Handley Page Harrow
| HP Harrow | |
|---|---|
_a_Walter_Pegas.jpg) HP Harrow |
|
| Type: | Heavy bomber |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
October 10, 1936 |
| Commissioning: |
January 1937 |
| Production time: |
1936 to December 1937 |
| Number of pieces: |
100 |
The Handley Page HP54 Harrow was a twin-engine British bomber from 1936, which was later used as a troop transport and cargo plane by the Royal Air Force .
History and construction
The Handley Page Harrow was a modern high- wing bomber designed to replace the outdated Vickers Virginia . He was in competition with Armstrong Whitworth Whitley .
The Harrow had a fixed landing gear and a double rudder. The standard crew consisted of four men - the pilot and three gunner. A gunner sat in the aircraft nose, one in the tail turret and one in the middle of the fuselage.
In August 1935, a total of 100 Mk-I and Mk-II machines were ordered. The two variants only differed in the engines. The Mk I had a Bristol Pegasus X with 618 kW and the Mk II had a 690 kW (938 hp) Bristol Pegasus XX engine. In addition, the turrets of the MK II received motor support.
The Harrow's maiden flight took place on October 10, 1936. 38 of the type Mk I and the remaining 62 of the type Mk II were built. Production ran until the end of 1937. In January 1937, the first Harrows came into service.
With the advent of the more modern Vickers Wellington , the tasks of Harrow were redefined. It has now been converted into a troop transport for a maximum of 20 soldiers or used as a cargo plane. She also played a huge role in training bomber crews. Some were used to lay mines at the beginning of World War II .
The Fleet Air Arm received nine Harrows between June 1942 and January 1943. These were named Sparrow and were used to transport engines in Squadron 782.
From 1944 the machines were gradually taken out of service, the last machine was taken out of service at the end of the war in Europe in May 1945.
variants
- Harrow Mk.I
- powered by two Bristol Pegasus X with 620 kW (843 hp) each, 19 built
- Harrow Mk.II
- powered by two Bristol Pegasus XX with 690 kW (938 PS) each, 81 built
Military use
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Technical specifications
| Parameter | Data Handley Page HP54 Harrow Mk II |
|---|---|
| crew | Pilot, three gunmen |
| length | 25.04 m |
| span | 26.95 m |
| Wing area | 101 m² |
| Wing extension | 7.2 |
| height | 5.92 m |
| Empty mass | 6,170 kg |
| Max. Takeoff mass | 10,433 kg |
| drive | 2 × Bristol Pegasus XX with 938 HP (690 kW) each |
| Top speed | 322 km / h in 10,000 ft (3,048 m ) |
| Service ceiling | 7,925 m |
| Range | 2,000 km |
| Armament | 4 × 7.7 mm MGs, max. 1360 kg bombs in the internal weapon bay |
literature
- CH Barnes: Handley Page Aircraft since 1907. Putnam Publishing, London 1987, ISBN 0-85177-803-8 .
- Donald C. Clayton: Handley Page, on Aircraft Album. Ian Allan Ltd., Shepperton 1969, ISBN 0-7110-0094-8 .
- David Mondey: The Hamlyn Concise Guide to British Aircraft of World War II. Aerospace Publishing, London 1994, ISBN 1-85152-668-4 .
