One thing I forgot ... of course the Tu-95 is much faster than any P3 cruising .... but probably not nearly as manoeverable.
Yeah doesn't the TU-95 have eight contra-rotating props on four turbo prop engines? 400 some odd mph. Fast for a prop plane but like you said too, it can't turn on a football field, much less a dime. I'm surprised any of them actually have detection gear as advances as a P-3 Orion. That is disturbing. I still wouldn't bet on them being able to successfully hunt our subs. They're big slow turning targets and a coule F-15's anywhere within a couple thousand miles could nail it. Big easy target and the Chinese don't have any long range interceptors to escort it that I've seen so far.