bristol beaufighter.

[trackend]

I believe its around 330MPH
how accurate these figuires are Im sure you guys will tell me

Role Heavy fighter or light bomber
Crew 2
First Flight July 17 1939
Entered Service 1940
Manufacturer Bristol Aeroplane Company

Dimensions
Length 41 ft 8 in 12.7m
Wingspan 57 ft 10 in 17.7 m
Height 15 ft 10 in 4.8 m


Weight
Maximum takeoff 21,600 lb 9,800 kg

Powerplant
Engines 2 Bristol Hercules XVIII radial engines
Power 1,770 hp 1.3 MW

Performance
Maximum speed (at 15,600ft) 333 mph 540 km/h
Combat range 1,480 miles 2,380 km
Service ceiling 26,500 ft 8,000 m

Armament
Guns 4 x 20 mm Hispano cannon in nose
3 x 0.303 in (7.7 mm) Browning machine guns in each wing

 

[Gnomey]

They match the figures I have Lee. Nice info Erich.

 

[mosquitoman]

The MkX didn't have the Brownings though but the coastal versions of all marks had torpedo shackles under the fuselage and bomb carriers under the wings. Later Beaus also had 20mm rockets as an option instead of the bombs

 

[helmitsmit]

when I say slow. I mean slow for late world war2 standards. 330mph isn't quick and some versions just managed 303mph.

 

[mosquitoman]

Just got The Fighter Collection's Journal, apparently their Beau is slowly coming along, a lot of the wooden pieces have been remade in metal to match the Australian version it will eventually represent instead of British.

 

[plan_D]

It didn't need to be fast by late war fighter standards. When on an attack mission the speed combined with the Beaufighters solid airframe would often bring the crews home safely.

It was also armed to the teeth ...and if you're on the ground, and a Beaufighter spots you ...all you can do is bend over backwards and kiss your ass goodbye.

 

[lesofprimus]

Over 300 miles per hour at 20 meters over the ocean, carrying rockets and a torp, is fast as shit....

 

[Gnomey]

Sure is.

Nice new siggy Les, I like it

 

[lesofprimus]

TY...

 

[syscom3]

You cant drop torpedo's at 300 mph. Have to slow down to 150 to do it.

Of course with bombs for skipping, the faster the better.

 

[plan_D]

And that's the beauty of the Beaufighter, it drops to 150 MPH and it's still built like a brick shit house reinforced with titanium.

 

[lesofprimus]

You cant drop torpedo's at 300 mph. Have to slow down to 150 to do it.

Yes I know, and u knew what I meant sys....

 

[syscom3]

Les, thought you might be interested in this:

http://www.spawar.navy.mil/sti/publications/pubs/td/1940ex1/nrad50yre.html

and scroll down to "Air-Dropped Torpedoes"

The USN was working on dropping torpedo's at high speed.

 

[lesofprimus]

Interesting link... Ive read before on the shroud-tail torps (or ring-tail) awhile back...

I did not know however that it was Caltech that did the test/design though, or that the shroud idea was for higher alt drops... I just thought it was for higher drop speeds...

Good Link, other things there are pretty interesting as well...

 

[Gnomey]

Interesting link syscom.

 

[helmitsmit]

Wouldn't there have been fighters around particularly in the pacific? So the speed thing would be quite important because most Jap fighters could do 350mph easily. It doesn't matter how rogged you are your going the get shoot down eventually.

Although granted the speed isn't such an issue in the atlantic.

 

[plan_D]

You've got it the wrong way around. Most Japanese fighters were extremely poor over 300 MPH, the Zeke was struggling for any agility over 275 MPH and the Beaufighter could have evaded it. In Europe however, we have the Fw-190s and Bf-109s ...all capable at low, high and medium speeds. They were the greatest threats to the Beaufighter, not the Japanese aircraft.

And there were fighters around ...that's what an escort is for.

 

[helmitsmit]

Good point. Was the beaufighter able to evide the German fighters in anyway? Did the beaufighters ever get escorted because I have never heard any acounts of an escorted beaufighter mission.

 

[FLYBOYJ]

Good point. Was the beaufighter able to evide the German fighters in anyway? Did the beaufighters ever get escorted because I have never heard any acounts of an escorted beaufighter mission.

Good stuff - I wonder if anyone has information on how many Beaufighters were lost to enemy aircraft?

 

[plan_D]

I don't know exact stories of escorting Beaufighters, but I know in the CBI almost always Spitfires would be sent up with them for support. Even Mosquitos were sometimes escorted.