Vickers Vildebeest

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Vickers Vildebeest
Vickers Vilderbeste.jpg
Vickers Vildebeest Mk.I
Type: Double Decker - torpedo bomber
Design country:

United KingdomUnited Kingdom United Kingdom

Manufacturer:

Vickers

First flight:

April 1928

Commissioning:

1932

Production time:

1931 to 1937

Number of pieces:

209

The Vickers Vildebeest (of . English / . Afr wildebeest = gnu ) was a single-engine dreisitziger biplane - torpedo bomber of the British manufacturer Vickers . The Vickers Vildebeest was still in service in five squadrons of the Royal Air Force at the beginning of World War II . At the end of 1941 they were still used in the defense of Singapore against the Japanese.

In addition to the RAF, the Vickers Vildebeest was also used by the Royal New Zealand Air Force and on the Republican side in Spain during the Civil War.

Development and construction history

Developed as a replacement for the Hawker Horsley after tendering 24/25 by the Ministry of Aviation , this type flew for the first time in April 1928 as a two-seat prototype N230 with a 460 hp radial engine Bristol Jupiter VIII and a two-blade wooden propeller. Competitive developments were the Blackburn Beagle and the Handley Page Hare . The Jupiter VIII engine was unsatisfactory, but after testing the Armstrong Siddeley Panther double radial engine and the Bristol Pegasus star engine, the Ministry found the Vickers machine to be the best design. The Vickers Vildebeest had a covered all-metal frame and superimposed wings, which, despite the considerable span, were only connected with a pair of struts. The pilot sat in front of the planes and had an excellent view ahead. The armament consisted of a rigid machine gun forward and a movable weapon in the position of the gunner / radio operator on the back of the fuselage behind the wings. The first nine machines were ordered in 1931 according to specification 22/31 .

The first Vildebeest Mk I were launched in late autumn 1933 at No. 100 Squadron put into service. Then followed the Vildebeest Mk II with the radial engine Bristol Pegasus IIM3 (492 kW / 669 PS) and the Vildebeest Mk III with a modified rear cockpit and permanently installed third seat behind the pilot for a navigator. The last version was the Vildebeest Mk IV , whose hood-clad Perseus radial engine with slide control drove a three-blade metal propeller.

When the war broke out, 101 Vildebeest were still in service with the RAF (six Mk.II and 52 Mk.III in the Far East, 23 Mk.III and 16 Mk.IV in Great Britain). In the Far East, the last copy was decommissioned in March 1942, in Ceylon this happened in the same month with the 273 squadron with the introduction of the Fairey Fulmar . The New Zealand Air Force used the model until May 1943 as a training aircraft and for coastal surveillance. New Zealand had already received twelve Mk.III direct from Vickers before the war and from 1939 26 former RAF Mk.III and Mk.IV variants .

The RAF received 173 (202?) Copies of the following variants:

Mark I ( Type 244 )
First two-seater series version with a 600 HP radial engine (448 kW) Bristol Pegasus IM3; 22 machines were built for the RAF in 1932 and 1933. (registration number between S1707 and K2822)
Mark II, initially Mk.XI ( Type 252 )
Variant with the more powerful 635 PS engine (474 ​​kW) Pegasus IIM3; 30 machines built for the RAF in 1933. (K2916 – K2945)
Mark III ( Type 267 )
Three-seater series version, 150 machines ordered for the RAF by 1936, 124 actually built by 1936, some machines ordered as multi-purpose Vickers Vincent versions were completed (license numbers between K4105 and K6407, all numbers for the 171 Vickers Vincent series are also in this area). K4105 became the prototype of the production version of the Vincent . 15 Vickers Vildebeest Mk.III (including a converted Mk.II) were later given to the RNZAF.
Mark IV ( Type 286 )
Again a two-seater variant with an 825 HP (615 kW) valve - controlled Bristol Perseus VIII star engine ; 18 (K6408 – K6414, K8078 – K8088) built for the RAF, twelve later delivered to New Zealand.

In addition to the series machines, there was a whole series of prototypes, some of which were created by converting existing machines:

