Britain's Handley Page Halifax bomber^1,2,3

Handley Page Halifax bomber:

Handley Page Halifax bomber:

Handley Page Halifax bomber:

Handley Page Halifax bomber:

Design

The Handley Page Halifax was designed to the same specification as the Avro Manchester.³ It was to be powered by two Rolls-Royce engines.³ In 1937 this was changed to four Merlins.³

Gun Turrets

Early Halifax models had a two gun turret in the nose.¹ This was later replaced by a Perspex molding model that had less drag.¹

Initially the Halifax had gun position at the beam windows, but these were later replaced by two or four gun dorsal turrets.¹

Tail fins

Original models had small tailfins.¹ These were replaced by larger surfaces.¹

Prototype

The Halifax prototype, HP.57³, first flew on October 25, 1939.^1,3 It only flew with two Vulture engines.² This was changed to four Merlin engines.²

Production

The first Halifax Mk I flew in October 1940.³ The first Halifax B.III first flew in July 1943.³

• Prototype: 2³
• Halifax Mk I: 84³
• Halifax B.II: 1,977³
• Halifax B.III: 2,091³
• Halifax B.V: 904³
• Halifax B.VI: 473³
• Halifax B.VII: 404³
• Halifax C.VIII: 100³
• A.IX: 145³
• Total: 6,176^2,3 , 6,178¹
• Manufacturers: Handley Page, London Aircraft, Rootes, English Electric, Fairey.³

Variants

• HP.57: Prototype.³
• Halifax Mk I: Had Merlin X engines.² Had a nose turret with two guns.² There was no dorsal turret.², Beam windows had gun positions.¹
• Halifax B.I Series I: Merlin X engines.³
• Halifax B.I Series II: Increased weight.³
• Halifax B.I Series III: Increased fuel.³
• Halifax B.II Series I: Merlin 20 engines.³ Dorsal turret added.³ Beam guns removed.³
• Halifax B.II Series IA: Front turret removed.³ Longer glazed nose.^2,3 Merlin 22 engines.³ Dorsal turret now had four guns.²
• Halifax B.II (Special) : Tried to reduce drag.³ Exhaust flame dampers.³ Dorsal and front turrets removed.³ Nose section faired.³
• Halifax Mk IIA Series I: Had Merlin XX engines.² Installed a two gun dorsal turret.²
• Halifax Mk II Series I (Special): The nose turret wasn't installed.²
• Halifax Mk III: Had Bristol Hercules XVI radial engines.² Initially had a wingspan of 98' 10" / 30.12 m but was increased in later models to 104' 2" / 31.75 m.²
• Halifax Mk V: Had Dowty landing gear.² Served with both the Coastal and Bomber Commands.²
• Halifax Mk VI: Had Hercules 100 engines installed.^2,3 Carried more fuel.³ Had tropical equipment.³
• Halifax Mk VII: Had Hercules XVI engines installed.^2,3 Joined Bomber Command in 1944.²
• Halifax C.VII: Transport.² Could carry 24 troops.²
• Halifax Mk VIII: Transport version that carried 7,920 lb / 3,600 kg of frieght.¹ Had no gun turrets and fuselage had a bulge in the bottom.¹
• Halifax C.VIII: Transport.³ Could carry 11 passengers and 8,000 lb / 3,629 kg freight.³
• Halifax GR.II: RAF Coastal Command.³
• Halifax GR.V: RAF Coastal Command.³
• Halifax A.IX: Paratroop carrier.³

Usage

Australia, Britain, Canada, and New Zealand used the Halifax.¹

There were 34 squadrons equipped with the Halifax.^1,3

• Sorties: 75,532^1,2, 83,072³
• Bombs dropped: 227,000³, 227,609¹, 227,610²

The H2S radar bombing equipment was first used by the Halifax.¹

First Squadron

The No. 35 Squadron first received the Halifax in November 1940.² They conducted their first raid on the night of March 10 - 11, 1941 on Le Harve.^2,3

Paratroop Carrier and Glider Tower

The Mk III, Mk V, and Mk VII were used to carrier paratroops and to tow gliders.² They could tow the large Hamilcar glider.²

At the end of the war the Mk VIII was also used to carry paratroops and tow gliders.²

	Handley Page Halifax3
Type	Heavy bomber3
Crew	73
Engine (Type)
Cylinders
Cooling
HP
Propeller blades
Dimensions
Span
Length
Height
Wing area
Weight
Empty
Loaded
Performance
Speed
Climb
Service ceiling
Range
Armament
Nose
Dorsal turret
Tail turret
Bombs

Sources:

1. Aircraft of WWII, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
2. Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Editor: Karen Leverington, 1995
3. Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998

---