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Britain's Armstrong Whitworth Albemarle transport1,2,3
Armstrong Whitworth Albemarle:
Armstrong Whitworth Albemarle:
Design
Bristol designed the Albemarle and production was done by A.W. Hawkesley Ltd.1,3 Originally designed to be a medium bomber.1,2,3 Construction was to be of wood and steel to help facilitate the Albemarle's construction by sub contractors not in the air industry.2 Car and furniture makers made up the sub-contractors that produced the Albemarle.1,3
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
Landing Gear
Lockheed designed the tricycle landing gear.1 It was the first British military aircraft with a tricycle undercarriage.3
Fuselage
The fuselage structure was made of steel with spruce and plywood covering it.1,3
Wings
Parts of the wing were also covered with plywood.1
Prototype
The first prototype crashed and the second flew on March 20, 1940.2,3
Production
The first 32 Albemarles were produced as bombers but the RAF refused them.2
Many changes were made to A. W. Hawkesley's production line because of numerous modifications.2 These caused the Albemarle not to be delivered until January 1943.2
Production ended in December 1944.1
- Prototypes: 23
- Albemarle Mk I: 2003
- Albemarle Mk II: 1003
- Albemarle Mk IV: 12,3
- Albemarle Mk V: 493
- Albemarle Mk VI: 2503
- Total: 6021,2,3
- Special Transports (ST): 3103
- Glider Tugs (GT): 2473
Variants
- Type 155: Prototype designed by Bristol.3
- AW.41: Prototype.3
- Albemarle Mk I: Transport used by airborne forces.2 First flew in December 1941.3
- Albemarle Mk II: Transport.2
- Albemarle Mk IV: Used Wright Double Cyclone engine.2,3
- Albemarle Mk V: Transport.2 Glider tug.3
- Albemarle Mk VI: Transport.2
Usage
Seven RAF squadrons were equipped with the Albemarle.2
Transports
The first 42 Albemarle Mk Is were converted to transports.3
Sicily
The first combat the Albemarle was used in was as glider tugs in 1943 for the invasion of Sicily.1,2,3
Normandy
Four squadrons of Albemarle towed Horsa gliders into Normandy in June 1944.1,3
Albemarles flew the pathfinders for the 6th Airborne Division, 22nd Independent Parachute Company.2
Arnhem
The Albemarles Towed gliders in the Arnhem operation.2,3
Russia
Russia used 10 for transport duties.1,3
| Armstrong Whitworth Albemarle1,3 | Armstrong Whitworth Albemarle Mk I2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Transport1,3 Glider tug3 |
Transport2 Glider tug2 |
| Crew | 21, 43 | 42 |
| Passengers | 12: Fully armed paratroops2 | |
| Engine (Type) | 2: Bristol Hercules XI1,3 | 2: Bristol Hercules XI piston2 |
| Cylinders | Radial1,3, 143 | Radial2 |
| Cooling | ||
| HP | 1,560 each3, 1,590 each1 | 1,590 each2 |
| Propeller blades | 3 each1,3 | 3 each2 |
| Dimensions | ||
| Span | 77'1,3 23.47 m1,3 |
77'2 23.47 m2 |
| Length | 59' 11"1,3 18.26 m1,3 |
59' 11"2 18.26 m2 |
| Height | 15' 7"1,3 4.75 m1,3 |
15' 7"2 4.75 m2 |
| Wing area | 803 ft2 1 74.65 m2 1 |
803.5 ft2 2 74.65 m2 2 |
| Weight | ||
| Empty | 14,960 lb1, 22,600 lb3 6,800 kg1, 10,250 kg3 |
21,800 lb2 9,888 kg2 |
| Loaded | 36,423 lb1, 36,500 lb3 16,556 kg1,3 |
36,500 lb2 16,556 kg2 |
| Performance | ||
| Speed @ 10,500' / 3,200 m |
264 mph1, 265 mph3 426 kph1,3 |
265 mph2 426 kph2 |
| Cruising speed | 170 mph3 274 kph3 |
|
| Climb | 980'/minute3 298 m/minute3 |
980'/minute2 299 m/minute2 |
| Service ceiling | 18,000'1,3 5,486 m1,3 |
18,000'2 5,485 m2 |
| Range | 1,300 miles1 2,092 km1 |
1,300 miles2 2,092 km2 |
| Armament | ||
| Dorsal turret | 4: 7.7 mm MG in Boulton Paul turret1 2: 0.303" MG3 |
2: 7.7 mm MG2 |
| Amidships | 2: 7.7 mm MG1 | |
| Dorsal and ventral turrets | 6: 0.303" MG3 | |
| Bombs | 4,000 lb3 1,814 kg3 |
Sources:
- Aircraft of WWII, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
- Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Editor: Karen Leverington, 1995
- Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
