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Old 02-29-2008, 09:38 AM
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Default Bristol Blenheim

The Bristol-produced Blenheim light-to-medium bomber was actually derived from a private request for a high-speed passenger transport as put forth by one Lord Rothermere in 1934. The request was to provide the press baron with a spacious twin-engine transport capable of above average performance when compared to other commercial transports of the time. The end result, dubbed the Type 142 and fitted with two Bristol Mercury VIS radial piston engines impressed the British Air Ministry so much (the Blenheim was faster than any current fighter the RAF was fielding at the time) that they ordered a militarized variant to be developed (after seeking permission from Rothermere of course).
The development of a light bomber version was designated with the specification of B.28/35. Without requiring any preproduction models (a single prototype was showcased as the Type 142M in 1936), the Air Ministry selected the now designated Bristol Blenheim B.Mk I straight from the drawing board. The first Blenheim would see operational service in 1937 going to the No.114 Squadron. A year later, squadrons were formed in British-held India and Iraq.
With the various models produced, the system was constantly fitted with newer and more powerful engines. A definitive version existed as the Bristol Blenheim B.Mk IV which featured 2 x 920hp Bristol Mercury XV radial engines and the more traditional longer, scalloped nose assembly. Armament of the aircraft changed little - with the initial version fielded only a single fixed wing-mounted 7.7 machine gun and a single 7.7mm machine gun mounted in a manually-powered dorsal turret. Internal bomb stores were limited to just 1,000lbs. With the B.Mk IV model, defensive and offensive armaments were addressed in the form of 2 x 7.7mm machine guns in the dorsal turret with an optional periscope-sighted rear-facing 2 x 7.7mm machine gun turret could be installed under the cockpit.
The Bristol Blenheim would go down in RAF history as an aircraft that would take part in many of the British opening salvos of the Second World War. The system would be responsible for the first RAF U-Boat kill of a German submarine, be the first RAF aircraft to enter German airspace and reconnoiter the German Fleet, and be the first of the RAF bomber groups to complete a bombing sortie in German-held territory. The system would go on to see action over Germany, India, North Africa, Malaya, Sumatra, off of the Norwegian coast and most of the combat occurring over France.
By 1942, the Blenheim system was proving to be outclassed by the new wave of fighters and fighter-bomber hybrids. The limited defensive and offensive capabilities, coupled with the outdated performance statistics doomed the aircraft to a secondary, if not entirely removed, role with the RAF. In the end, the Blenheim would hold the dubious distinction of having the most lost aircrews to enemy fire than any other aircraft in the RAF inventory.
The Blenheim served with the Canadian military as the Bolingbroke and with Finland and Greece. A newer Blenheim B.Mk V was unveiled in 1942 fitted with 2 x Bristol Mercury 25 (sometimes 35) engines but these were limited to service in the Far East, North Africa and Tunisia.
Specifications for the Bristol Blenheim:
Designation: Bristol Blenheim B.Mk IV
Manufacturer: Bristol - UK
Powerplant: 2 x Bristol Mercury XV radial pistol engines generating 920hp.
Length: 42 feet, 7 inches
Wing Span: 56 feet, 4 inches
Weight:
9,790lbs (empty); 14,400lbs (Maximum Take-Off Weight)
Maximum Speed: 266 mph
Maximum Range:
1,460 miles
Armament:
1 x 7.7mm fixed machine gun in wing; 2 x 7.7mm machine guns in manually powered dorsal turret; 2 x 7.7mm rear-firing machine guns in ventral position (OPTIONAL).
Crew: 3
Positions: Pilot, Co-Pilot and Gunner.
Models:
Type 142 - Twin-Engine High Speed Transport Prototype Model.
Type 142M - Prototype Model adopted for development as a light bomber; Ministry specification of B.28/35.
B.Mk I - Initial Production Model; fitted with 2 x Bristol Mercury 840hp engines.
B.Mk IF - Interim Nightfighter Model of which 200 were produced; fitted with specialized radar and ventral machine gun pack containing 4 x 7.7mm machine guns.
B.Mk IV - Main Production Variant; fitted with 2 x Bristol Mercury XV radial engines generating 920hp; 3,297 produced.
B.Mk IVF - Improved Nightfighter Model
B.Mk V - Fitted with 2 x Bristol Mercury 25 or Bristol Mercury 30 engines generating 950hp; 945 produced.
B.Mk VA - Solid nose assembly housing 4 x 7.7mm machine gun array.
B.Mk VB - Close-Support Model
B.Mk VC - Operational Trainer Model
B.Mk VD - Tropical Climate Model
Bolingbroke - Canadian designation for the Mk IV model variant.
More Pictures of the Bristol Blenheim Light / Medium Bomber
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