Best Fighter

DaveB.inVa · Jan 4, 2005

plan_D said:
Those late B-24s weren't Liberators were they? They were called Privateers?

Some B-24's late in the war were produced with a single tail. These were the B-24N variants. They were derived from experiments with the XB-24K which was a B-24D with its tail replaced by the empennage from a B-23 Dragon. The handling and directional stablity of the B-24 was found to be much better with the single tail. 5000 B-24N's were ordered, this time based on the B-24J, however VJ day came and the project was cancelled with only 1 XB-24N and 7 YB-24N's being completed.

The PB4Y-2 Privateer was a slightly different animal. It was a navalized Liberator with quite a few modifications. In addition to the giant single tail it also incorporated a lengthened fuselage to accomodate a flight engineer, an Erco bow (nose) and side blister turrets, two Martin dorsal turrets and retained the Consolidated tail turret. There was no ball turret on the PB4Y-2 as the two side blister turrets could be depressed so far that their points of fire would converge 20' below the aircraft. The engines had their turbochargers deleted to save weight and the props were different than the Liberator. Both were necessatated because the Privateer flew at lower altitudes where turbocharging and paddle blade propellers werent needed.

There was also the PB4Y-1 Liberator used by the navy. This was basically a B-24J with sailors flying it though. Some PB4Y-1's did incorporate an Erco bow turret however.

cheddar cheese · Jan 4, 2005

Ah, thanks for clearing that up, I never really knew about the Privateer 8)

the lancaster kicks ass · Jan 4, 2005

wow nice siggy CC.................

Lightning Guy · Jan 4, 2005

The Privater was a very interesting aircraft. For all of its modifications it was still, essentially a B-24. The point about the single tail remains valid.

cheddar cheese · Jan 4, 2005

Anyone got some stats on it 8)

Thanks lanc, aint bad is it?

DerAdlerIstGelandet · Jan 4, 2005

Here is some info that I found on it.

The PB4Y-2 Privateer was designed for a 1943 U.S. Navy contract to develop a naval variation of the B-24 Liberator. It was distinguished from the B-24 by having a new tail unit (with a tall single tail fin and rudder), a lengthened forward fuselage, changes in armament (two Martin dorsal turrets, an Erco nose ball turret and Erco two-gun 'teardrop' blisters on each side of the fuselage), and different engines (which had round instead of oval cowlings). The Privateer survived long after WWII, seeing service in the Korea. A few examples still remain in use today as fire-fighting bombers.

Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer

Type: land-based maritime patrol bomber
Crew:
Armament: twelve .50 cal machine guns
up to 12,800 lbs. of bombs

Specifications:
Length: 74' 7" (22.73 m)
Height: 30' 1" (9.17 m)
Wingspan: 110' 0" (93.53 m)
Wing area: 1048 sq. ft (97.36 sq. m)
Empty Weight: 37,485 lb (17,003 kg)
Max Weight: 65,000 lb (? kg) max at takeoff

Propulsion:
No. of Engines: 4
Powerplant: Pratt Whitney R-1830-94 Twin Wasp radial
Powerplant: Wright R-1860-52 Cyclone radial
Horsepower: 1350 hp each

Performance:
Range: 2800 miles (4506 km)
Cruise Speed: 140 mph ( 225 km/h)
Max Speed: 237 mph ( 381 km/h) at 13,750 ft
Ceiling: 20,700 ft (6310 m)
http://www.daveswarbirds.com/usplanes/aircraft/privater.htm

cheddar cheese · Jan 4, 2005

Thats a fair ol' range and not a bad payload either...

DerAdlerIstGelandet · Jan 4, 2005

Yeah I think it was pretty neat. I know I posted earlier that I had never heard about the Privateer but now I remember it from several of my books. It just did not occur to me.

GermansRGeniuses · Jan 4, 2005

cheddar cheese said:
There we go. I think it was a transport rather than a bomber.

Nope, it supplanted the Liberators as an ASW aircraft...

Plus, it had Griffons! (That just adds a level of coolness) 8)

cheddar cheese · Jan 4, 2005

I dont care what anyone says though, the tail is FAR too big

GermansRGeniuses · Jan 4, 2005

It's too skinny horizontally for its height...

