Tupolev TB-1

The Tupolev TB‑1, also known as ANT‑4, was the Soviet Union’s first all‑metal, twin‑engine bomber, built by the Tupolev Design Bureau in the early 1920s. Conceived by Andrei Nikolayevich Tupolev, the aircraft first flew on 26 November 1922 and entered service in 1924, marking a decisive shift from wood‑and‑fabric biplanes to modern monoplane construction. Powered by two 450‑horsepower M‑17 liquid‑cooled V12 engines, the TB‑1 featured a high‑wing layout, a spacious internal bomb bay that could carry up to 1,000 kg of ordnance, and defensive gun stations in dorsal and ventral turrets. Its all‑metal duralumin skin provided durability and allowed a maximum speed of 210 km/h and a range of 1,200 km, remarkable for the era. Over 400 examples were produced, serving as bombers, transport aircraft, and testbeds for later designs such as the renowned Tupolev ANT‑20 “Maxim Gorky.” The TB‑1 saw limited action in the Soviet‑Polish War for reconnaissance and light bombing, and a few were exported to China in the late 1930s for transport and training. The aircraft’s innovative structure and reliable performance laid the groundwork for Soviet strategic aviation, influencing bomber development throughout the 1930s and establishing Tupolev as a leading aircraft manufacturer.

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