APPENDIX 8

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 Speed

Most Economical
Cruising Speed in
Miles Per Hour

Maximum Speed in
Miles Per Hour

Gun
Armament

Remarks

 

Galls.

Miles

 

 

 

 

Blenheim Mk. IV F
Twin engine monoplane
Crew 2

466

1,615

170 at 15,000 ft.

266 at 11,800 ft.

6 x .303

 

Fulmar
Single engine monoplane
Crew 2

155

820

170 at 10,000 ft.

253 at 10,000 ft.

8 x .303

Fleet Air Arm.

Fury
Single engine biplane
Crew 1

50

440

127 at 15,000 ft.

205 at 15,000 ft.

2 x .303

 

Gauntlet
Single engine biplane
Crew 1

79

626

118 at 15,000 ft.

225 at 15,000 ft.

2 x .303

 

Gladiator
Single engine biplane
Crew 1

83

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 1

97

600

180 at 15,000 ft.

316 at 17,750 ft.

8 x .303

 

Tomahawk
Single engine monoplane
Crew 1

132
175

695
825

185 at 15,000 ft.

340 at 16,000 ft.

2 x .50
4 x .303

American 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
Bombload

Most Economical
Cruising Speed in
Miles Per Hour

Maximum Speed in
Miles Per Hour

Armament

Remarks

 

Miles

Bombload

 

 

 

 

Albacore
Single engine biplane
Crew 2 or 3

521

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 2

1,050

1,000 lb.

148 at 15,000 ft.

241 at 13,000 ft.

2 x .303

 

Blenheim Mk. I
Twin engine monoplane
Crew 3

920

1,000 lb.

165 at 15,000 ft.

265 at 15,000 ft.

2 x .303

 

Blenheim Mk. IV
Twin engine monoplane
Crew 3

1,457

1,000 lb.

170 at 15,000 ft.

266 at 11,800 ft.

5 x .303

 

Bombay
Twin engine monoplane
Crew 4

1,500

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 3

1,210
1,049

1,500 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 2

477

500 lb.

115 at 10,000 ft.

156 at 10,000 ft.

2 x .303

 

Hartbeest
Single engine biplane
Crew 2

450

568 lb.

110 at 11,000 ft.

145 at 11,000 ft.

3 x .303

Figures given are for East African
conditions.

--472--


BOMBER AIRCRAFT
(including bomber transport, bomber reconnaissance, and torpedo-bomber)

BRITISH

Aircraft

Still Air Range
with Associated
Bombload

Most Economical
Cruising Speed in
Miles Per Hour

Maximum Speed in
Miles Per Hour

Armament

Remarks

 

Miles

Bombload

 

 

 

 

Ju.86
Twin engine monoplane
Crew 6

700

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 2

1,410

500 lb.

123 at10,000 ft.

212 at 4,500 ft.
197 at 15,000 ft.

4 x .303

 

Skua
Single engine monoplane
Crew 2

980

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 10

1,850
2,425

1,900 lb.
Nil.

142 at 5,000 ft.

188 at 6,500 ft.

7 x .303

 

Swordfish
Single engine biplane
Crew 2

528

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 2

367

(a)

104 at 6,500 ft.

111 at 6,500 ft.

None

Transport aircraft.
(a)  With 22 troops.

Vincent
Single engine biplane
Crew 2

726

500 lb.

95 at 10,000 ft.

141 at 10,000 ft.

2 x .303

 

Wellesley
Single engine monoplane
Crew 2

2,250

1,060 lb.

133 at 15,000 ft.

206 at 15,000 ft.

2 x .303

 

Wellington Mk.1
Twin engine monoplane
Crew 6

2,550
1,200

1,000 lb.
4,500 lb.

165 at 10,000 ft.

225 at 4,700 ft.
235 at 15,500 ft.

6 x .303

 

--473--


FIGHTER AIRCRAFT

ITALIAN

Aircraft

Fuel and Still
Air Range at
Most Economical
Cruising Speed

Most Economical
Cruising Speed in
Miles Per Hour

Maximum Speed in Miles Per Hour

Gun
Armament

Remarks

 

Galls.

Miles

 

 

 

 

C.R.32
Single engine biplane
Crew 1

80

790

130 at 10,000 ft.

233 at 10,000 ft.

2 x 12.7 mm.

 

C.R.42
Single engine biplane
Crew 1

77

535

150 at 13,100 ft.

270 at 13,100 ft.

2 x 12.7 mm.

 

G.50
Single engine monoplane
Crew 1

69

530

170 at 14,500 ft.

300 at 14,500 ft.

2 x 12.7 mm.

 

M.C.200
Single engine monoplane
Crew 1

70

570

170 at 15,000 ft.

310 at 15,000 ft.

2 x 12.7 mm.

 

GERMAN

Me.110
Twin engine monoplane
Crew 2

280

930

200 at 18,000 ft.

360 at 20,000 ft.

6 x 7.9 mm.
2 x 20mm.

 

--474--


BOMBER AIRCRAFT
(including bomber transport, bomber reconnaissance, and torpedo-bomber)

ITALIAN

Aircraft

Still Air Range
with Associated
Bombload

Most Economical
Cruising Speed in
Miles Per Hour

Maximum Speed in
Miles Per Hour

Armament

Remarks

 

Miles

Bombload

 

 

 

 

Ba. 65
Single engine monoplane
Crew 1 to 2

590

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 4

1,350

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 4

750

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 3

1,060

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 4

1,315

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 5

2,450

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 5

1,130

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 5

1,650

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
Bombload

Most Economical
Cruising Speed in
Miles Per Hour

Maximum Speed in
Miles Per Hour

Armament

Remarks

 

Miles

Bombload

 

 

 

 

Ghibli
Twin engine monoplane
Crew 3 to 4

530

1,210

740 lb.
Nil

100 at 3,000 ft.

158 at sea level

3 x 7.7 mm.

Reconnaissance and light bombing

Ro. 37
Single engine biplane
Crew 2

1,100
1,295

400 lb.
Nil

120 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 5

1,190

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 5

1,030

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 5

1,250

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
Bombload

Most Economical
Cruising Speed in
Miles Per Hour

Maximum Speed in
Miles Per Hour

Armament

Remarks

 

Miles

Bombload

 

 

 

 

Do. 17
Twin engine monoplane
Crew 4

890

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 6

1,510

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 4

530-790

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 2

360

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 4

1,310

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


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