m10bob
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Joined: 11/3/2002
From: Dismal Seepage Indiana
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Ian R
Nikademus, here is some chronological info I have managed to put together for you.
Firstly from what I know in general terms,
The Beaufort was always meant to be a torpedo bomber
Beauforts carried torpedos from 1941-44 (and later)
The first Beaufighter to carry a torpedo was the MkVI ITF and there were only about 60 and I have no evidence they went to the Pacific/CBI theatres
Beaufighter TFX ("Torbeau") was around in 1943 onwards and I gave you a link about that above somewhere.
The Beaufighter 21 was simply an Australian manufactured TFX, which they started building when the Beaufort contracts weree completed. There were some variations - some Australian manufactured aircraft have not been built with the dorsal fin or with the anheydral (spelling?) tail plane, they had a perpendicular one instead. They had 4 x 50 cal instead of the 6 x 303's of their UK stablemates. Originally they were going to drop a license built Twin wasp donk in but there were plenty of Hercules XVIII available so they used them instead. {http://www.aviationtrivia.homestead.com/Beaufighter.html  }
In the game you get (leaving the nightfighter aside) the VI (the heavy fighter or strike fighter version) and the 21, and the 21 arrives a lot earlier than 1944. Given its the same as the TFX it looks like they combined them to save a slot. Personal preference would have been to call it the TFX as the Mk21 designation was only used to indicate place of manufacture. Then again this is a Pacific consim so I can understand opting for "21".
I am not sure if historical use dates are the only guide to allowing the use of "Torbeaus". The game as I understand it factors in things like range, experience, ?? Leadership and coordination maybe when arming aircraft for a strike. So the torpedo option may have been available without a sufficiently experienced air unit in position to interecept an appropriate target before it was used. In fact thinking through that logically, it must be so.
Having said that, secondly,
from Green and Swanborough, RAAF squadron histories at the AWM website and miscellaneous sources:
26-7-40, fist production model Beaufighter (a IF) completed
XX -XX -1941 MkIC variant evolved specifically as shipping strike aircraft for RAF Coastal Command but not as I understand it a torpedo bomber) (original "MkI" contract was for 300 units, must have been extended because there were 914 MkIFs built)
XX -XX- Early 1941 Hercules VI engine becomes available, Beaufighter VIF developed. Coastal Command gets its up-engined variant -the VIC (1852 built)
22-03-41- First production MkII with RR Merlin engines built. Not as good as Hercules version. Only 450 built. Mostly used as nightfighters, tried things like putting Bolton Paul defiant type turrest in them.
XX -02-42- 100 Squadron RAAF was formed out of a nucleus of surviving personnel from the RAF's 100 Torpedo Bomber Squadron who had escaped from Malaya. The first RAAF squadron to be equipped with Australian built Beauforts, 100 Squadron was deployed to Queensland in May, where it conducted further torpedo bomber training and anti-submarine patrols.
XX-03-42 - work begins to adapt RAF Coastal Command's Beaufighter VIC fort the Torpedo Fighter role. Successful adaption, Can carry either UK 22.5 inch or US 18 inch torpedo.
1-5-42 - RAF 22 sqn arrives Ceylonj (Beauforts)
6 October 1942, 100 Sq squadron (Beauforts) conducted the first RAAF land based torpedo strike, operating from Milne Bay.
3-3-43 _During the Battle of the Bismarck Sea, 30 Squadron RAAF Beaufighters flying at mast height, provided suppressive fire for following waves of allied bombers. The Japanese, under the mistaken impression that they were under torpedo attack, made a disastrous tactical error and turned their ships towards the Beaufighters, leaving them exposed to attack by American and Australian bombers. Eight troop laden transports and four destroyers were sunk in this battle for the loss of five aircraft, including one Beaufighter.
3-3-43 - 100 Squadron (Beauforts) also took part Battle of the Bismarck Sea in , when eight torpedo armed Beauforts met with limited success [USUALLY A EUPHEMISM FOR ABJECT FAILURE] against the dispersed Japanese convoy. This mission proved to be the Squadron's last torpedo bombing mission and thereafter it operated solely in the level bombing mode
x-03-43 8 SQ RAAF (originally Hudsons) was reequipped with Australian built Beauforts and moved to Goodenough Island where it began torpedo operations in addition to its bombing roles.
XX -05- 1943 Underwing rocket projectiles successfully introduced (instead of the wing MGs)
xx-xx-xx (still looking for this date) The first TFX rolls off the Bristol line. Hercules XVII (not XVIII as I mistakenly said earlier) engines with good low altitude performance. AI Mk VIII radar in thimble nose becomes standardised Vickers K gun in rear position (for the first time in any beaufighter model), Can carry US or UK torpedo, alternately 1500lb of bombs or 8 rockets. 2,205 built, and a further 163 without the torpedo gear called Mk XI C.
1-03-44 No 47 Sqn (Beau TFX) arrives Amriya South
26-5-44 - first mk21 flies, 364 built.
XX-XX-44 RAAF Sqn's in 30 series in NG flying TFXs or Mk21s
XX-06-44- RAF 22 Sqn switches to Beaufighter TFX
XX - 09 - 1945 Last of 5562 Beaufighters delivered to RAF.
I'm still looking for some more precise AARs to date Beaufighter torpedo strikes.
Indeed !!!!! Excellent info, but now who will poke Nik with the stick ??  
< Message edited by m10bob -- 9/15/2005 2:12:58 PM >
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