Bristol Beaufort I and Mk V

[Butcher]

It's that time again when I post some aircraft's that would have a positive entrance to aces high, starting off with the Bristol Beaufort.

Originally the Bristol Aeroplane Company gained knowledge and experience from a previous early war bomber known as the Blenheim light bomber.

They wanted to devise a Coastal Command twin engine torpedo bomber, the Beauforts saw action in the RAF Coastal Command and Royal Navy from 1940 till withdrawn from European service in 1942, however they had much considerable success in the Mediterranean against the German North African Army, causing considerable disruption. Not only did the Beaufort service in the RAF Coastal command, Mediterranean Theater, but it was widely used in the Pacific theater by the Royal Australian Air Force, which under license were built in Australia.

The main ordnance carried by the Beaufort was a single 1,605lb Mk XII torpedo on a centerline pylon.

Although it was a Torpedo bomber, the Beaufort was often employed as a Level bomber carrying up to 2,000lbs of bombs (4x 500lbs).

Defensive wise it was nothing special, early versions had only three vickers .303 machine guns (one in the port wing and two in the dorsal turret), however late productions were given six .303 machine guns with two fixed in the nose, two in the turret, one in the port wing and one firing laterally from an entry hatch.

Here are some specifications for the models (Early war and Mid war)

Beaufort I
Span 57ft 10 in
Length 44 ft 3 in
Wing area 503 sq ft
Empty Weight 13,100lbs
Max Weight 21,230lb
Max Speed 260mph which typically flew around 6500ft
Service Ceiling 16,500ft
Range 1,600 miles
Crew: 4
Production: roughly around 950
Power Plant: Two 1,130 hp Bristol Taurus VI

Bristol Beaufort V
Span 57 feet 10 inch
Length 44ft 3 inch
Height 14 ft 3 inch
Wing Area 503 sq ft
Empty weight 14,070lbs
Max weight 22,500lbs
Max Speed 265mph at 6500ft
Service Ceiling: 22,500ft
Range 1,450miles
Crew: 4
Production numbers: roughly 1115
Power plant Two 1,200hp Pratt & Whitney S1C3G

[Karnak]

Once again, the Wellington would be a far superior addition.  I don't know why people keep suggesting early war British bombers that did so poorly they had to be taken off of operations.

[Butcher]

Once again, the Wellington would be a far superior addition.  I don't know why people keep suggesting early war British bombers that did so poorly they had to be taken off of operations.

Well I was going to also suggest the Wellington in a later post today, I thought I'd first post a light/torpedo bomber first, then the wellington mainly because of its use in the Burma theater, mainly due to the lack of burma theater plane sets.

[MAINER]

+1 for more british early war!

[Karnak]

Well I was going to also suggest the Wellington in a later post today, I thought I'd first post a light/torpedo bomber first, then the wellington mainly because of its use in the Burma theater, mainly due to the lack of burma theater plane sets.

Eventually I think things like the Battle, Blenheim, Beaufort, Hampden and Whitley might have a place in AH, but in the short term I think, for scenarios and the AvA, we are in need of an early war British bomber that is both capable of getting the job done while leaving open the possibility that the Bf109E-4, Bf109F-4 and Bf110C-4b are also capable of stopping it.  The Boston Mk III is too fast for the Bf109E-4 and Bf110C-4b to be effective against while also having too light a bomb load to be effective itself.

[Butcher]

Eventually I think things like the Battle, Blenheim, Beaufort, Hampden and Whitley might have a place in AH, but in the short term I think, for scenarios and the AvA, we are in need of an early war British bomber that is both capable of getting the job done while leaving open the possibility that the Bf109E-4, Bf109F-4 and Bf110C-4b are also capable of stopping it.  The Boston Mk III is too fast for the Bf109E-4 and Bf110C-4b to be effective against while also having too light a bomb load to be effective itself.

I chose the Beaufort because I believe it would be picked over the Battle, Blenheim and Hampden far as bomb load / defensive armament, and usage is concerned, the Battle for example was completely withdrawn from the Poney War after being slaughtered for being to slow, and unable to defend itself (basically a stuka without escort).

Handley Page Hampden makes a good case argument being it carried up to 4k of ords, few more defensive armaments nad carries a torpedo.
Whitley was already obsolete by the war start, however it did have marginal better defensive armaments and much better bomb load then the latter.

This is why I pretty much point towards the Wellington and Beaufort, both served in a far bigger capacity in multiple theaters rather then just one theater for example.

[Guppy35]

OK and this makes little sense when the Beaufighter took over it's role because the Beaufort was a bit of a dog.  Add the Beau and you've got all the torpedo, bomb carrying ability of the Beaufort and better performance.

Lets just say the guys who gave up their Beauforts for Beaufighters were not sorry.

[mipoikel]

Good read http://aircrewbookreview.blogspot.com/2011/05/ship-busters-ralph-barker.html

[lyric1]

OK and this makes little sense when the Beaufighter took over it's role because the Beaufort was a bit of a dog.  Add the Beau and you've got all the torpedo, bomb carrying ability of the Beaufort and better performance.

Lets just say the guys who gave up their Beauforts for Beaufighters were not sorry.

What he^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ said.

[Guppy35]

Good read http://aircrewbookreview.blogspot.com/2011/05/ship-busters-ralph-barker.html

I don't have the Barker book, but I have the Roy Nesbit book "The Armed Rovers' about Beaufort and Beaufighter Ops in the Med.  Nesbit was on Beauforts.  There is a good biography called "Whispering Death-My Wartime Adventures" by Lee Heide as well.  He flew in Beauforts before transitioning to Beaufighters.

My first comment was based on their comments on flying the Beaufort vs the Beaufighter.  Lets just say that surviving in Beaufighters was a bit more possible then Beauforts

[USAF2010]

I wouldn't mind, but not before the Hampden or Wellington 

[Rino]

     The Hampden?  How long have you been a masochist? 

[Shuffler]

I think since we need more german iron we should consider the Volkwagon. It was "the people's car" you know.... literally.

They could haul some supplies and 3 troops. Maybe carry paperwork between bases.

[Butcher]

Just checked the bombload for the Wellington, typical load was only 2,500lbs max was 4,500, going to rule that off my list.

[Rino]

     You're not going to get much more than that for an early war twin.