Bristol

Bristol Beaufighter

Fighter bomber/torpedo bomber

  • First flight1939
  • Introduction27 July 1940
  • StatusRetired
  • Number built5,928
Technical data

Specifications

01

Crew & dimensions

Crew
2
Length
41 ft 4 in
Wingspan
57 ft 10 in
Height
15 ft 10 in
02

Performance

Maximum speed
320 mph
Range
1,750 mi
Service ceiling
19,000 ft
03

Powerplant

Powerplant
2 × Bristol Hercules XVII or Bristol Hercules XVIII 14-cylinder air-cooled sleeve-valve radial piston engines (1,600 hp)
04

Armament

Armament
Guns: 4 × 20 mm Hispano Mark II cannon (240 rpg) in nose, 6 ×.303 (7.7 mm) Browning machine guns in wings four starboard two port (optional, replacing internal long range fuel tanks), 1 × manually operated 0.303 in Browning for observer (if fitted); Bombs: 2 × 250 lb bombs or 1 × British 18 inch (45 cm) torpedo or 1 × Mark 13 torpedo; Rockets: 8 × RP-3 60 lb rockets