BRISTOL 156 BEAUFIGHTER
- The Bristol Beaufighter
was designed by L G Frise as a two-seat four-cannon long-range fighter
using the wings, tail unit and landing gear of the Beaufort for speed
of production. First of four prototypes, with Hercules I-SM radials, flown
on July 17, 1939; second prototype had Hercules I-M, third had Hercules
III and fourth had Hercules II.
Bristol Beaufighter I: First production contract placed July 1939,
for 300 aircraft (including the four prototypes) with 1,400 hp Hercules
Ills. First 50 armed with four 20-mm Hispano cannon in nose; subsequent
aircraft also had six 0.303-in (7.7-mm) guns in wings; Hercules XI engines
in last 120 Filton-built Mk Is. Deliveries to RAF began July 27, 1940,
initial deliveries being to Nos 25, 29, 219, 600 and 604 Squadrons. Most
fitted with AI Mk IV 'arrowhead' radar for night-fighting role in retrospective
programme starting September 1940. During 1941, Bristol Beaufighter Is
adopted for Coastal Command service with long-range fuel tanks in place
of wing guns and revised crew arrangements; deliveries began to No 252
Sqn in March 1942. Coastal Command version subsequently designated Mk
1C and Fighter Command version Mk IF. Production totals, 272 Mk IF and
78 Mk 1C at Filton, 240 Mk IF by MAP Shadow Factory at Weston-super-Mare;
25 IF and 300 Mk 1C by Fairey at Stockport including 72 Mk 1C supplied
to RAAF, of which one re-engined in Australia with 1,600 hp Wright GR-2600-A5B
radials, and flown in August 1944. First operational with No 30 Sqn, RAAF,
in September 1942.
Max speed, 306 mph
(492 km/h) at sea level, 323 mph (520 km/h) at 15,000ft (4,575 m). Max
cruise, 272 mph (437 km/h) at 15,000ft (4,575 m). Initial rate of climb,
1,850 ft/min (9.4 ml sec). Time to 20,000 ft (6,100 m), 14.1 min. Service
ceiling, 26,500ft (8,077 m). Normal range, 1,170 mis (1,883 km) at 182
mph (293 km/h) at 5,000 ft (1,525 m). Empty weight, 14,069 Ib (6,381 kg).
Gross weight, 21,100 (9,435 kg). Span, 57 ft 10 in (17.63 m). Length,
41 ft 4 in (12.60 m). Wing area, 503 sqft (46.73 m2).
Bristol Beaufighter II:
As Mk IF with 1,250 hp Merlin XX liquid-cooled in-line engines. Prototype
(with Merlin Xs) flown at Hucknall July 1940 and first production Mk IIF
at Filton on March 22, 1941, with first deliveries to No 600 Sqn in April.
Production totalled 450 (including prototypes converted from Mk Is), used
exclusively to equip a total of 11 UK-based night-fighter squadrons.
Max speed, 283 mph
(455 km/h) at 15,000ft (4,575 m), 301 mph (484 kmlh) at 20,200ft (6,157m).
Range, 1,040 mis (1,673 km) at 10,000ft (3,050m) at 177 mph (285 kmlh).
Span, 57 ft 10 in (17.63 m). Length, 42ft 9 in (31.03m).
Bristol Beaufighter III:
Projected Bristol Type 158 with slimmer fuselage and Hercules engines.
Bristol Beaufighter IV: As Bristol Beaufighter III with Griffon
engines, not built.
Bristol Beaufighter V: Two Mk Us modified March 1941 to have Boulton
Paul BPA.l dorsal turret with four 0.303-in machine guns and wing guns
removed.
