Vickers Warwick

infobox Aircraft
name = Warwick
type = Maritime reconnaissance, air-sea rescue, transport
manufacturer = Vickers-Armstrongs



caption = Warwick B/ASR Mk.I "BV285"
designer =
first flight = 13 August, 1939
introduced =
retired =
status =
primary user = RAF
more users = Polish Air Force in exile
BOAC
produced =
number built = 712
unit cost =
developed from = Vickers Wellington
variants with their own articles = The Vickers Warwick was a multi-purpose British aircraft used during the Second World War. Built by Vickers-Armstrongs, the Warwick was used by the Royal Air Force (RAF) as a transport, air-sea rescue and maritime reconnaissance platform and by the civilian British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC).

Design and development

The Warwick was designed to Air Ministry specification B.1/35 for a two-engined heavy (by the standards of the day) bomber in parallel with the Wellington. The prototype orders were cancelled in 1936 when it was decided to standardise on four-engined bombers.Fact|date=July 2008 Vickers-Armstrongs completed two prototypes, with the first, (serial "K8178") powered by Rolls-Royce Vulture liquid-cooled "X" engines flying on 13 August 1939, Andrews and Morgan 1988, p.367.] , with the second prototype ("L9704"), powered by the Bristol Centaurus radial engine flying on 5 April 1940. Andrews and Morgan 1988, p.368.] The Vulture engine proved unreliable, and while the Centaurus powered prototype was more promising , its development was at an early stage, and use of the American Pratt & Whitney Double Wasp radial was proposed, with the second prototype being converted to use these engines and first flying in this form in July 1941. Mason 1994, p.328.]

The Warwick used Barnes Wallis' geodesic airframe construction pioneered in the Wellesley and Wellington. In this system, a network of intersecting structural members made from duralumin were covered by wired-on fabric. The load was distributed amongst the structure, providing great redundancy in the event of damage, at the expense of complexity of construction.

An initial production order for 250 Warwicks, consisting of 150 Double Wasp powered Mk Is and 100 Centaurus powered Mk IIs was placed on 28 December 1940. A total of 219 Warwick Mark Is were built, the last 95 with 2,000 hp (1,500 kW) R-2800-47 engines.

Operational history

Production Warwick Mk Is started to be delivered to the RAF for testing in July 1942. Only 16 aircraft were delivered as bombers, as by this time more capable four-engined heavy bombers such as the Short Stirling and Handley Page Halifax were in service. It was instead decided to use the Warwick for transport and air-sea rescue roles.

Fourteen Mk Is were converted on the production line as C Mk 1 transports for use by BOAC, being used briefly on its Middle East services before being transferred back to RAF Transport Command in 1944. March 1998, p.235.] 100 similar aircraft were built for the RAF as Warwick C Mk IIIs, entering service with 525 Squadron in June 1944. They were mainly used for services to the Mediterranean theatre, until being retired in 1946. Andrews and Morgan 1988, p.381.] The Warwick was ordered by RAF Coastal Command for anti-submarine reconnaissance. From 1943 Warwicks were loaded with the 1,700 lb (770 kg) Mk IA lifeboat and used for air-sea rescue. The lifeboat, designed by yachtsman Uffa Fox, laden with supplies and powered by two 4 hp (3 kW) motors, was aimed with a bombsight near to ditched air crew and dropped on parachutes into the sea from an altitude of about 700 ft (320 m). Warwicks were credited with rescuing crews from Halifaxes, Lancasters, Wellingtons and Fortresses and during the Arnhem landings from Hamilcar gliders.

Variants

Warwick Mark I

* Warwick B Mk I — original production bomber, of 150 ordered, only 16 aircraft were built. They were used for a variety of tests.
* Warwick C Mk I or Vickers Type 456 — transport version for BOAC, for use on its Mediterranean and North African routes.
* Warwick B/ASR Mk I — 40 aircraft converted from the Warwick B.Mk I bomber. The Warwick ASRs were used as air/sea rescue aircraft. They could carry two sets of Lindholme lifesaving equipment.
* Warwick ASR (Stage A) — Ten aircraft converted from the Warwick B Mk 1 bomber. The Warwick ASR (Stage A) was used for air/sea rescue. They could carry one airborne lifeboat and two sets of Lindholme lifesaving equipment.
* Warwick ASR (Stage B) — 20 aircraft converted from the Warwick B Mk 1 bomber. The Warwick ASR (Stage B) were air/sea rescue aircraft, carrying the same equipment as the Warwick ASRs and ASR (Stage As).
* Warwick ASR Mk I or Type 462 was an air/sea rescue version, it could carry an airborne lifeboat. The aircraft was powered by two 1,850 hp (1380 kW) Pratt & Whitney Double Wasp R-2800-S1A4G radial piston engines. 205 built.

