiden flight of the NB(T) look place on 23rd May 1944, and manufacturer's tesls began in August. The bomber attained a speed of 316 mph (510 km/h) at 16,400 ft (5,000 m), which wasrathergoodat that time. Consequent upon Nikolay Polikarpov's death the tests were not completed and development work ceased.

Polikarpov`s last airplanes
TIS (A) TIS (MA) NB (T)
Crew 2 2 5
Dimensions
Length, m 11.7 11.7 15.3
Wing span, m 15.5 15.5 21.5
Wing area, m² 34.8 34.8 58.1
Powerplant
Engine 2×AM-37 2×AM-38 2×ASh-82FN
Power, hp 1,400 1,665 1,850
Weight, kg:
Empty weight 5,800 6,261 8,843
Loaded weight 7,840 8,280 13,800
Performance
Maximum speed, km/h at sea level 490 - 445
at altitude 555 530 510
H, m 5,800 4,000 5,000
Wing loading, kg/m² 224 235 238
Power loading, kg/hp 2.9 2.8 4.8
Service ceiling, m 10,250 12,500 6,150
Service range, km 1,070 (1,720) - 3,030


Photo Description
Drawing NB

Drawing NB

Polikarpov TIS (MA)

The five-seat NB was built in the autumn of 1941) and featured wide cockpit and a capacious bomb bay.

Bibliography

  • "The history of designs of planes in USSR 1938-1950" /Vadim Shavrov/
  • "magazine «Aviation»." /Michael Maslov, # 5./