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Britain's Bristol Beaufighter Mk VIC "Torbeau" anti shipping strike fighter2
Beaufighter Mk VIF "Flakbeau" night fighter1,2
Design
The Beaufighter Mk VI was introduced in 1942.2
Usage
Australia, Britain, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United States used the Beaufighter Mk VIs.2
Royal Air Force (RAF) squadrons with Beaufighter Mk VIs were located in Cyprus, India, Malta, North Africa, and Sardinia.2
Night Fighters
Fourteen RAF night fighter squadrons were equipped with the Beaufighter Mk VIF.2 These were used until 1944 when they were replaced by Mosquitos.2
In the Mediterranean four USAAF squadrons were equipped with the Beaufighter Mk VIF.2
Strike Fighters
Coastal Command used the Beaufighter Mk VIC in Strike Wings.2 They were used on the coasts of Western Europe and up to Norway.2
From April 1943 the Beaufighter Mk VICs were used in operations equipped with a torpedo.2 In May 1943 they could be equipped with rockets.2
Far East
In the Far East the Japanese nicknamed the Beaufighters the "Whispering Death" because of the nose its engines made.2
| Bristol Beaufighter Mk VIC2 | Bristol Beaufighter Mk VIF1,2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Anti shipping strike fighter2 | Night fighter1,2 |
| Crew | 22 | 21 |
| Engine (Type) | 2: Bristol Hercules VI2 | 2: Bristol Hercules VI1,2 |
| OR | 2: Bristol Hercules XVI2 | 2: Bristol Hercules XVI1,2 |
| Cylinders | Radial 142 | Radial1 142 |
| Cooling | ||
| HP | 1,670 each2 | 1,670 each1,2 |
| Propeller blades | 3 each2 | 3 each2 |
| Dimensions | ||
| Span | 57' 10"2 17.63 m2 |
57' 10"1,2 17.63 m1,2 |
| Length | 41' 8"2 12.7 m2 |
41' 8"1,2 12.7 m1,2 |
| Height | 15' 10"2 4.83 m2 |
15' 10"1,2 4.82 m1, 4.83 m2 |
| Wing area | 503 ft2 1 46.73 m2 1 |
|
| Weight | ||
| Empty | 14,600 lb2 6,623 kg2 |
14,600 lb1,2 6,623 kg1,2 |
| Loaded | 21,600 lb2 9,798 kg2 |
21,600 lb1 9,798 kg1 |
| Performance | ||
| Speed @ 1,312' / 400 m |
||
| Speed @ 15,600' / 4,755 m |
333 mph2 536 kph2 |
333 mph1,2 536 kph1,2 |
| Climb to 15,000' / 4,570 m |
7.8 minutes1 | |
| Climb to 15,000' / 4,572 m |
7.8 minutes2 | 7.8 minutes2 |
| Service ceiling | 26,500'2 8,077 m2 |
26,500'1,2 8.075 m1, 8,077 m2 |
| Range | 1,540 miles2 2,478 km2 |
1,480 miles1, 1,540 miles2 2,382 km1, 2,478 km2 |
| Armament | ||
| Nose | 4: 20 mm2 | 4: 20 mm1,2 |
| Port wing | 2: 7.7 mm MG1 | |
| Starboard wing | 4: 7.7 mm MG1 | |
| Wings | 6: 0.303" MG2 | 6: 0.303" MG2 |
| Navigator dorsal hatch | 1: 0.303" MG2 | |
| Bombs / Rockets | 8: Rockets2 | |
| OR | ||
| Torpedo | 1: 18"2 1: 46 cm or 57 cm2 |
Sources:
- Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Editor: Karen Leverington, 1995
- Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