Warwick Mark II

* Warwick B Mk II or Vickers Type 413 — bomber prototype, only one machine was ever built, converted from a Warwick B Mk I.
* Warwick GR Mk II or Vickers Type 469 — anti-submarine, general reconnaissance version. It was equipped to carry torpedoes and bombs. It was powered two 2,500 hp (1,864 kW) Bristol Centaurus VI radial piston engines; 118 built.
* Warwick GR Mk II Met — meteorological reconnaissance version of the Warwick GR Mk II; 14 built.

Warwick Mark III

* Warwick C Mk III or Vickers 'Type 460 — transport version. It had a pannier-like extension below the central fuselage, the normal loaded weight being raised to 45,000 lb (20,400 kg). It could carry 24 equipped troops or eight to ten passengers in the VIP version. No armament was carried; 100 built.

Warwick Mark IV

* Warwick ASR Mk VI or Vickers Type 485 — final air/sea rescue version. The aircraft was powered by two Pratt & Whitney Double Wasp R-2800-2SBG radial piston engines. 94 built.

Warwick Mark V

* Warwick GR Mk V or Vickers Type 474 — anti-submarine, general reconnaissance aircraft. It was powered by two Bristol Centaurus VII radial piston engines, armed with 7 machine guns and could carry 6,000 lb (2,700 kg) of bombs, mines or depth-charges. A Leigh light was fitted ventrally. It arrived too late to see service. 210 built.

Operators

Military Operators

;POL
*Polish Air Forces in exile
**No. 301 Polish Bomber Squadron
**No. 304 Polish Bomber Squadron;flag|South Africa|1928
*South African Air Force;UK
*Royal Air Force
** No. 38 Squadron RAF
** No. 167 Squadron RAF
** No. 179 Squadron RAF
** No. 251 Squadron RAF
** No. 269 Squadron RAF
** No. 275 Squadron RAF
** No. 276 Squadron RAF
** No. 277 Squadron RAF
** No. 278 Squadron RAF
** No. 279 Squadron RAF
** No. 280 Squadron RAF
** No. 281 Squadron RAF
** No. 282 Squadron RAF
** No. 283 Squadron RAF
** No. 284 Squadron RAF
** No. 292 Squadron RAF
** No. 293 Squadron RAF
** No. 294 Squadron RAF
** No. 353 squadron RAF
** No. 520 Squadron RAF
** No. 525 Squadron RAF
** No. 621 Squadron RAF

Civil Operators

;UK
*BOAC

pecifications (Warwick ASR Mk I)

aircraft specifications

plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop
ref=Vickers Aircraft since 1908 Andrews and Morgan 1988, p.394.]
crew=six
length main=72 ft 3 in
length alt=22.00 m
span main=96 ft 8½ in
span alt=29.48 m
height main=18 ft 6 in
height alt=5.6 m
area main=1,006 ft²
area alt=93.5 m²
empty weight main= 28,154 lb
empty weight alt= 12,797 kg
loaded weight main=
loaded weight alt=
max takeoff weight main=45,000 lb
max takeoff weight alt=20,455 kg
engine (prop)=Pratt & Whitney R-2800/S.1A4-G Double Wasp
type of prop= radials
number of props=2
power main=1,850 hp
power alt=1,380 kW each
max speed main=224 mph
max speed alt=195 knots, 361 km/h
range main= 2,300 miles
range alt= 2000 NM, 3,700 km
ceiling main=21,500 ft
ceiling alt=6,550 m
climb rate main=660 ft/min
climb rate alt= 3.35 m/s
loading main=
loading alt=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
guns=

** 8 x .303 (7.7 mm) Browning machine guns

ee also

aircontent
related=
*Vickers Wellington
similar aircraft=
*Avro Manchester
lists=
see also=

References

Notes

Bibliography

* Andrews, C.F and Morgan, E.B. "Vickers Aircraft since 1908." London:Putnam, 1988. ISBN 0 85177 815 1.
* Barfield, Norman. "Vickers-Armstrongs Warwick variants". "Aircraft in Profile, Volume 11". Windsor, Berkshire, UK: Profile Publications Ltd., 1972.
* Green, William and Scarborough, Gordon. "WW2 Fact Files: RAF Bombers, Part 2". London: Jane's Publishing Company Ltd., 1981. ISBN 0-7106-0118-2.
* March, Daniel J. (editor). "British Warplanes of World War II". London:Aerospace, 1998. ISBN 1 874023 92 1.
* Mason, Francis K. "The British Bomber since 1914". London:Putnam, 1994. ISBN 0 85177 861 5.
* Taylor, John W.R. "Vickers Warwick". "Combat Aircraft of the World from 1909 to the Present". New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1969. ISBN 0-425-03633-2.

External links

* [http://www.jaapteeuwen.com/ww2aircraft/html%20pages/VICKERS%20WARWICK.htm British Aircraft of World War II: The Vickers Warwick]
* [http://www.britishaircraft.co.uk/aircraftpage.php?ID=55 British Aircraft Directory entry]
* [http://uboat.net/allies/aircraft/warwick.htm Uboat.net entry]