Type
Type 132 the first prototype N230 with a Jupiter VIII engine with 460 hp
Type 192 Prototype N230 as Series II with a Jupiter XF with 540 hp
Type 194 Series III prototype with a 500hp Jupiter XIF
Type 204 1930, in-house second prototype of the Series IV with Panther IIA engine, later handed over to the RAF
Type 209 Series V prototype with a Jupiter XIF engine
Type 214 Series VI prototype with a Jupiter XFBM engine
Type 216 Factory prototype G-ABGE Series VII with a Hispano-Suiza 12Lbr with 595 hp, also flown with floats, as a model aircraft to Spain
Type 217 Planned conversion of the second prototype to Series VII standard, which did not take place
Type 245 Series IX , torpedo bombers for the Spanish Navy with water-cooled 600 HP V-12 engine (448 kW) Hispano-Suiza 12L, licensed in Spain
Type 263 modified Vildebeest Mk.I K2916 with a Pegasus IM3 engine and floats
Type 266 three-seater multipurpose version Vickers Vincent for use in the colonies
Type 277 twelve vildebeest for New Zealand

production

Acceptance of Vickers Vildebeest by the RAF:

version 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 total
Mk.I 10 12         22nd
Mk.II   30th         30th
Mk.III     23 37 39   99
Mk.IV           17th 17th
total 10 42 23 37 39 17th 168

Mission history

When the decision to procure the Vickers Vildebeest was made in 1931 , the RAF had only two land-based torpedo bomber squadrons: the 36th squadron in Singapore and the 100th squadron in Donibristle (Scotland).

Vickers Vildebeest of season No. 100 in RAF Seletar between 1934 and 1938

The Staffel 100 received the first Vickers Vildebeest Mk.I from November 1932 , with which it was fully equipped from July 1933. In the months of August / September, the conversion to the Mk.II version took place . In 1934 the squadron moved to Singapore to reinforce the defense of the British main base in the Far East. In December 1937, the conversion to the Mk.III version began , but the last Mk.II was not taken out of service until January 1941. It was intended to equip the squadron with Australian- built Bristol Beaufort in 1941 . When the Japanese attack on Singapore began late that year, the squadron's operational pattern continued to be the obsolete biplane. The heavy losses of the two squadrons stationed in Singapore led to the merger of the two squadrons in February and there was initially no more season 100 .

On May 1, 1934, the 22nd squadron with the Vickers Vildebeest Mk.I used by the 100th squadron in 1932/1933 was rearranged in Donibristle to replace the squadron going to Singapore. From May 1935 the squadron received the version Mk.III , with which the squadron relocated to Malta in October 1935 because of the Abyssinian crisis and only returned to its base in August 1936. In 1938 the squadron moved to Thorney Island on the English Channel and received some machines of the Mk.IV version . After a few Vickers Vildebeest Mk.I's again replenished the squadron's military strength in the first months of the war, the squadron began to convert to the modern twin-engine torpedo bomber Bristol Beaufort in November 1939 to February 1940 , with which the squadron flew its first combat missions in mid-April.

Vildebeest Mk.II , RAF Seletar, January 1937

The RAF season 36 , created on October 1, 1928 from the Coast Defense Torpedo Flight in Donibristle, received Vickers Vildebeest Mk.III as a replacement for their Hawker Horsley in July 1935 . The RAF's oldest torpedo bomber squadron, stationed in Singapore since 1930, was still equipped with this type in December 1941 when the Japanese attack took place. The heavy losses of the two squadrons stationed in Singapore led to their amalgamation and the remainder of the 36 squadron were still used from Java after the flight from Singapore . On March 7, 1942, she lost her last two machines while trying to escape via Sumatra to Burma , so that this season no longer existed.

On December 14, 1936, a second squadron of torpedo bombers was created in Donibristle through the reorganization of squadron 42 . The core of the season was the Vickers Vildebeest Mk.III equipped 'B' flight of season 22 . In the first three months of 1937, old Mk.I machines replenished the new squadron, which in March 1937 was the first to receive machines from the last Mk.IV version of the Vildebeest . From January 1938 until the beginning of the war, the 42 squadron was the only RAF squadron that was fully equipped with this version. From September, the squadron received machines of the Mk. III version again to replenish the full combat strength. At the beginning of 1940, the relay began to be converted to Bristol Beaufort .

On August 1, 1939, a fifth Vildebeest unit was created with the newly established Squadron 273 . The squadron, set up in China Bay near Trincomalee on Ceylon , had six Vickers Vildebeest Mk.III torpedo bombers and four Fairey Seal s from the 'Station Flight' there and was supposed to secure the coasts of Ceylon. Since no hostile activities were detected, the squadron then mainly served to train the anti-aircraft units on the ground and on the ships. In March 1942, this last active squadron with the Vickers Vildebeest was converted to Fairey Fulmar - fighters and reconnaissance aircraft, just before the attack by the Japanese carrier fleet on April 9th.

