United Kingdom's Avro Manchester Bomber1
Avro Manchester bomber:
Avro Manchester bomber:
Avro Manchester Mk IA bomber:
Design
The prototype first flew in July 1939.1 The next prototype flew in 1940.1 An order for 200 was given by the Air Ministry.1 This was later raised to 400.1
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
Due to flaws in the airframe and the failure of the Rolls-Royce Vulture engine it wasn't a big success in combat.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
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 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Bomber1 |
| Crew | |
| Engine (Type) | 2: Rolls-Royce Vulture1 |
| Cylinders | Inline 241 |
| Cooling | |
| HP | 1,760 each1 |
| Propeller blades | |
| Dimensions | |
| Span | 90' 1"1 27.46 m1 |
| Length | 69' 4"1 21.13 m1 |
| Height | 19' 6"1 5.94 m1 |
| Wing area | 1,137 ft2 1 105.63 m2 1 |
| Weight | |
| Empty | 29,370 lb1 13,350 kg1 |
| Loaded | 55,880 lb1 25,401 kg1 |
| Performance | |
| Speed @ 17,000' / 5,180 m1 | 264 mph1 426 kph1 |
| Climb | |
| Service ceiling | 19,000'1 5,850 m1 |
| Range with 8,100 lb / 3,674 kg bomb load | 1,625 miles1 2,623 kg1 |
| Armament | |
| Nose turret | 2: 7.7 mm Browning MG1 |
| Mid-upper turret | 2: 7.7 mm MG1 |
| Rear turret | 4: 7.7 mm MG1 |
| Bombs | 10,330 lb1 4,695 kg1 |
| Production | 2021 |
Sources:
- Aircraft of WWII, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
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