If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Vickers Wellington
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vickers_Wellington
The Vickers Wellington was a British twin-engined, long-range medium bomber. It was designed during the mid-1930s at Brooklands in Weybridge, Surrey, led by Vickers-Armstrongs' Chief Designer Rex Pierson; a key feature of the aircraft is its geodesic fuselage structure, principally designed by Barnes Wallis. Development had been started in response to Air Ministry Specification B.9/32; issued in the middle of 1932, this called for a twin-engined day bomber capable of delivering higher performance than any previous design. Other aircraft developed to the same specification include the Armstrong Whitworth Whitley and the Handley Page Hampden. During the development process, performance requirements such as for the tare weight changed substantially, as well as the powerplant for the type being swapped. The Wellington was widely used as a night bomber in the early years of the Second World War, performing as one of the principal bombers used by Bomber Command. During 1943, it started to be superseded as a bomber by the larger four-engined "heavies" such as the Avro Lancaster. The Wellington continued to serve throughout the war in other duties, particularly as an anti-submarine aircraft. It holds the distinction of being the only British bomber to be produced for the duration of the war and of being produced in a greater quantity than any other British-built bomber. The Wellington remained as first-line equipment when the war ended, although it had been increasing relegated to secondary roles. The Wellington was one of two bombers named after Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, the other being the Vickers Wellesley. Role Medium bomber anti-submarine aircraft Manufacturer Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd. First flight 15 June 1936 Introduction October 1938 Retired March 1953 Primary users Royal Air Force Royal Canadian Air Force Fleet Air Arm Polish Air Forces Produced 1936–1945 Number built 11,461[1] or 11,462 Variants Vickers Warwick Vickers VC.1 Viking On 3 September 1939, the eve of the outbreak of the Second World War, No. 3 Group of Bomber Command comprised eight squadrons (No. 9, No. 37, No. 37 No. 38, No. 99, No. 115 and No. 149 Squadrons), alongside two reserve squadrons (No. 214 and No. 215 squadrons), that were equipped with a mixture of Wellington Mk I and Mk IA aircraft. On 4 September 1939, less than 24 hours after the commencement of hostility, a total of 14 Wellingtons of No. 9 and No. 149 Squadrons, alongside a number of Bristol Blenheim aircraft, performed the first RAF bombing raid of the war, targeting German shipping at Brunsbüttel.[23] The effectiveness of the raid was diminished by a combination of poor weather and high amounts of anti-aircraft fire, in additional, the bombing of the harbour itself had not been permitted by the Chamberlain War Cabinet in fear of injuring civilians. During this opening raid, a pair of Wellingtons became the first aircraft to be lost on the Western Front. On 3 December 1939, 24 Wellingtons of No. 38, No. 115 and No. 147 Squadrons attacked the German fleet moored at Heligoland. The bombing commenced from high altitude and, while results of the bombing itself proved negligible in terms of damage, the ability of a formation of Wellingtons to adequately penetrate strongly defended hostile airspace was validated. On 14 December 1939, 12 Wellingtons of No. 99 Squadron conducted a low-level raid upon German shipping at the Schillig Roads and Wilhelmshaven. Encountering enemy fire from warships, flak, and Luftwaffe aircraft, the Wellington formation lost five aircraft, along with another that crashed near its base, while only one enemy fighter was downed. Specifications (Wellington Mark IC) General characteristics Crew: six Length: 64 ft 7 in (19.69 m) Wingspan: 86 ft 2 in (26.27 m) Height: 17 ft 5 in (5.31 m) Wing area: 840 ft² (78.1 m²) Empty weight: 18,556 lb (8,435 kg) Max. takeoff weight: 28,500 lb (12,955 kg) Powerplant: 2 × Bristol Pegasus Mark XVIII radial engines, 1,050 hp (783 kW) each Performance Maximum speed: 235 mph (378 km/h) at 15,500 ft (4,730 m) Range: 2,550 mi (2,217 nmi, 4,106 km) Service ceiling: 18,000 ft (5,490 m) Rate of climb: 1,120 ft/min (5.7 m/s) Wing loading: 34 lb/ft² (168 kg/m²) Power/mass: 0.08 hp/lb (0.13 kW/kg) Armament Guns: 6–8× .303 Browning machine guns: 2× in nose turret 2× in tail turret[note 1] 2× in waist positions [note 2] Bombs: 4,500 lb (2,041 kg) bombs * |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
UK1 K4049 Vickers Wellington.jpg | Joseph Testagrose | Aviation Photos | 0 | November 25th 14 01:43 PM |
UK1 W5518 Vickers Wellington.jpg | Joseph Testagrose | Aviation Photos | 0 | March 16th 14 01:38 PM |
UK1 Z1302 Vickers Wellington.jpg | Joseph Testagrose | Aviation Photos | 0 | December 8th 11 12:16 PM |
UK1 X9741 Vickers Wellington.jpg | Joseph Testagrose | Aviation Photos | 0 | December 7th 11 01:16 PM |
UK1 X9741 Vickers Wellington.jpg | Joseph Testagrose | Aviation Photos | 0 | December 6th 11 11:30 AM |