United Kingdom's Blackburn Botha reconnaissance1
Blackburn Botha reconnaissance:
Blackburn Botha reconnaissance:
Design
The Blackburn Botha was designed to meet a 1935 Royal Air Force Coastal Command specification for a general reconnaissance torpedo bomber.1 The Botha's competition was the Bristol Beaufighter.1 Like the Beaufighter the Botha was ordered straight from the drawing board with a prototype being developed.1
First Flight
The Botha first flew on December 20, 1938.1 Many problems were discovered and would plague the Botha throughout their career.1 Even with a more powerful engine the Botha wasn't able to live up to its intended role.1
Prototype
No prototype.1
Production
The first deliveries were in May 1940.1
- Total: 5801
Many of the Bothas that were constructed were left in storage until they were scrapped.1
Variants
- Botha Mk I: Used Bristol Perseus engines.1
- Botha Mk II: Was to use the Bristol Hercules engines, but the Beaufighter had priority for those.1 None were built.1
Usage
Only Squadron
The No 608 Squadron was the only one to be equipped with Bothas.1 By September 1940 they were withdrawn from frontline service.1
Not One Torpedo
It is reported that the Botha never carried a torpedo while in frontline service.1
Changed Duties
Since the Botha wouldn't be used in its intended role, it was decided to use it for navigation and gunnery training.1
In August 1943 the Botha was declared obsolete.1 A few planes were still used until 1944.1
Accident Prone
From May 1940 until July 1943 there were 169 aircraft destroyed in training accidents out of 473 used for training.1
| Blackburn Botha1 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Reconnaissance1 Torpedo bomber1 |
| Crew | 41 |
| Engine (Type) | 2: Bristol Perseus X1 |
| OR | 2: Bristol Perseus XA1 |
| Cylinders | Radial 91 |
| Cooling | |
| HP | X: 880 each1 XA: 930 each1 |
| Propeller blades | 3 each1 |
| Dimensions | |
| Span | 59'1 17.98 m1 |
| Length | 51' 0.5"1 15.55 m1 |
| Height | 14' 7.5"1 4.46 m1 |
| Wing area | |
| Weight | |
| Empty | 12,036 lb1 5,460 kg1 |
| Loaded | 18,450 lb1 8,370 kg1 |
| Performance | |
| Speed @ sea level | 209 mph1 336 kph1 |
| Speed @ 15,000' / 4,570 m |
253 mph1 407 kph1 |
| Cruising speed | 212 mph1 340 kph1 |
| Climb | 820'/minute1 250 m/minute1 |
| Climb to 15,000' / 4,570 m |
24.1 minutes1 |
| Service ceiling | 23,600'1 7,193 m1 |
| Range | 1,270 miles1 2,044 km1 |
| Armament | 1: 0.303" MG1 |
| Dorsal turret | 2: 0.303" MG1 |
| Torpedo or bomb load | 2,000 lb1 907 kg1 |
Sources:
- Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
