Author Topic: Battle of Britain Poor RAF A/C Performance (Read 1431 times)

Col. Flashman · « **on:** October 15, 2006, 07:02:23 PM »

Know why the planes flown by Britain during early war operations didn't perform as they should have?
It turns out that the U.K. @ the time could only get their hands on 87 Octane Aviation Fuel & you know what that'll do to engine performance.
Found in the Imperial War Museum archives.

MiloMorai · « **Reply #1 on:** October 15, 2006, 07:39:30 PM »

What are you babbling about?

Do a search and you will find some threads dealing with Brit fuel?

Col. Flashman · « **Reply #2 on:** October 15, 2006, 11:28:43 PM »

Go see for yourself by visiting the I.W.M. archives, that's where I found this Intel & there's no reason for you to be Nasty in your responses.

Debonair · « **Reply #3 on:** October 16, 2006, 12:04:46 AM »

just u wach hoo u r calling te "Nasty"

he is a "senoir member"

Col. Flashman · « **Reply #4 on:** October 16, 2006, 12:21:42 AM »

ROTFLMAO, this is just the same as being back in Public School.

Knegel · « **Reply #5 on:** October 16, 2006, 02:07:16 AM »

Hi,

any new documents??

Its well known that up to mid 1940 almost only 87 octan fuel was available, but we already saw some datas that show 100 octan fuel available in not smal numbers while BoB(August 1940 onward).

If you have new documents, please post them!!

Greetings,

Col. Flashman · « **Reply #6 on:** October 16, 2006, 02:12:29 AM »

There in the IWM archives where I found them.

Knegel · « **Reply #7 on:** October 16, 2006, 02:33:11 AM »

And?? What do this documents state??

Was that real documents what you saw or only what the historians of the archive wrote??

Search the forum, you will find good hints to 100 octan fuel while BoB. If you think you found new informations, go there, make a photo and offer them. Otherwise its only a tale.

btw, iam in germany, not that easy to visit that archive.

Greetings,

gripen · « **Reply #8 on:** October 16, 2006, 02:57:04 AM »

Generally the published performance numbers of the Hurricane I and the Spitfire I are for 87 octane fuel (6,25 lbs boost) so I don't see much problem here.

The 100 octane fuel itself was a standard commercial fuel from Shell company (there were also other sources) and was quite widely available before the war. As an example Finnish Air force used 100 octane fuel during winter war in the Blenheim IVs (there is pictures showing Blenheims refueled from barrels marked 100 octane).

gripen

Col. Flashman · « **Reply #9 on:** October 16, 2006, 03:00:31 AM »

Original Cargo Manifests stating the amount of the shipment of 87 Octane Fuel on board which particular ships, when they arrived, etc., are in the archives & they've On-Line access.
I've been attempting to retrace that On-Line search, no I'm unable to find the Bookmark I made & one expects an adult conversation when posting, what do I get, smart arse remarks, which are rather irksome.
Which puts finding it a lower priority, because if this is the kind of horse hockey responses ones receives when attempting to share Intel & have a stimulating conversation, it's just not worth effort.

Col. Flashman · « **Reply #10 on:** October 16, 2006, 03:15:56 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by gripen
Generally the published performance numbers of the Hurricane I and the Spitfire I are for 87 octane fuel (6,25 lbs boost) so I don't see much problem here.

The 100 octane fuel itself was a standard commercial fuel from Shell company (there were also other sources) and was quite widely available before the war. As an example Finnish Air force used 100 octane fuel during winter war in the Blenheim IVs (there is pictures showing Blenheims refueled from barrels marked 100 octane).

gripen

But that's not what they were designed to be run on for the Best Performance possible during combat operations.
The 100 Octane was in short supply for Britain because of the Wolf Packs, the Importation of fuel from the Pacific based oil fields became none existant & even Shell had problems making deliveries consistently & being able to meet some orders of processed fuel because of this.

Angus · « **Reply #11 on:** October 16, 2006, 03:23:34 AM »

There were more aircraft flying than just Spitfires and Hurricanes.
AFAIK the 100 oct fuel was more used by the high performers and was available in sufficient quantity by the time of the BoB.
BoB = 100 oct fuel and CS propeller

gripen · « **Reply #12 on:** October 16, 2006, 03:35:43 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Col. Flashman
But that's not what they were designed to be run on for the Best Performance possible during combat operations.

AFAIK the Merlin was not purposedly designed for the 100 octane fuel. Generally the performance with 87 octane was the baseline while 100 octane offered emergency power (below FTH) which was infact above the original specification.

Quote

Originally posted by Col. Flashman

The 100 Octane was in short supply for Britain because of the Wolf Packs, the Importation of fuel from the Pacific based oil fields became none existant & even Shell had problems making deliveries consistently & being able to meet some orders of processed fuel because of this.

There appear to have been quite large use of 100 octane by RAF even before the BoB. While it might have been sometimes in short supply, it seems to had been used quite widely throughout the battle.

gripen

MiloMorai · « **Reply #13 on:** October 16, 2006, 06:07:40 AM »

Yes you are babbling. This subject has been hashed out several times hear.

From a search of the board from just one thread.

11/7/40 RAF had 343,000 tons of 100 octane in store.

10/10/40 RAF had 424,000 tons of 100 octane in store. After 22,000 tons issued during the B of B.

1 ton = 2240lb

I bet it is the Aussie report that is being referred to. This had been debunked here and and other boards.

Col. Flashman · « **Reply #14 on:** October 16, 2006, 06:25:40 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by MiloMorai
Yes you are babbling. This subject has been hashed out several times hear.

From a search of the board from just one thread.

11/7/40 RAF had 343,000 tons of 100 octane in store.

10/10/40 RAF had 424,000 tons of 100 octane in store. After 22,000 tons issued during the B of B.

1 ton = 2240lb

I bet it is the Aussie report that is being referred to. This had been debunked here and and other boards.

Well excuse me for not being here for them when they Originally took place & evidently not using the correct wording for the search I performed, as I did not find those discussions.

Would it be so hard for you to not be such a Git & just state that if you haven't found it, look here for this discussion which already took place on this Forum.
How bloody hard would that have been?
Why don't you go play w/ some Av-Gas & a Lighter.