Bristol
Beaufort
Technical Information
Background
Twin-engined torpedo bomber and transport.
Standard torpedo bomber and bomber from 1940 until 1943.
Australian Production
Australia built 700 beauforts during the war. All but one of the
RAAF Beauforts (A9-1001 - a pattern aircraft) were Australian
built, and therefore referred to as DAP Beauforts (DAP meaning
Department of Aircraft Production). In Australia, they were constructed with Pratt &
Whitney Twin Wasp engines with 1,200 Horsepower each.
The first 90 (A9-1 to A9-90)
were intended to be used by the RAF in Singapore, and
most were allocated RAF serials. Only a handful of these saw service with the RAF before Singapore fell. These
served with RAF 100 Squadron. After Singapore fell, they returned to
Australia and were delivered
to the RAAF.
Technical Details
Crew Four
Engine 2 x P&W Twin Wasps 1,200hp
Span 57.8 ft
Length 44.16 ft
Height 14.2 ft
Maximum Speed 225 mph
Range 1,600 miles
Armament 4 x 7.7mm machine gun
Bombload 1x 18in torpedo or up to 907 kg bombs
