British WWII's bombers

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Bristol Beaufort

Twin-engined torpedo bomber, based on Blenheim experience (more heavy, because crew was four men). It was the standard torpedo bomber from 1940 until 1943, but was never considered a really successful type (but attacked also German battle cruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau). From 1939 built also in Australia with Pratt&Whitney Twin Wasp engines (1,200 HP) - succesful by attacks before Japanese ships.

General characteristics Beaufort Mk. I
Primary function	Torpedo aircraft
Power plant	Two Bristol Taurus VI 14cylinder radial engines
Thrust	2x 1,130 HP		2x 843 kW
Wingspan	57.8 ft		17.63 m
Length	44.16 ft		13.46 m
Height	14.2 ft		4.34 m
Wingarea	503 sq ft		46.73 sq m
Weight	empty	13,100 lb	5,945 kg
	max.	21,230 lb	9,630 kg
Speed	max.	265 mph	426 km/h
	armed	225 mph	362 km/h
Ceiling	16,500 ft		5,030 m
Range	1,600 mi		2,575 km
Armament	typical 4x 7.7mm machine gun; 1x 18in torpedo or up to 907 kg bombs
Crew	Four
First flight	15.10.1938
Date deployed	1939
Number built	2,080 (incl. 700 in Australia)
Users	GB, Australia, Turkey

Jirka Wagner