Use by other states

Spain Second RepublicSecond Spanish Republic Spain
In Spain , from 1934, 25 machines were built under license at CASA with in-line engines of the Hispano-Suiza HS 600 type . The prototype supplied by Vickers was named Vickers Vildebeest Mk.VII ( Type 216 ). All machines were in the hands of the republic at the time of the outbreak of civil war . At the end of the war there were only two machines left.
New ZealandNew Zealand New Zealand
New Zealand ordered twelve machines from Fairey in 1934, which were called Type 277 and resembled the Mk.III . The machines did not have a device for carrying torpedoes, but like the Vickers Vincent could carry an additional tank under the hull. The first machine was demonstrated to the New Zealand authorities in Weybridge at the end of January 1935. In April 1935, the first machines arrived in New Zealand by ship. All machines had been delivered by the end of 1937. All machines were first assigned to the 2nd AGV in Wigram . The machines should be used to train personnel and monitor the waters around New Zealand in the event of a crisis. So it was not until 1940 that squadrons were formed. By the beginning of the Second World War, three machines had been lost. From 1940 New Zealand received 27 used Vildebeest to reinforce and train additional pilots and from July to December 1939 60 almost identical Vickers Vincent from RAF holdings in the Middle East. The two Vickers models were used together by the New Zealand squadrons.

Museum plane

A Vildebeest / Vincent hull has been restored by the Royal New Zealand Air Force Museum in Wigram .

Technical specifications

Parameter Type 207 M.1 / 30 Vildebeest Mk.III Vildebeest Mk.IV Vincent Type 253 G.4 / 31
crew 2 3 2 3 2
length 13.29 m 11.18 m 11.48 m 11.18 m (36 ft 8 in) 11.28 m
span 15.24 m 14.94 m (49 ft) 16.03 m
height 4.42 m 4.47 m 5.41 m (17 ft 9 in) 3.81 m
Wing area 67.3 m² 67.63 m² (728 ft²) 53.04 m²
Empty mass 2359 kg 2170 kg 2142 kg 1918 kg (4229 lb) 2553 kg
Takeoff mass 4354 kg 3864 kg 3856 kg 3674 kg (8100 lb) 3787 kg
Top speed 256 km / h 230 km / h 251 km / h 229 km / h (142 mph) 259 km / h
Service ceiling 5800 m (19000 ft) 5182 m (17000 ft) w. v.
Range 1014 km
max. 2100 km		 1014 km
max. 2615 km		 1006 km (625 mi)
max. 2012 km
Engine Buzzard IIIMS, 825 hp Pegasus IIM.3, 635 hp Perseus VII, 825 hp Pegasus IIM.3, 635 hp Pegasus IIM.3, 690 hp
Armament 2 MG
Bomb load a 457 mm torpedo or up to 908 kg bombs a 457 mm torpedo
or 500 kg bombs		 a 457 mm torpedo
or 454 kg bombs		 454 kg bombs 680 kg bombs

See also

literature

  • CF Andrews, EB Morgan: Vickers Aircraft since 1908. Putnam, London 1988, ISBN 0-85177-815-1 .
  • Philip Jarrett: By Day and By Night. Vildebeest and Vincent. In: Airplane Monthly. Volume 23, No. 2, Issue 262, February 1995, ISSN  0143-7240 , pp. 16-22.
  • Peter Lewis: The British Bomber since 1914. Putnam, London 1980, ISBN 0-370-30265-6 .
  • Kenneth Munson: Bomber 1919-1939. Orell Füssli, Zurich 1971.
  • Owen Thetford: Aircraft of the Royal Air Force since 1918. Putnam, London 1979, ISBN 0-370-30186-2 .

Web links

Commons : Vickers Vildebeest  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Lewis: British Bombers. P. 213.
  2. ^ Owen Thetford: By Day and By Night - Vildebeest in Service. In: Airplane Monthly. April 1995, p. 42.
  3. ^ A b c Jarrett: By Day and By Night. Vildebeest and Vincent. In: Airplane Monthly. February 1995, p. 19.
  4. ^ A b c d Andrews / Morgan: Vickers Aircraft. P. 516f.
  5. ^ A b c d Thetford: Aircraft of the RAF. P. 515.
  6. ↑ Contribution to various prototypes
  7. ↑ Halley, James J .: The K File. The Royal Air Force of the 1930s, Tunbridge Wells, 1995, p. 371 ff .; Thompson, Dennis: Royal Air Force Aircraft J1-J9999, Tonbridge 1987
  8. ↑ No 100 Squadron
  9. ↑ No 22 Squadron
  10. ↑ No 36 Squadron
  11. ↑ No 42 Squadron
  12. ↑ No 273 Squadron
  13. ↑ supplied
    Mk.III: K4110, K4122, K4124 / 25, K4151, K4617, K4659-K4662, K4676, K4680, K4710, K4717-K4722, K4729, K4734, K4739 / 40, K4743-K4750, K4885
    Mk.IV: K6326 / 27, K6329 / 30, K6333-K6336, K6338-K6345, K6348, K6351-K6357, K6360 / 61, K6368