Britain's Vickers Warwick air sea rescue1
Prototype: |
Warwick ASR.I: |
Warwick Mk III |
Warwick GR.VI |
Warwick transport with BOAC in 1943 - 1944:  |
Warwick:  |
Warwick: |
Design
The design of the Vickers Warwick started in 1935 to be a successor to the Wellington.1 The Warwick had a similar geodetic and fabric construction method.1
Engines
The lack of an engine and waffling officials caused the Warwick to not become a bomber as it was originally designed to be.1 The initial Rolls-Royce Vulture engines were unreliable.1 The next prototype had Bristol Centaurus engines, but as these weren't completely developed the Pratt & Whitney Double Wasps was selected in the mean time.1
| Type | Cylinder | HP | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prototype | 2: Rolls-Royce Vulture1 | ||
| Warwick I, Warwick III, Warwick VI: |
2: Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp1 | Radial 181 | 1,850 each1 |
| Warwick II, Warwick V: |
2: Bristol Centaurus VII1 | Radial 181 | 2,520 each1 |
Air Sea Rescue
In early 1943 it was decided to use the Warwick as an air sea rescue plane.1 70 bombers were converted on the production line to the ASR.I.1
There was a droppable life boat slung under the fuselage.1 There was also survival gear that could be dropped.1 ASV radar was also installed.1
Prototype
The Warwick prototype first flew on August 13, 1939 with Rolls-Royce Vulture engines.1 The second prototype flew in April 1940 and had Bristol Centaurus engines.1
Production
The Warwick B.I first flew in early 1942.1 The Warwick GR.V first flew in April 1944.1
- Prototypes: 21
- Warwick B.I: 161
- Warwick C.I: 141
- Warwick ASR.I: 2751
- Warwick B.II: 11
- Warwick GR.II: 1321
- Warwick C.III: 1001
- Warwick GR.V: 2111
- Warwick ASR.VI: 941
- Total: 8451
- Production: - April 19461
Variants
- Prototype: Had Rolls-Royce Vulture engines.1
- Warwick B.I: Bomber.1
- Warwick C.I: Transport.1 Pratt & Whitney engines.1
- Warwick ASR.I: Air sea rescue.1 Entered service in October 1943.1
- Warwick GR.II: General reconnaissance.1 Didn't see service.1
- Warwick GR.II (Met): Meteorological reconnaissance.1 Didn't see service.1
- Warwick C.III: Transport.1 Pratt & Whitney engines.1 Freight pannier under the fuselage.1 Could carry 24 troops or 6,170 lb / 3,000 kg of frieght.1
- Warwick GR.V: General reconnaissance.1 ASV radar.1 Leigh light.1 Anti submarine weapons.1
- Warwick GR.VI: General reconnaissance.1 Pratt & Whitney engines.1
Usage
The Vickers Warwick was used by Britain.1
Air sea rescue
There were 15 RAF squadrons that were equipped with the Warwick for air sea rescue.1
| Vickers Warwick ASR.I1 | Vickers Warwick GR.II1 | Vickers Warwick GR.V1 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Air sea resuce1 | General reconnaissance1 | General reconnaissance1 |
| Crew | 71 | 71 | 71 |
| Engine (Type) | 2: Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp1 | 2: Bristol Centaurus VII1 | 2: Bristol Centaurus VII1 |
| Cylinders | Radial 181 | Radial 181 | Radial 181 |
| Cooling | |||
| HP | 1,850 each1 | 2,520 each1 | 2,520 each1 |
| Propeller blades | |||
| Dimensions | |||
| Span | 96' 8.5"1 29.48 m1 |
||
| Length | 72' 3"1 22.02 m1 |
||
| Height | 18' 6"1 5.64 m1 |
||
| Wing area | |||
| Weight | |||
| Empty | 29,174 lb1 13,233 kg1 |
31,230 lb1 14,166 kg1 |
|
| Loaded | 45,000 lb1 20,412 kg1 |
50,000 lb1 22,680 kg1 |
|
| Performance | |||
| Speed | 290 mph1 467 kph1 |
||
| Speed @ 3,600' / 1,100 m |
224 mph1 360 kph1 |
||
| Climb | 660'/minute1 200 m/minute1 |
||
| Service ceiling | 21,500'1 6,553 m1 |
19,000'1 5,790 m1 |
|
| Range | 2,300 miles1 3,700 km1 |
3,060 miles1 4,908 km1 |
|
| Armament | 8: 0.303" MG1 | ||
| Nose | 1: 0.5" MG1 | ||
| Beam positions | 2: 0.5" MG1 | ||
| Tail turret | 4: 0.303" MG1 | ||
| OR | 4: 0.5" MG1 | ||
| Ordnance | 2,000 lb1 907 kg1 |
Sources:
- Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
