Blackburn Botha

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B-26 Botha
Blackburn B-26 Botha
Type	Torpedo bomber
Manufacturer	Blackburn Aircraft
Maiden flight	28 December 1938
Retired	September 1944
Primary users	Royal Air Force Fleet Air Arm
Number built	580

The Blackburn Botha was a British four-seat reconnaissance and torpedo bomber. It was built by Blackburn Aircraft as a competitor to the Bristol Beaufort, and entered service with the RAF in 1939. It was underpowered and was quickly withdrawn from operations.

Contents 1 History 2 Specifications (Blackburn Botha I) 3 References 4 Related content

[edit] History

It was designed to Air Ministry specification M.15/35. The two submissions for this were the Botha and the Bristol Beaufort. Both were intended to use the 850 hp (634 kW) Bristol Perseus engine. The Air Ministry later revised the Specification to M.10/36 which required a crew of four. The weight increase meant that both designs required more power. The 1,130 hp (840 kW) Taurus was provided for the Beaufort but the Botha received only the Perseus X of 880 hp (656 kW).

The Air Ministry ordered 442 Bothas in 1936 and the first flight took place on 28 December 1938^[1]. The RAF received its first delivery in December 1939, entering squadron service with No. 608 Squadron RAF in June 1940, the only squadron that would use the Botha operationally, the Botha being used for coastal patrols carrying 100 lb Anti-submarine bombs or 250 lb GP bombs.

In service, the Botha proved to be severely underpowered and unstable and and there were a number of fatal crashes in 1940. Both airframe and engine were subject to further development work but it was decided to withdraw the type from front-line service. At this point the Air Staff made the ill-advised decision to transfer the surviving aircraft to training units, which inevitably resulted in further casualties.

Some Bothas were converted to target tugs and redesignated TT1.

The type was finally retired in September 1944. In total 580 aircraft were built.

[edit] Specifications (Blackburn Botha I)

Data from {The Hamlyn Concise Guide to British Aircraft of World War II - David Mondey}^[2]

General characteristics

• Crew: 4
• Length: 51 ft 1.5 in (15.58 m)
• Wingspan: 59 ft (17.98 m)
• Height: 14 ft 7.5 in (4.46 m)
• Wing area: 518 ft² (48.12 m²)
• Empty weight: 11,830 lb (5,366k g)
• Max takeoff weight: 18,450 lb (8,369 kg)
• Powerplant: 2× Bristol Perseus radial engine, 930 hp (694 kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 216 knots (249 mph, 401k m/h)
• Cruise speed: 184 knots (212 mph, 341 km/h)
• Stall speed: 65 knots ^[3]. (75 mph, 120 km/h)
• Range: 1,100 nm (1,270 mi, 2,044 km)
• Service ceiling: 17,500 ft (5,335 m)

Armament

3x 0.303 in (7.7 mm) machine-guns (one fixed forward-firing, two in dorsal turret), internal torpedo, depth charges or bombs up to 2,000 lb (907 kg)

[edit] References

1. ^ Mason, Francis K (1994). The British Bomber since 1914. Putnam Aeronautical Books. ISBN 0 85177 861 5. 
2. ^ Mondey, David (1994). The Hamlyn Concise Guide to British Aircraft of World War II. Aerospace Publishing. ISBN 1 85152 668 4. 
3. ^ (1996) Air Transport Auxiliary Ferry Pilots Notes, reproduction, Yorkshire Air Museum. ISBN 0 9512379 8 5. 

[edit] Related content

 

Comparable aircraft

• Bristol Beaufort

Designation sequence

• B-24 Skua - B-25 Roc - B-26 Botha - B-20 - B-37 Firebrand

Related lists

• List of aircraft of the RAF