Britain's Boulton Paul Defiant fighter1,2
Boulton Paul Defiant fighter:
Boulton Paul Defiant fighter:
Boulton Paul Defiant fighter:
Boulton Paul Defiant fighter:
Design
The Boulton Paul Defiant was intended to be the smallest aircraft that could carry a two crew members, use the Merlin inline engine, and have a four gun turret that could fire to the flanks of the aircraft.1 The Defiant was designed for specifications that were released in 1935.2
Prototype
The Defiant prototype first flew on August 11, 1937.1,2
Production
Production lasted until February 1943.1
- Prototypes: 22
- Defiant Mk I: 7232
- Defiant Mk II: 2702
- TT.1: 1402
- Total: 1,0601, 1,0752
Variants
- Defiant Mk I / Defiant F.I: Powered by the Merlin III inline (1,030 HP) engine.1 Entered service in December 1939.2
- Defiant NF.I: Night fighter.2
- Defiant Mk IA / Defiant NF.IA: Had AI. Mk IV or Mk VI radar for used at night.1
- Defiant Mk II: Was in service when they were converted into night fighters.1
- Defiant Mk III: Conversion of the Mk I into target towers.1
- Defiant TT.I: Target tug based on the Mk II.2
- Defiant TT.III: Target tug converted from Mk Is.2
Usage
The Defiant joined the No. 264 Squadron in December 1939.1
Defiants were used as day fighters, night fighters, target towers, air sea rescue, radar calibration, and radar countermeasures.1
Heavy Losses
The first action by six Defiants was in May 1940, and five of these were lost.2
Early Victories
On a single day in the month of MAy 1940 Defiant crews claimed to have shot down 18 German planes with a loss to themselves.2
Dunkirk Evacuation
The Defiants had some success during the evacuation from Dunkirk.1 The Germans were initially surprised by the turret as the Defiant had an appearance as a normal fighter.1
Battle of Britain
The Nos 141 and 264 Squadrons suffered horrendous Defiant losses to German pilots who were now used to the Defiant.1
Withdrawn to the Night
In AUgust 1940 the Defiant was withdrawn from day operations.2
The Defiants were then moved into the night fighter role with the Mk I flying "blind" at night.1 Thirteen night fighter squadrons were to be equipped with the Defiant.2
Non-combat Duties
The Defiant was relegated to target towing, air-sea rescue, radar calibration, and electronic countermeasures (Mandrel jamming system) after 1941.2
| Boulton Paul Defiant2 | Boulton Paul Defiant Mk I2 | Boulton Paul Defiant Mk II1 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Fighter2 | Night fighter1 | |
| Crew | 22 | 21 | |
| Engine (Type) | Rolls-Royce Merlin III2 | Rolls-Royce Merlin XX piston1,2 | |
| Cylinders | V 122 | Inline1 | |
| Cooling | |||
| HP | 1,0302 | 1,2601,2 | |
| Propeller blades | 32 | 31 | |
| Dimensions | |||
| Span | 39' 4"2 12 m2 |
39' 4"1 11.99 m1 |
|
| Length | 35' 4"2 10.77 m2 |
35' 4"1 10.77 m1 |
|
| Height | 12' 2"2 3.7 m2 |
12' 2"1 3.71 m1 |
|
| Wing area | 250 ft2 1 23.23 m2 1 |
||
| Weight | |||
| Empty | 6,150 lb1,2 2,790 kg2, 2,892 kg1 |
||
| Loaded | 8,600 lb1,2 3,900 kg2, 3,901 kg1 |
||
| Performance | |||
| Speed @ 16,500' / 5,030 m |
315 mph1,2 507 kph2, 517 kph1 |
||
| Speed @ 17,000' / 5,180 m |
303 mph2 487 kph2 |
||
| Climb | 1,900'/minute2 580 m/minute2 |
2,050'/minute1,2 625 m/minute1,2 |
|
| Service ceiling | 30,350'2 9,250 m2 |
31,800'1,2 9,690 m1,2 |
|
| Range | 465 miles2 748 km2 |
480 miles1,2 772 km1,2 |
|
| Range with drop tanks | |||
| Armament | |||
| Rear turret | 4: 0.303" MG2 | 4: 7.7 mm Browning MG1 |
Sources:
- Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Editor: Karen Leverington, 1995
- Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
