Again in the spirit of streamlining logistics, reducing costs, and replacing the Albacore and Dauntless, the RAN began looking for a torpedo bomber. the design selected was based on the losing Bristol entry to the competition that lead to the Barracuda. The design was updated with retractable landing gear, and a more powerful Centaurus engine. Together with the Sea Fury the new plane would form the basis for the RAN's carrier air wings. An initial order for 110 (+80 options) being placed.
In 1942 Australia ordered a new naval torpedo-bomber reconnaissance
aircraft in both carrier-based and floatplane forms from Bristol. The
design is based on a tender made to meet the RAF’s Spec S.24/35, but
updated to include retractable undercarriage, a Bristol Centaurus radial
engine, a ventrally-mounted ASV Mk III set can be fitted and new
construction techniques are used to save weight. The usual crew is
pilot, navigator/ bombardier and radio-operator/ gunner. The first
prototype flew on 14 June 1943 and the first deliveries began during the
summer of 1944. The three variants are the basic torpedo-bomber, a
reconnaissance variant with the ASV Mk III which is fully armed except
it cannot carry torpedoes and the seaplane variant with twin floats and
which retains the folding wings for shipboard use.
The production split is: 130 torpedo bombers, 22 ASV-equipped reconnaissance and 38 seaplanes.
Dimensions; 50/ 40/ 13.5/ 450 sq ft; 1x 2,470hp Bristol Centaurus VIII;
max speed 270mph at 11,000ft; range 680 miles (internal fuel and
carrying a torpedo); MTOW 14,000lbs and service ceiling 28,200ft.
Armament: 2x 0.5in Browning machine-guns and one dorsal 0.303in Browning
machine-gun and one 1,500lb torpedo or three 500lb or seven 250lb bombs
in underfuselage and underwing racks or 8x 3in RPs under the wings. Two
90 gallon drop tanks or two supply or rescue canisters can also be
fitted instead of bombs under the wings.
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