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Aviation History
1952
1952 - 0896.PDF
4o6 FLIGHT, 4 April 1952 A NSWERING to this description are large- and medium-/\ sized landplanes and flying-boats with two or four engines •*- Jm. and primarily intended for over-water patrol, shadowing and anti-submarine action. While landplanes predominate, it is nevertheless recognized that a global conflict would afford abundant opportunities for—indeed, demand—long-range flying- boats capable of operating at high intensity with the minimum of shore facilities. In succession to adapted Avro Lancaster bombers, R.A.F. Coastal Command is re-equipping with Avro Shackleton M.R.is, for which four Rolls-Royce Griffon piston engines, developed specifically for cruising economy at medium and low altitudes, provide power. Optional nose armament is two 20-mm guns, in remotely trained barbettes, and a similar armament is installed in the dorsal turret. The weapon bay is of exceptional capacity and, though specific figures are withheld, it is claimed that a high rate of climb is attainable to ensure a quick getaway after a surface attack. This climb might be assisted with water/methanol injec tion, which would, in any case, assist take-off under tropical conditions. It is claimed for the Shackleton that it could return to base with two engines out of action. The smaller twin-engined Lockheed Neptune, supplied not only Engines of the Lockheed Neptune are Wright Turbo-Cyclones; the Martin Mercator below it has two Wasp Majors and two J-33 turbojets. The radar installation of the Avro Shackleton M.R.1, seen in this "Flight" sketch, is located under the nose, as shown in the-photograph, left. to the U.S. Navy but to Britain, Australia and South Africa may be described in rather greater detail. Later Neptune variants are among the first aircraft to have Wright Turbo-Cyclone 18 engines, and it has been estimated that, had the early Neptune Truculent Turtle, which established the world's long-distance record of 11,236 miles in 1946, been so powered, the distance might have been increased by as much as 2,200 miles. Gun and projectile armament of the Neptune has varied considerably through the range of sub-types, the P2V-5 having twin, turreted 20-mm guns in place of the fixed armament of some earlier marks. Specific internal loads for the P2V-5 may not be listed, but it is believed that the following are typical: 12 x 325-lb depth charges, 16 x 500-lb bombs, a quantity of sea mines or two torpedoes. Rocket projectiles, including Tiny Tims, can be disposed under the wings. Submarine-hunting gear may include a large external radome or magnetic detection equipment (at the expense of part of the war load), and a quantity of sonobuoys. Wing-tip tanks contain extra fuel and a searchlight. The sonobuoys are carried internally and are dropped in an area where a submarine has been located. They float on the surface and each contains a microphone, which is lowered to a prescribed depth, where it picks up the noise of the submarine's propellers. This it relays by a small radio set to the aircraft itself, wherein special equipment determines the position of the submarine. Also in U.S. naval service are a small number of Martin Mer-cators, larger and—having two turbojets in addition to their piston engines—faster than the Neptune. France has taken over a quantity of reconditioned Lancasters for maritime reconnaissance work and is experimenting with a development of the Breguet Deux Ponts freighter, designated Type 764, equipped for anti submarine operation and having an endurance of 24 hours with a war load of about 10,000 lb. While the principal weapons of the aircraft named are bombs, depth charges, torpedoes, mines and rockets, there appears to be no doubt that in due time air-to-sub-surface guided missiles will be taken into service. A Goodyear "blimp" of the US. Navy, equipped with magnetic submarine-detection gear—particularly effective on this class of aircraft.
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