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DeHavilland Australia D.H.93 Albatross II (1940)

Dedicated long-range reconnaissance/maritime patrol

General characteristics

Crew: 6 (pilot, copilot, radio operator, navigator, radar operator, observer)
Length: 72ft
Wingspan: 102ft
Height: 22 ft
Wing area: 1,040 ft²
Empty weight: 24,000 lb
Loaded weight: 37,000 lb
Powerplant: 4 × Rolls Royce Peregrine inline piston engine, 870 hp each

Maximum speed: 300 mph
Cruise speed: 210 mph
Range: 2,400 nmi
Service ceiling: 20,000 ft
Rate of climb: 1,000 ft/min


Started as a modified D.H.91, the D.H.93 turned into a completely new aircraft. Unlike the 91 it uses conventional aluminum construction. It also replaces the Gipsy majors with more powerful Peregrines to allow greater fuel capacity. It also has a strengthen rear fuselage, third fin, tip tanks, ASV radar, and sleeping quarters for long range missions. No armament is carried but flares and smoke rockets are carried in the aft fuselage.

CAC/BAM Pelican (based a bit on OTL Saro Lerwick) (1937)

General characteristics.

* Crew: 7
* Length: 62 ft
* Wingspan: 79 ft
* Height: 20 ft
* Wing area: 820 ft²
* Loaded weight: 27,000 lb
* Max takeoff weight: 32,000 lb
* Powerplant: Pratt & Witney 1,200 hp R-1830 Twin Wasp

Performance

* Maximum speed: 210 mph @ 5,700 ft
* Range: miles 1500 miles
* Service ceiling 14,000 ft
* Rate of climb: 880 ft/min

Armament

* 6 × 0.303 in (7.7 mm) Browning guns (nose [2], dorsal [2] & tail [4])
* 2,000 lb (900 kg) of bombs or depth charges or torpedoes.

Maritime patrol aircraft based on the BCAC Britannia airliner, sharing the wings, tail, control surfaces and undercarriage with a modified fuselage. The components used are from the Type 167 long-range variant of the airliner. The Type 178 was developed to meet the requirements of the Royal Australian Air Force during 1945. 20 were ordered the same year off the drawing board.

There are two bomb bays in the central fuselage, each 18ft 6in long with a capacity of 4,000lb each and two underwing hardpoints which can carry 2,000lb each. A dorsal turret is also fitted. Fuel tankage totals 6,688 imp gals and an extra 500 gal tank can be carried in each bomb bay. Three cameras are carried for reconnaissance and an ASV Mk .V RDF set is carried under the nose for search and targeting. Three flare tubes are also fitted and the starboard wing carries a powerful searchlight. The crew comprises: pilot, co-pilot, navigator, radio-operator, flight engineering, observer/bomb-aimer, and two/three observer gunners. Full rest facilities are fitted in the rear cabin and extra crew members can be carried if required. Large doors in the rear port fuselage allow the loading of light freight if required.

Wingspan: 142ft 3in
Length: 124ft 3in
Height: 36ft 8in
Wing area: 2,075 sq ft
Empty weight: 80,000lb
Loaded weight: 155,000lb
Powerplant: four 2,625hp Bristol Centaurus X 18-cyl radial engines
Max speed: 315mph at 20,000ft, 288mph at sea level
Cruising speed: 230mph at sea level
Range: (cruising to and from patrol area at 223mph at 5,000ft, patrol at 190mph below 1,000ft with sufficient fuel for 575 mile diversion in all cases) 12hr patrol at range of 830 miles; 8 hours at range of 1,210 miles; 4 hours at range of 1,590 miles, normal cruise endurance 24 hours, maximum ferry range 6,100 miles
Initial rate of climb: 1,700ft/min
Service ceiling: 24,000ft
Armament: one Bristol B.17 dorsal turret armed with two 20mm Orkileon-FFB cannon, 8,000lb of bombs, torpedoes, mines or depth-charges in two bomb bays and 4,000lb carried on two underwing hardpoints

In 1944 the RAAF began looking at a long-range reconnaissance aircraft suitable for tactical as well as strategic roles.
The AA-51 Mustang III long-range fighter appeared a ready-made platform and in March 1945 a production Mustang III was converted to reconnaissance configuration. The main change was a vertical and an oblique F.24 camera in the rear fuselage replacing the fighter's jumpseat (structural provision had already been made). Two wing-mounted machine guns were retained for self-defence but often are omitted to save weight or sometimes replaced by one forward-facing still or cine camera. The first of fifteen aircraft were delivered in early 1946 following successful trials.


Specifications

Power: Rolls-Royce 1,720 hp Merlin 66 (downrated to 1,620 hp)

Armament: Two 50cal machine guns

Size: Wingspan - 39ft
Length - 34ft
Wing area - 240sq ft

Weight: Empty - 9,400lb
Max take-off - 12,250lb

Performance: Max speed - 432mph
Ceiling - 39,000ft
Range - 2,000 miles
Climb - 3,200ft per minute

Picture

In response to the requirement for additional flying boats from the RANAS and the RNZAF, a second batch of forty production aircraft were ordered in late 1945.
CAC undertook some updating of the design with some structural changes, greater gross weight and revised armament and equipment including an ASV RDF set. The first production aircraft served as the prototype and was first flown in May 1946. Production was completed by late 1948.



Crew: 7
Length: 62 ft (18.89 m)
Wingspan: 79 ft (24.07 m)
Height: 20 ft (6.09 m)
Wing area: 820 ft² (76.18 m²)
Loaded weight: 30,000 lb (13,607 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 35,000 lb (15,875 kg)
Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney R-1830-92 Twin Wasp, 1,200 hp (895 kW)
Maximum speed: 210 mph at 5,700 ft (337 km/h at 1,737m)
Range: 1,750 miles (2,816 km)
Service ceiling 14,000 ft (4,267 m)
Rate of climb: 880 ft/min (4.47 m/sec)
Armament: 6 × 0.5in (12.7mm) Browning machine guns (nose, dorsal & tail twin-gun turrets); 2,000 lb (900 kg) of bombs or depth charges or torpedoes.