For both the Warwick AND the Privateer!

redcoat · Jan 4, 2005

="GermansRGeniuses"]

There we go. I think it was a transport rather than a bomber.

Nope, it supplanted the Liberators as an ASW aircraft.

The main use of the Warwick in WW2 was as an air-sea rescue aircraft, carring an air-dropable lifeboat.

GermansRGeniuses · Jan 4, 2005

Are SAR planes equipped with Leigh Lights?

DerAdlerIstGelandet · Jan 4, 2005

I am not sure but they were used on ASW aircraft in the search for U-Boots at night.

From late 1943 to the end of the war, Nos.59, 86 and 120 Squadrons at various times flew Liberators from Ballykelly in the long and tedious fight against the U-boats, ranging from the Bay of Biscay to Arctic waters off North Norway by day and also at night, using Leigh Light equipped aircraft. By the end of the war, Ballykelly-based squadrons had been responsible for sinking no fewer than twelve U-boats, sharing with other aircraft and surface ships in the destruction of several others, and damaging many more.
http://www.home.aone.net.au/shack_one/balkela.html

Nonskimmer · Jan 4, 2005

redcoat said:
The main use of the Warwick in WW2 was as an air-sea rescue aircraft, carring an air-dropable lifeboat.

Ah-ha! That's where I recognized it from!
Thanks, redcoat!

DerAdlerIstGelandet · Jan 4, 2005

I remember reading something about that.

Anonymous · Jan 4, 2005

Nonskimmer said:
Basically, a bigger version of the Wellington. I don't think many were used.
Could be wrong, I'll have to look it up.

A very few were used, mostly for ASW and ASR operations in 1945. This was the only plane to successfully utilize the Bristol Centaraus radial engine in WWII.

=S=

Lunatic

evangilder · Jan 4, 2005

Didn't they later use the Centaurus for the Hawker SeaFury?

DerAdlerIstGelandet · Jan 4, 2005

From what I have read on the Warwick it was a pretty versatile aircraft. It did not have the best performance but was quite versatile.

The Vickers Warwick was a transport, anti-submarine patrol and air-sea rescue aircraft of the RAF during World War II.

The Warwick was designed in response to Air Ministry specification B.1/35 for a two-engined heavy (by the standards of the day) bomber to replace the Wellington. However the prototype orders were cancelled in 1936 when it was decided to standardise on four engined bombers. Vickers-Armstrong completed two prototypes anyway, one with Rolls-Royce Vulture water-cooled engines, not persisted with because of production difficulties, and one with the air-cooled Pratt Whitney installation.

The Warwick utilised the geodetic construction method pioneered in the Wellesley and Wellington. Structural members of duralumin were covered by wired-on fabric. 219 Warwick Is were built, the last 95 with 2,000hp (1,500kw) R-2800-47 engines.

Vickers' persistence paid off when the Warwick was ordered by Coastal Command as an anti-submarine reconnaissance type. From 1943 Warwicks were loaded with the 1,700lb (770kg) Mk. IA lifeboat and flown in an air-sea rescue role. The lifeboat, laden with supplies and powered by two 4hp (3kW) motors, was aimed with a bomb-site near to ditched air-crew and dropped into the sea from about 700ft (320m). Warwicks were credited with rescuing crews form Halifaxes, Lancasters, Wellingtons and Fortresses, and during the Arnhem landings from Hamilcar gliders.

And yes from the Mk. 2 and up it utilized the Centaurus Engines

The Warwick II was equipped to carry torpedoes or bombs, and powered by 2,520hp (1,880kW) Bristol Centaurus VII engines. 132 built.

The Warwick III was a transport development. It had a pannier-like extension below the central fuselage, the normal loaded weight being raised to 45,000lb (20,400kg). No armament was carried. 100 built.

The Warwick V was an anti-submarine patrol aircraft. It was powered by Centaurus VII engines, armed with 7 machine guns and could carry 6,000lbs (2,700kg) of bombs, mines or depth-charges. It arrived too late to see active service. 210 built.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vickers_Warwick

Nonskimmer · Jan 4, 2005

Ah! Thanks for the link Adler, I was looking for that site!

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