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Aviation History
1940
1940 - 0737.PDF
MARCH 14, 1940 229 BOMBERS (CONTINUED Germany's new Junkers Ju 88 high-speed twin-engined bomber. There is probably internal stowage, but it is certain that bombsare also carried beneath the centre section. It is believed that the type can be used for dive-bombing. There are various reasons for the adoption of two engines for medium-sized bombers. Mainly these are operational, though the problems of airscrew diameter and undercarriage height apply to a certain degree. Par- ticularly in the case of the smaller multi-purpose bombers which can be used as fighters the possibility of installing heavy forward-firing armament is a governing considera- tion, while the poor forward view, greater complication in the fuselage, vibration, and the difficulty of providing a forward position for the bomb-aimer are other weighty factors militating against the single-engined machine. On the other hand, the fitting of two engines on the wings has certain drawbacks, notably transference of weight out- board with consequent loss in manoeuvrability (this may be partially offset by counter-rotating airscrews) and, in the case of certain mid- and high-wing radial-engined machines of comparatively small size, notoriously bad lateral vision. Aerodynamically, some of the latest multi-purpose bombers, being the fastest of all bombing machines, are a joy to behold, though military requirements necessarily mar their lines. Design varies considerably, low, mid and high wings all being in vogue. Radial engines predominate, for the time being at least. Although profiting from the same technical advances as high-speed transport aircraft, the structural design of fast bombers may differ considerably as stresses will be concen- trated in the bomb cells rather than distributed along the length of the fuselage. Metal-stressed-skin construction is most favoured and on a number of new types a tricycle undercarriage is fitted. Another point of technical interest is the extensive use of beautifully moulded transparent material in the nose. In some types the entire for- ward part of the fuselage is almost completely transparent, giving an ex- cellent view for the pilot and observer and light for the bomb-aimer. While our Bristol Blenheim and Beaufort have a comparatively roomy cabin extending aft from the pilot's cockpit to a power-driven gun turret the French Potez 63, being a lighter machine and having a fuselage of smaller cross-section, is laid out rather on the lines of the Fairey Battle with an external transparent enclosure. For bombing operations, a crew of two is carried in the Potez, the third man's position being taken up by a cell holding eight 1251b. bombs. One ver- sion of the machine has external racks for dive-bombing. On the right are three interior views01 the German Dornier Do 215. In two of the views the upper and lower rear guns are shown manned. Regulations prevent our referring to the bomb load of the Blenheim or Beaufort so we must turn to the new Martin 167 for an examination of the bomb arrangements. In- ternal racks are fitted to carry one 1,1301b. bomb; two 6241b. bombs; four 3081b. bombs; or eight u61b. bombs. These are released through doors in the bottom of the fuse- lage which are opened by elastic cords and closed by hydraulic power from either the pilot's or the bomb-aimer's position. For ground attack work a large number of small fragmentation bombs are carried in chutes in the bomb bay, supplementing four wing-mounted guns and two free guns. ^ • T - \ Qun Installations -• .1' ' ~ Armament, despite the limitations imposed by the com- paratively small size of the machines under consideration, differs fairly considerably, though when they are operating exclusively as bombers the fire power is not very heavy. The standard Blenheim bomber has one fixed wing- mounted gun and a second weapon in a semi-retractable power-driven turret aft of the cabin ; the Czech Aero A-300 and the Italian Caproni Ca 135 likewise have a retractable turret, but the front gun is mounted in the nose and has a limited arc of fixe ; the Potez, Breguet and Breda machines, when functioning solely as bombers, have fixed machine guns, plus one aft gun with a restricted arc of movement. Germany's Dornier Do 215 has a gun with a very restricted movement firing through the pilot's windscreen, a second on top of the fuselage and a third below. The Do 215 is also of interest in that the crew is bunched together in the forward part of the machine in front of the bomb compartment.
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