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Aviation History
1945
1945 - 0118.PDF
64 A LI 1 R FE B B O O R A N T E S Limits imposed by this con-dition were such that the boat would be of small value as arescue craft, and so tests were made with it slung externallybeneath the fuselage, and although ground clearancewas very small the aerody- namic side was affected verylittle. Lt. Cdr. Robb's design wasgiven to Uffa Fox, of dinghy racing fame, in order that aprototype boat should be built. Modifications weremade and also, the Hudson being scarcely the bestmachine for the job, a search was made for a moresuitable aircraft, the Vickers Warwick being finally se-lected. An article on the Warwick appeared in theMarch 30th, 1944, issue of Flight. The machine, as iswell known, is a big brother of the famous Wellington andemploys the same geodetic construction on virtuallyidentical lines—-in fact, at any distance at all, and apartfrom the larger machine's dorsal gun turret, it is almostimpossible to tell Warwick from Wimpy, or vice versa,so accurately has the scaling- up been achieved. The trial installation design for the Warwick was startedin February, 1943, the 23ft. boat being slung beneath the bomb bay and its gunwales no shaped as to fit snugly thecontours of the bomb doors. Suspension was designed with the orthodox bomb slips which were arranged to projectthrough special apertures in the bomb doors *to pick up the boat suspension points. For the dropping aspect of the problem, the G.Q. Para-chute Co., Ltd., were co-opted, and they evolved the six main 'chutes and shrouding arrangement which allow thelifeboat to be dropped at a safe rate of descent. Upon striking the water the tension of the parachuteshrouds is relaxed and the attachments to the boat are automatically released to prevent the parachutes pullingit away from the ditched air crew before they can reach it; at the same time, 300ft. lifelines are fired on each sideby rockets so that they can be grabbed and the lifeboat hauled within reach. Another interesting aspect is that,after release, as the weight is taken upon the parachute harnesses, a master cock for the CO, bottles is openedand the self-righting buoyancy-tube coamings fore and aft are inflated; this whilst the boat is on its way down. The boat is of wooden construction and is powered bytwo 5 h.p. Britannia Middy outboard engines mounted inboard about a third of the length aft from the bow.In this position the screws become tractors in that the craft is virtually pulled through the water. Fuel con-sumption is at the rate of about 1 gallon per hour, and the speed is between 6 and 7 knots. Although equipped with engines, the lifeboat is alsoprovided with a mast upon which can be set a jib-headed loose-footed sail. No keel or centre board is fitted, sothat leeway is probably considerable ; however, as a means to eke out the fuel supply or steady the craft in badweather the sail is, no doubt, an invaluable addition. These two views of the Warwick in Coastal Command dress illustrate very well that withoutother objects to give scale the machine can easily be taken for a Wellington. Equipment is very comprehensive indeed, as maygathered from the following list: — 1 first-aid kit.1 compass. 7 outer suits and satchels.7 inner suits and satchels. 3 smoke floats.1 chart board and case. be 1 ship's log and case.1 bilge pump and hose. 3 buoyant rocket heads.3 firing cartridges for rockets.1 Very pistol. 18 tins of 3 Very cartridges.1 Aldis lamp. 1 cover sheet.1 bottle of Dinament. 14 Everhot heaters.24 tins of drinking water. 3 tins of cigarettes.3 tins of matches. 1 torch with holder. 1 pair of hand bellows.4 rowlocks. 1 sea anchor.1 W/T set and case. 3 cups. Rations: 28 tins of milk; 7 tins of food. From the above it will be seen that a stranded aircrew, afloat in their rubber dinghies possibly off the Biscayan coast or somewhere in the wastes of the North Sea, miser- able, wet, suffering from cramp and exposure due to the confines of their little craft, are given a renewed lease of life with a seaworthy, self-righting lifeboat, complete with everything necessary for sustenance, warmth, communica- tion and navigation. Not very long ago a fairly large splash of publicity eman- ated from the United States regarding their provision of a similar airborne lifeboat carried by a Fortress. In all fairness it should be pointed out that the «ddea was pre- sented by Britain to the American authorities. In fact, one of our boats was sent out to them and, with the now familiar American appreciation of a good thing, the equally familiar result of American inventiveness was the in- evitable result. Why is it, we wonder, that the news- papers of a people who have such great qualities, and who are responsible for giving so many valuable things to the world, seem so frequently to be unwilling to give honour where honour is due?
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