back british WWII bombers

British WWII's bombers

prepared by Jirka Wagner

QUICK LINKS

Blackurn B-37 Firebrand



The Firebrand was designed as a carrier fighter powered by a Napier Sabre engine, but because of engine unreliability and poor handling it was unacceptable. It was then redesigned to become a fast strike aircraft carrying a large torpedo, and powered by a Bristol Centaurus radial. The bulky Firebrand was a failure. Still it had a service life from 1946 to 1953.

General characteristics Firebrand Mk.IV
Primary function Fighter / torpedo bomber
Power plant One Bristol Centaurus IX two-row radial radial engine
Thrust 2,520 HP 1,853 kW
Wingspan 51.3 ft 15.63 m
Length 38.75 ft 11.81 m
Height 13.25 ft 4.04 m
Wingarea 383 sq ft 35.58 sq m
Weight empty 11,457 lb 5,197 kg
max. 16,700 lb 7,575 kg
Speed max 342 mph 550 km/h
Initial climb rate 2,600 ft/min 792 m/min
Ceiling 34,580 ft 10,539 m
Range 746 mi 1200 km
Armament 4x 20mm machine gun (200 rounds each); torpedo 840 kg or 2x 454 kg bomb or 6-8 rockets
Crew One
First flight Prototype Mk.I 27.2.1942
Date deployed 17.5.1945
Number built 221 (all versions incl. postwar)


Jirka Wagner

 

Copyright © All Rights Reserved