Some particulars of British and Enemy Aircraft in use in the Middle East and Mediterranean Theatre during the period of this volume.
The figures in these tables are no more than a general guide to the characteristics and capabilities of each type of aircraft. The performance is affected the climate, the skill of the pilot, the accuracy of navigation, and by the uncertainties of flying in the presence of the enemy. For these reasons the operational range—not to be confused with the radius of action—is always much less than the still air range. Broadly speaking, after allowing for the running of the engines on the ground and for the climb to the height quoted, the still air range is the distance that can be flown in still air until the tanks are empty.
NOTES: (i) The most economical cruising speed is the speed at which the greatest range is achieved. (ii) The height given in column IV is the optimum height for the maximum speed. FIGHTER AIRCRAFT
BRITISH
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
Aircraft
Fuel and Still
Air Range at
Most Economical
Cruising SpeedMost Economical
Cruising Speed in
Miles Per HourMaximum Speed in
Miles Per HourGun
ArmamentRemarks
Galls.
Miles
Blenheim Mk. IV F
Twin engine monoplane
Crew 2466
1,615
170 at 15,000 ft.
266 at 11,800 ft.
6 x .303
Fulmar
Single engine monoplane
Crew 2155
820
170 at 10,000 ft.
253 at 10,000 ft.
8 x .303
Fleet Air Arm.
Fury
Single engine biplane
Crew 150
440
127 at 15,000 ft.
205 at 15,000 ft.
2 x .303
Gauntlet
Single engine biplane
Crew 179
626
118 at 15,000 ft.
225 at 15,000 ft.
2 x .303
Gladiator
Single engine biplane
Crew 183
523
142 at 15,000 ft.
245 at 15,000 ft.
4 x .303
Sea Gladiators of the Fleet Air
Arm were a modified version.Hurricane Mk, I
Single engine monoplane
Crew 197
600
180 at 15,000 ft.
316 at 17,750 ft.
8 x .303
Tomahawk
Single engine monoplane
Crew 1132
175695
825185 at 15,000 ft.
340 at 16,000 ft.
2 x .50
4 x .303American design and manufacture.
First operated in the Middle East (in
the Western Desert) in April, 1941.--471--
BOMBER AIRCRAFT
(including bomber transport, bomber reconnaissance, and torpedo-bomber)BRITISH
Aircraft
Still Air Range
with Associated
BombloadMost Economical
Cruising Speed in
Miles Per HourMaximum Speed in
Miles Per HourArmament
Remarks
Miles
Bombload
Albacore
Single engine biplane
Crew 2 or 3521
1 Torpedo
or
1,500 lb.105 at 6,000 ft.
163 at 4,800 ft.
2 x .303
Figures relate to use as torpedo
-bomber. Fleet Air Arm.Battle
Single engine monoplane
Crew 21,050
1,000 lb.
148 at 15,000 ft.
241 at 13,000 ft.
2 x .303
Blenheim Mk. I
Twin engine monoplane
Crew 3920
1,000 lb.
165 at 15,000 ft.
265 at 15,000 ft.
2 x .303
Blenheim Mk. IV
Twin engine monoplane
Crew 31,457
1,000 lb.
170 at 15,000 ft.
266 at 11,800 ft.
5 x .303
Bombay
Twin engine monoplane
Crew 41,500
330
(a)
(b)120 at 10,000 ft.
159 at 10,000 ft.
2 x .303
Transport aircraft
(a) With 10 troops.
(b) With 24 troops.
Could carry up to 2,000lb.
bombs.Glenn Martin (Maryland)
Twin engine monoplane
Crew 31,210
1,0491,500 lb.
2,000 lb.176 at 15,000 ft.
278 at 11,800 ft.
8 x .303
American design and manufacture
Hardy
Single engine biplane
Crew 2477
500 lb.
115 at 10,000 ft.
156 at 10,000 ft.
2 x .303
Hartbeest
Single engine biplane
Crew 2450
568 lb.
110 at 11,000 ft.
