Bristol Beaufighter
The Beaufighter was designed as a long-range heavy fighter, with many components in common with the Bristol Beaufort torpedo bomber. It saw service as a night fighter, a torpedo bomber, a ground attack fighter and an anti-shipping aircraft. In addition to operations in Europe, it also served in the Middle East and Far East. By September 1945 a total of 5 564 had been built in a variety of models and many continued in front-line service into the end of 1950s.
The Beaufighter was the first effective radar-equipped night fighter. In early versions of the aircraft, the radar operator, in addition to his normal duties, was also responsible for the four 20-mm cannon with ammunition. Resupply could be difficult, especially when an aircraft was manoeuvring in pursuit of a target and the ammunition drums weighed about 18 kg (40 lbs) each.
Detailed history of Beaufighter
General characteristics
Primary function Long-range heavy attack/fighter, night fighter, torpedo bomber
Power plant Two Bristol Hercules XVII radial engines
Thrust 2x 1,770 HP 2x 1,320 kW
Wingspan 57 ft 10 in 17.63 m
Length 41 ft 8 in 12.6 m
Height 15 ft 10 in 4.84 m
Weight empty 15,650 lb 7,100 kg
max. 25,420 lb 11,530 kg
Speed cruis. 205 mph 330 km/h
max. 328 mph 528 km/h
Initial climb rate 1,850 ft/min 564 m/min
Ceiling 26,500 ft 8,077 m
Range 1,500 mi 2,400 km
Armament 4x 20mm Hispano cannon, 1x 7.7mm machine gun (fighters - 4x cannon, 6x machine gun); 728 kg torpedo or 2x 454 kg bomb or 8x rockets
Crew Two
First flight Prototype 17.7.1939
Date deployed July 1940
Number built 5,928 (incl. 364 built in Australia)
