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Bristol Beaufighter

Designed following the Czechoslovakia occupation by the Nazi’s and the Munich crisis.’

The unarmed first prototype Bristol Beaufighter R2052 in July 1939.  © BAE Systems

Designed to be heavily armed but as an interim design due to delays in production of the Westland Whirlwind

Only one squadron used the Beaufighter at RAF Bradwell Bay, 29 Squadron came to Bradwell Bay with Beaufighter  VlF in May 1943. This version was Powered by the Hercules VI, providing 1,670hp, allowing increased weight and additional external stores to be carried. Fuel capacity was also increased. The radar equipment was upgraded to the AI Mk.VI or Mk.VII.

Beaufighter Mk.VIFNight fighter equipped with AI Mark V111 radar

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Length: 41 ft 4 in (12.60 m)
  • Wingspan: 57 ft 10 in (17.63 m)
  • Height: 15 ft 10 in (4.83 m)
  • Wing area: 503 sq ft (46.7 m2) 
  • Airfoil: root: RAF-28 (18%); tip: RAF-28 (10%)
  • Empty weight: 15,592 lb (7,072 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 25,400 lb (11,521 kg) with one torpedo
  • Fuel capacity: 550 imp gal (660 US gal; 2,500 L) normal internal fuel
  • Maximum fuel capacity: 682 imp gal (819 US gal; 3,100 L) (with optional 2 × 29 imp gal (35 US gal; 130 L) external tanks / 1 × 24 imp gal (29 US gal; 110 L) tank in lieu of port wing guns / 1 × 50 imp gal (60 US gal; 230 L) tank in lieu of stbd. wing guns)
  • Powerplant: 2 × Bristol Hercules XVII or Bristol Hercules XVIII14-cylinder air-cooled sleeve-valve radial piston engines, 1,600 hp (1,200 kW) each
  • Propellers: 3-bladed constant-speed propellers

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 320 mph (510 km/h, 280 kn) at 10,000 ft (3,000 m)
  • Range: 1,750 mi (2,820 km, 1,520 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 19,000 ft (5,800 m)
  • Rate of climb: 1,600 ft/min (8.1 m/s)

Armament

  • Guns:
    • 4 × 20 mm (0.787 in) Hispano Mark ll canon (240 rpg) in nose
    • 6 × .303 (7.7 mm) Browning machine guns in wings four starboard two port (optional, replacing internal long range fuel tanks)
    • 1 × manually operated 0.303 in (7.7 mm) Browning for observer (if fitted)
  • Rockets: 8 × RP-3 60 lb (27 kg) rockets
  • Bombs: 2 × 250 lb (110 kg) bombs