United Kingdom's Armstrong Whitworth Albemarle Transport1
Armstrong Whitworth Albermarle:
Armstrong Whitworth Albermarle:
Design
Bristol designed the Albemarle and production was done by A.W. Hawkesley Ltd.1 Originally designed to be a medium bomber.1
Car and furniture makers made up the sub-contractors that produced the Albermarle.1
Lockheed designed the tricycle landing gear.1
The fuselage structure was made of steel with spruce and plywood covering it.1 Parts of the wing were also covered with plywood.1
Other bomber designs overtook the Albemarle and it was decided it was to be used as a transport and glider tug.1 There was a Malcom quick release hook that was controlled by the pilot.1
Usage
The first combat the Albemarle was used in was as glider tugs in 1943 for the invasion of Sicily.1
Four squadrons of Albemarle towed Horsa gliders into Normandy in June 1944.1
Russia used 10 for transport duties.1
| Albemarle1 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Transport1 |
| Crew | 21 |
| Engine (Type) | 2: Bristol Hercules XI1 |
| Cylinders | Radial1 |
| Cooling | |
| HP | 1,590 each1 |
| Propeller blades | 31 |
| Dimensions | |
| Span | 77'1 23.47 m1 |
| Length | 59' 11"1 18.26 m1 |
| Height | 15' 7"1 4.75 m1 |
| Wing area | 803 ft2 1 74.65 m2 1 |
| Weight | |
| Empty | 14,960 lb1 6,800 kg1 |
| Loaded | 36,423 lb1 16,556 kg1 |
| Performance | |
| Speed @ 10,500' / 3,200 m | 264 mph1 426 kph1 |
| Climb | |
| Service ceiling | 18,000'1 5,486 m1 |
| Range | 1,300 miles1 2,092 km1 |
| Armament | |
| Dorsal turret | 4: 7.7 mm MG in Boulton Paul turret1 |
| Amidships | 2: 7.7 mm MG1 |
| Production | - December 1944: 6021 |
Sources:
- Aircraft of WWII, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
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