145 at 11,000 ft.
3 x .303
Figures given are for East African
conditions.
BOMBER AIRCRAFT
(including bomber transport, bomber reconnaissance, and torpedo-bomber)BRITISH
Aircraft
Still Air Range
with Associated
BombloadMost Economical
Cruising Speed in
Miles Per HourMaximum Speed in
Miles Per HourArmament
Remarks
Miles
Bombload
Ju.86
Twin engine monoplane
Crew 6700
1,160 lb.
120 at 8,000 ft.
140 at 6,000 ft.
6 x .303
Figures given are for East African
conditions. Performance differs
from that of the German Ju.86
(military version).Lysander
Single engine monoplane
Crew 21,410
500 lb.
123 at10,000 ft.
212 at 4,500 ft.
197 at 15,000 ft.4 x .303
Skua
Single engine monoplane
Crew 2980
500 lb.
157 at 15,000 ft.
212 at 15,000 ft.
5 x .303
Fighter dive-bomber.
Fleet Air Arm.Sunderland Flying-Boat
Four engine monoplane
Crew 101,850
2,4251,900 lb.
Nil.142 at 5,000 ft.
188 at 6,500 ft.
7 x .303
Swordfish
Single engine biplane
Crew 2528
1,500 lb.
103 at 5,000 ft.
139 at 5,000 ft.
2 x .303
Torpedo-bomber.
Fleet Air Arm.Valentia
Twin engine biplane
Crew 2367
(a)
104 at 6,500 ft.
111 at 6,500 ft.
None
Transport aircraft.
(a) With 22 troops.Vincent
Single engine biplane
Crew 2726
500 lb.
95 at 10,000 ft.
141 at 10,000 ft.
2 x .303
Wellesley
Single engine monoplane
Crew 22,250
1,060 lb.
133 at 15,000 ft.
206 at 15,000 ft.
2 x .303
Wellington Mk.1
Twin engine monoplane
Crew 62,550
1,2001,000 lb.
4,500 lb.165 at 10,000 ft.
225 at 4,700 ft.
235 at 15,500 ft.6 x .303
FIGHTER AIRCRAFT
ITALIAN
Aircraft
Fuel and Still
Air Range at
Most Economical
Cruising SpeedMost Economical
Cruising Speed in
Miles Per HourMaximum Speed in Miles Per Hour
Gun
ArmamentRemarks
Galls.
Miles
C.R.32
Single engine biplane
Crew 180
790
130 at 10,000 ft.
233 at 10,000 ft.
2 x 12.7 mm.
C.R.42
Single engine biplane
Crew 177
535
150 at 13,100 ft.
270 at 13,100 ft.
2 x 12.7 mm.
G.50
Single engine monoplane
Crew 169
530
170 at 14,500 ft.
300 at 14,500 ft.
2 x 12.7 mm.
M.C.200
Single engine monoplane
Crew 170
570
170 at 15,000 ft.
310 at 15,000 ft.
2 x 12.7 mm.
GERMAN
Me.110
Twin engine monoplane
Crew 2280
930
200 at 18,000 ft.
360 at 20,000 ft.
6 x 7.9 mm.
2 x 20mm.
BOMBER AIRCRAFT
(including bomber transport, bomber reconnaissance, and torpedo-bomber)ITALIAN
Aircraft
Still Air Range
with Associated
BombloadMost Economical
Cruising Speed in
Miles Per HourMaximum Speed in
Miles Per HourArmament
Remarks
Miles
Bombload
Ba. 65
Single engine monoplane
Crew 1 to 2590
880 lb.
160 at 13,500 ft.
255 at 16,400 ft.
2 x 12.7 mm.
3 x 7.7 mm.Ground attack aircraft.
B.R. 20
Twin engine monoplane
Crew 41,350
2,200 lb.
175 at 13,000 ft.
255 at 13,500 ft.
1 x 12.7 mm.
2 x 7.7 mm.
Ca. 133
Three engine monoplane
Crew 4750
2,000 lb.
