VICKERS WARWICK - Advanced
twin-engined heavy bomber designed to meet Operational Requirement OR.
19 as expressed through Specification B.l/35 in mid-1935. Vickers proposed
its Type 284 as essentially an enlarged Vickers
Wellington with overload weight of 36,000 Ib (16,330 kg) carrying
7,500-lb (3,402-lb) bomb-load over a range of 1,840 mis (2,961 km). One
prototype (K8178) ordered October 1935, first flown August 13, 1939, powered
by two 1,800 hp Rolls-Royce Vulture II engines, with twin-gun Frazer Nash
nose (FN5) and tail (FN10) turrets plus provision for dorsal (FN9) and
ventral (FN27) turrets. Second prototype (L9704) first flown April 5,
1940, with Bristol Centaurus engines; dorsal turret added later, and then
re-engined with Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp engines.
Vickers Warwick B Mk I: Subject of production order for 150 bombers placed in
January 1941, to be powered by R-2800-S1A4-G engines (Vickers Type 422).
First production aircraft flown April 1942, but bomber role for Vickers Warwick
abandoned in January 1943 and only 17 completed in this configuration.
Vickers Warwick B Mk II: One hundred ordered at same time as B Mk Is, to be powered
by 2,300 hp Centaurus IV engines (Vickers Type 413). None built as such;
one B Mk I converted to have Centaurus engines in July 1943 served as
engine test-bed, later with 2,500 hp Centaurus VIIIs.
Vickers Warwick C Mk I: Fourteen B Mk Is completed as mail/freight transports
(Vickers Type 456), with all'turrets deleted, cabin windows fitted and
extra fuel tankage. First flight February 5, 1943. Intended to meet urgent
BOAC need for service in Middle East and Africa, but not approved because
of poor single-engine performance. Reverted to RAF and issued in 1944
to No 525 Sqn, later used by No 167 Sqn.
Vickers Warwick C Mk III: Definitive freight/ passenger transport variant (Vickers
Type 460) based on Vickers Warwick B Mk I, with nose and tail fairings in place
of turrets, ventral paratroop exit, side door for stretcher loading, and
freight pannier in bomb-bay. First C Mk III flown spring 1944 and 100
built. Gross weight up to 45,000 Ib (20,412 kg) and small dorsal fin fitted
retrospectively. Entered service with No 525 Sqn, June/July 1944.
Vickers Warwick C Mk IV: Reserved designation for transport variant similar to
C Mk III, but with Centaurus engines as B Mk II. Not built.
Vickers Warwick ASR Mk I: Version of Vickers Warwick B Mk I for 'deep search' air-sea
rescue. Ventral turret deleted but nose, tail and dorsal turrets retained
and Airborne Lifeboat Mk I fitted in/under bomb-bay. Airframes originally
ordered and laid down as part of B Mk I production completed for ASR role
(Vickers Type 462) included 40 as Vickers Warwick Bomber/ASR, able to carry two
sets of Lindholme survival gear but not the lifeboat; 10 Vickers Warwick ASR (Stage
A) able to carry either the 'boat or Lindholme gear; 20 Vickers Warwick ASR (Stage
B) which added ASV radar and improved FN120A tail turret; and 149 Vickers Warwick
ASR (Stage C). Last-mentioned had extra fuel tankage, and could carry
improved Mk II Airborne Lifeboat (but not with Lindholme gear), and thus
represented definitive Vickers Warwick ASR Mk I, of which 151 further examples
built on new contracts placed in May 1943. Engines in the ASR Mk I were
R-2800-S1A4-G initially, and R-2800-47 in the final 95 examples (known
to Vickers, but not to the RAF, as ASR Mk VI). Service use initiated late-1943
in No 281 Sqn, joined in 1944 by Nos 282 and 279 in the UK, andlSIo 292
in India for a few months in 1945.
Vickers Warwick ASR Mk II: Reserved designation for ASR variant of B Mk II with
Centaurus VII engines. Not built, but one ASR Mk I fitted with Centaurus
as engine test-bed.
Vickers Warwick GR Mk II: Torpedo-bomber version for Coastal Command, based on
B Mk II, with ability to carry three 18-in (46-cm) or two 24-in (61-cm)
torpedoes or 12,250 Ib (5,557 kg) of bombs. Fitted with ASV Mk III or
VIB radar in radome under nose, which had single 0.50-in (12.7-mm) Browning
gun in multi-faceted Perspex fairing; dorsal and tail turrets retained
as in original bomber. Powered by 2,400 hp Bristol Centaurus VII engines
but several used by Bristol's Centaurus Development Flight to test Centaurus
XII and Centaurus 130. Production total 132 (Vickers Type 469); few used
at OTUs but end of war precluded operational deployment.
Vickers Warwick GR Mk V: As GR Mk II, but with ventral Leigh light in retractable
installation, and with dorsal turret removed in consequence. ASV Mk III
or, later, AI Mk VIB or XVII radar. Gross weight increased to 51,250 Ib
(23,247 kg). First flown April 1944 and 210 built (Vickers Type 474).
Issued to No 179 Sqn as the war ended, when further development then cancelled.
Nos 17 and 27 Sqns, SAAF, each equipped with 16 GRMkVs in mid-1945, but
disbanded upon return to South Africa later that year.
Max speed, 298 mph (480 km/h) at 3,500 ft (1,067 m). Cruising speed, 264
mph (425 km/h) at 9,500ft (2,896 m). Rate of climb, 1,250 ft/min (6.35
ml sec). Service ceiling, 19,000 ft (5,791 m). Max range, 3,050 mis (4,908
km). Empty weight, 35,400 Ib (16,057 kg). Gross weight, 51,250 Ib (23,247
kg). Span, 96 ft 8>/i in (29.46 m). Length, 73 ft 0 in (22.25 m). Wing
area, 1,019 sqft (94.67 m2).
