Myasishchev M-4

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The Myasishchev M-4 Molot (Russian: Молот (Hammer), NATO reporting name Bison, USAF code 'Type 37') is a four-engined strategic bomber, designed by Vladimir Myasishchev and manufactured by the Soviet Union in the 1950s to provide a bomber capable of attacking targets in North America. The Myasishchev design bureau was formed to build such a bomber.

Myasishchev M-4
Myasishchev M-4

Contents

[edit] History

First flying soon after the first flight of the B-52 Stratofortress, the M-4 initially impressed Soviet officials, 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 several of the original production M-4s were actually put into service.

The M-4 was first displayed to the public in Red Square, on May Day, 1954.

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.

This time, it was not the 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 reconnaissance aircraft. In 1959, the 3M broke numerous world records, however, it was thought by the West (and would continue to be thought so 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 specialised 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 The last aircraft, an M-4-2 fuel tanker, was withdrawn from service in 1994.

The VM-T heavy lift aircraft is based on the 3MN-2 tanker.

[edit] Operators

Flag of the Soviet Union Soviet Union

[edit] Specifications (Myasishchev M-4)

General characteristics

  • Crew: 8
  • Length: 48.70 m (159 ft 9 in)
  • Wingspan: 50.53 m (165 ft 9 in)
  • Height: 14.10 m (46 ft 3 in)
  • Wing area: 326.35 m² (3,512.8 ft²)
  • Empty weight: 79,700 kg (175,700 lb)
  • Loaded weight: 138,500 kg (305,340 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 181,500 kg (400,135 lb)
  • Powerplant: 4× Mikulin AM-3A turbojets, 85.75 kN (19,280 lbf)[1] each

Performance

Armament

  • Guns: 9×23 mm NR-23 cannons or 6×23 mm AM-23 cannons 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 9,000 kg (19,840 lb) of internal stores. Up to 24,000 kg (52,910 lb) could be carried, including nuclear and conventional bombs

[edit] References and notes

  1. ^ Originally measured as 8,750 kgf

[edit] External links

[edit] See also

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M-101 Gzhel/Duet · M-112 · M-150 · M-500
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