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Britain's Avro Manchester bomber1,2
Avro Manchester bomber:
Avro Manchester bomber:
Avro Manchester Mk IA bomber:
Design
The Avro Type 679 Manchester was designed to meet a 1936 specification for a medium/heavy bomber that could go at high speeds with powered turrets.2
After initial flight trials the span was increased by three meters.1 A fin was added between the tail fins, but this was removed in the Manchester Mk IA.1
40% of the Manchesters were lost in operations and 25% in accidents.1
Crew
The pilot and engineer sat next to each other in the cockpit.1 There was an astrodome for the navigator to take celestial measurements for navigation.1
The nose gunner, also the bomb aimer, sat in a powered turret.1 Typically during night operations the nose gunner didn't see much combat.1
The rear gunner, especially at night, saw the most action and would tell the pilot what evasive action to take when a night fighter was attacking them.1
Engines
The 24 cylinder X configured engine was basically two Peregrine V-12 blocks attacked to the same crankshaft.2
Due to flaws in the airframe and the failure of the Rolls-Royce Vulture engine it wasn't a big success in combat.1,2 The Vulture would often overheat.2
The engines were downrated to 1,500 HP in the hopes of reducing the overheating.2
Prototype
The prototype first flew in July 25, 1939.1,2 The next prototype flew in 1940.1
The second prototype had extended wings and a third fin to increase stability.2
Production
An order for 200 was given by the Air Ministry.1 This was later raised to 400.1
Avro and Metropolitan-Vickers produced the Manchester.2
- Prototype: 22
- Manchester: 1992
- Total: 2012, 2021
Variants
- Prototype:
- Manchester Mk I: Had third tail fin.2
- Manchester Mk IA: Had new horizontal tail surfaces.2
Usage
In November 1940 the No. 207 Squadron was the first to have the Manchester.1 It's first mission was in February 1941.1 Eventually nine squadrons and one flight of Coastal Command received the Manchesters.1
Manchesters took part in the first 1,000 bomber raid on Cologne.1
Bomber Command last used the Manchester in the attack on Bremen on the night of June 25 and June 26, 1942.1
| Avro Manchester1,2 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Bomber1 Heavy bomber2 |
| Crew | 72 |
| Engine (Type) | 2: Rolls-Royce Vulture piston1,2 |
| Cylinders | Inline X 241,2 |
| Cooling | |
| HP | 1,760 each1,2 |
| Propeller blades | 32 |
| Dimensions | |
| Span | 90' 1"1,2 27.46 m1,2 |
| Length | 68' 10"2, 69' 4"1 20.98 m2, 21.13 m1 |
| Height | 19' 6"1,2 5.94 m1,2 |
| Wing area | 1,137 ft2 1 105.63 m2 1 |
| Weight | |
| Empty | 29,370 lb1, 29,440 lb2 13,350 kg1, 13,354 kg2 |
| Maximum permitted in service |
50,000 lb2 22,680 kg2 |
| Loaded | 55,880 lb1, 56,000 lb2 25,400 kg2, 25,401 kg1 |
| Performance | |
| Speed @ 17,000' / 5,180 m1 |
264 mph1, 265 mph2 426 kph1,2 |
| Climb | |
| Service ceiling | 19,000'1, 19,200'2 5,850 m1, 5,852 m2 |
| Range with 8,100 lb / 3,674 kg bomb load |
1,625 miles1 2,623 kg1 |
| Range with maximum bomb load |
1,200 miles2 1,930 km2 |
| Range maximum | 1,630 miles2 2,623 km2 |
| Armament | |
| Nose turret | 2: 7.7 mm Browning MG1 |
| Mid-upper turret | 2: 7.7 mm MG1 |
| Rear turret | 4: 7.7 mm MG1 |
| Nose, dorsal, tail turrets | 8: 0.303" MG2 |
| Bombs | 10,330 lb1, 10,350 lb2 4,695 kg1,2 |
Sources:
- Aircraft of WWII, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
- Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