Bristol Beaufighter VI: As Mk I with 1,670 hp Hercules VI engines
and progressively-introduced improvements including dihedral on tailplane,
underwing bomb-racks, AI Mk VIII radar in 'thimble' nose (in Mk VIF) and
bellows-operated dive brakes (in Mk VIC). First Bristol Beaufighter with
Hercules VI engines flown early 1941; deliveries of Mk VIF early 1942
and thereafter operational in fighter role in UK, Europe, North Africa
and Burma. Also equipped four USAAF night fighter squadrons in North Africa,
and 63 supplied to RAAF for operation in Pacific area. Production totals,
669 Mk VIF at Filton, 175 Mk VIC by Fairey at Stockport, 260 Mk VIF and
518 Mk VIC at Weston-super-Mare and 150 Mk VIF by Rootes at Stoke-on-Trent.
Max speed, 333 mph
(536 km/h) at 15,600 ft (4,755 m). Max cruise, 276 mph (444 kmlh) at 15,000
ft (4,575 m). Range, 1,480 mis (2,381 km) at 243 mph (391 kmlh) at 15,000
ft (4,575 m). Empty weight, 14,600 Ib (6,628 kg). Gross weight, 21,600
Ib (9,806 kg).
Bristol Beaufighter VI (ITF):
Mk VIC adapted as torpedo-carrier for Coastal Command service, following
prototype trials April/May 1942. One British 18-in (,-16-cm) or US 22.5-in
(57-cm) torpedo externally under fuselage; otherwise as standard Mk VIC
with Hercules Vis. Sixty built at Weston, entered service with No 254
Sqn early 1943.
Bristol Beaufighter VII: Proposed production of Bristol Beaufighter
VIC in Australia by DAP at Fishermen's Bend, with Hercules 26 engines.
Bristol Beaufighter VIII: Proposed Australian production version with
GR-2600-A5B Cyclone engines.
Bristol Beaufighter IX: Similar to Bristol Beaufighter VIII proposal.
Bristol Beaufighter TF Mk X: Similar to Bristol Beaufighter VI
(ITF), with Hercules XVII engines for improved low altitude performance.
One 0.303-in Browning or Vickers 'K' gun in observer's cupola for rear
defence; AI Mk VIII in 'thimble' nose, long dorsal fin, enlarged tailplane,
increased ammunition load for nose cannon, provision for third crewman
behind pilot to assist in aiming torpedo and provision for underwing rocket
projectiles and/or 1,000-lb (454-kg) bombs, and for two 500-lb (227-kg)
bombs under fuselage in lieu of torpedo. Operational from early 1944 with
Bristol Beaufighter Strike Wings in Coastal Command, including RAF, RCAF,
RAAF and RNZAF units operating from UK bases and in Mediterranean area,
including two SAAF units as part of Balkan Air Force. Production totals,
2,095 built at Weston and 110 by Rootes at Stoke-on-Trent, including 62
supplied to RAAF.
Max speed, 303 mph
(488 km/h) at 1,300 ft (396 m). Max cruise, 249 mph (401 km/h) at 5,000
ft (1,525 m). Range, 1,470 mis (2,365 km) at 205 mph (330 km/h) at 5,000ft
(1,525 m). Service ceiling, 15,000 ft (4,575 m). Empty weight, 15,600
Ib (7,082 kg). Gross weight, 25,200 Ib (11,440 kg).
Bristol Beaufighter XIC:
Similar to TF Mk X, but no provision to carry torpedo. Production total,
163 by Weston factory, of which 20 supplied to RAAF.
Bristol Beaufighter XII: Projected variant with Hercules 27 engines
and 1,000-lb bomb under each wing.
Bristol Beaufighter 21: Australian production version similar to
British Mk XIC, with Hercules XVIIIs, Sperry autopilot, four 20-mm nose
cannon and four 0.50-in (12.7-mm) guns in the wings, provision for two
250-lb (113-kg) bombs and eight 60-lb (27-kg) rocket projectiles under
wings. No dorsal fin and no nose radar. Produced by Government Aircraft
Factory at Fishermen's Bend. First flown May 26, 1944, and 365 built for
RAAF up to end-1945 (of which one not delivered). Equipped five RAAF squadrons
operational against Japanese targets in Pacific area.