105 at 5,500 ft.
174 at 5,500 ft.
4 x 7.7 mm.
Used mainly for transport.
Ca. 310
Twin engine monoplane
Crew 31,060
880 lb.
115 at 5,500 ft.
212 at 5,500 ft.
3 x 7.7 mm.
Used mainly for reconnaissance.
Ca. 311
Twin engine monoplane
Crew 3 to 41,315
880 lb.
120 at 13,000 ft.
260 at 13,000 ft.
4 x 7.7 mm.
Cant. Z. 501
Single engine flying-boat
Crew 4 to 52,450
1,100 lb.
85 at sea level
152 at sea level
4 x 7.7 mm.
Cant. Z. 506
Three engine seaplane
Crew 4 to 51,130
1,750 lb.
140 at 13,000 ft.
230 at 13,000 ft.
1 x 12.7 mm.
3 x 7.7 mm.
Cant. Z. 1007b,
Three engine monoplane
Crew 4 to 51,650
1,100 lb.
160 at 15,000 ft.
280 at 15,000 ft.
2 x 12.7 mm.
2 x 7.7 mm.
--475--
BOMBER AIRCRAFT
(including bomber transport, bomber reconnaissance, and torpedo-bomber)ITALIAN (contd.)
Aircraft
Still Air Range
with Associated
BombloadMost Economical
Cruising Speed in
Miles Per HourMaximum Speed in
Miles Per HourArmament
Remarks
Miles
Bombload
Ghibli
Twin engine monoplane
Crew 3 to 4530
1,210
740 lb.
Nil100 at 3,000 ft.
158 at sea level
3 x 7.7 mm.
Reconnaissance and light bombing
Ro. 37
Single engine biplane
Crew 21,100
1,295400 lb.
Nil120 at 14,000 ft.
200 at 14,000 ft.
2 x 12.7 mm.
1 x 7.7 mm.
S. 79
Three engine monoplane
Crew 4 to 51,190
2,750 lb.
155 at 13,000 ft.
255 at 13,000 ft.
3 x 12.7 mm.
2 x 7.7 mm.Used, when modified, as a tor-
pedo-bomber.S.81
Three engine monoplane
Crew 4 to 51,030
2,200 lb.
130 at 15,000 ft.
210 at 15,000 ft.
6 x 7.7 mm.
S. 82
Three engine monoplane
Crew 4 to 51,250
Nil
155 at 10,000 ft.
205 at 7,000 ft.
1 x 12.7 mm.
4 x 7.7 mm.Transport aircraft.
Freight: 5,000 lb.--476--
BOMBER AIRCRAFT
(including bomber transport, bomber reconnaissance, and torpedo-bomber)GERMAN
Aircraft
Still Air Range
with Associated
BombloadMost Economical
Cruising Speed in
Miles Per HourMaximum Speed in
Miles Per HourArmament
Remarks
Miles
Bombload
Do. 17
Twin engine monoplane
Crew 4890
2,200 lb.
180 at 15,000 ft.
255 at 15,000 ft.
7 x 7.9 mm.
1 x 20 mm.Used mainly for reconnaisance.
He.111
Twin engine monoplane
Crew 5 to 61,510
2,200 lb.
180 at 17,000 ft.
240 at 14,000 ft.
7 x 7.9 mm.
2 x 20 mm.
Ju.52
Three engine monoplane
Crew 3 to 4530-790
Nil
132 at sea level
165 at sea level
5 x 7.9 mm.
Transport aircraft.
Freight: 4,000-5,060 lb.Ju.87 (Stuka)
Single engine monoplane
Crew 2360
1,100 lb.
160 at 15,000 ft.
245 at 15,000 ft.
3 x 7.9 mm.
Dive-bomber.
Ju.88
Twin engine monoplane
Crew 41,310
2,200 lb.
194 at 16,400 ft.
295 at 14,000 ft.
1 x 7.9 mm.
1 x 20 mm.
--477--
Contents
Appendix VII * Appendix IX