For Terry AKA Airframes :)

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A Merlin Beaufighter with a turret?

Yep the Beaufighter Mk.V R2274 with the Boulton-Paul turret from the BP Defiant tested in April and May in no. 29 Sqadron RAF. The opening over the radioman's compartment was faired with an aluminium cover.

To add to the info, the Beaufighter V aircraft was produced to specification F.18/40, issued first in October 1940 for a fixed gun night fighter to replace the Defiant. In December 1940 the spec was reissued with the criteria for a powered turret, which led to a couple of things happening, one of which was de Havilland, although not officially submitting an aircraft to the specification, was asked to produce a Mosquito with a gun turret, and Bristol to create this abomination. Two Mossies were finished with turrets, the first was the fourth prototype and the last of the prototypes to fly from Salisbury Hall, before the rest were built at Hatfield. This Mossie prototype had the turret removed and became the T.III prototype.

The Beaufighter V was tipped for production as an expediency measure but a few things hampered this, firstly, it was slower than the Defiant it was intended on replacing and secondly, the turret blocked the pilot's underfloor entry and exit point from the aircraft. Thirdly, trials with the Mosquito NF.II prototype brought the Air Ministry's appreciation of a turret equipped night fighter to an end. The NF.II provided excellent performance and the solution to the night fighter specification calling for a Defiant replacement, so F.18/40 was shelved and the two Beaufighter Vs built were the only ones.
 

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