PZL.43

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

PZL.43 Karaś
Type Light bomber and reconnaissance aircraft
Manufacturer Państwowe Zakłady Lotnicze
Maiden flight February 1937
Introduced 1937
Retired 1946 (Bulgaria) [1]
Primary users Bulgarian Air Force
Polish Air Force
Produced 1937 - 1939
Number built 52
Developed from PZL.23 Karaś

The PZL.43 was a Polish light bomber and reconnaissance aircraft, designed in the mid-1930s by PZL in Warsaw, a development of PZL.23 Karaś. Its main user was Bulgaria, where it was known as Chaika (Чайка, gull).

Contents

[edit] Design and development

Polish standard light bomber and reconnaissance plane, the PZL.23 Karaś, could not be exported, for it was powered by the Polish-built PZL Bristol Pegasus engine, which was licensed for use in Poland only. The PZL.43 was an improved export variant of PZL.23, powered with Gnome-Rhône 14K engine. It was first proposed to Romania, but finally rejected in a favor of domestic designs. Then, a series was ordered in April 1936 by Bulgaria, only creating its military aviation after the World War I (a treaty from 1919 forbade Bulgaria having military aviation).

The new, heavier and longer engine in twin-row configuration demanded changes in airframe. A fuselage was lengthened by adding one central section. As a result, bombardier's underbelly gondola was moved rearwards. The new engine improved the plane's performance considerably, maximum speed increased from 319 km/h to 365 km/h. An armament was increased to two machine guns for the pilot (they had to be mounted externally on fuselage sides, in bulges, for they could not fire between engine cylinders).

There was not built a prototype, only a production series of 12. They were powered with the Gnome-Rhône 14Kirs of 900 to 930 hp (671 to 694 kW). The first series, designated PZL.43, was completed in 1937 (in older sources they were erroneously designated PZL.43A).

In March 1938 Bulgaria ordered a further 42 planes, with the new Gnome-Rhone 14N-01 engine, an improved 14K design that delivered 950 to 1,020 hp (708 to 761 kW). It was designated PZL.43A (in older sources they were erroneously designated PZL.43B). The planes were built in 1939. Only 36 were completed and delivered to Bulgaria before the German Invasion of Poland in September 1939. Further 9[2] were stored in crates prepared to delivery or were not completed at that time (two had no propellers). Eight were completed but only five were moved to airfield at Bielany remaining three were left at Okęcie and these were damaged during airstrike in September 4th and later captured by the Germans in a factory in Warszawa-Okęcie. Five aircraft stored at Bielany were taken over by Polish Air Force and used by 41 Eskadra Rozpoznawcza (41st Reconnaissance Squadron)[3].

Sometimes the aircraft is called the "PZL P.43", but despite an abbreviation P.43 painted on a tail fin, the letter "P" was generally reserved for fighters of Pulawski's design (like PZL P.11).

[edit] Operational history

After the German invasion of Czechoslovakia in March 1939, in a growing tension, the Polish Air Force proposed to requisition a whole series of PZL.43A's, but a short-sighted decision of military authorities, afraid of penalties, was to fulfil the order and sent them to Bulgaria (the penalties would be less, than worth of two aircraft in fact - about 440,000 zlotys). The first PZL.43A's were delivered to Bulgaria in June 1939, the last of 36 in August 1939, just before the World War II. Along with 12 PZL.43s and two PZL.43A's delivered by Germany in 1940, Bulgaria had 50 aircraft, known there as Chaika.

They initially served in three 12-aircraft squadrons of the 1st Line Group (linyen orlyak). From 1942 they were used in the 1st Reconnaissance Regiment and 2nd Line Regiment. Chaikas were used mostly for training and searching for partisans in Macedonia in 1943-1944. Several of them crashed during service and problem was with spare parts. In 1944 they were withdrawn from combat service. They were eventually written off in 1946.

After the German invasion of Poland, 5 remaining PZL.43A's were requisitioned by the Polish Air Force and on 5 September 1939 joined the 41st Reconnaissance Squadron, equipped with PZL.23 Karaś. They fulfiled reconnaissance tasks and by 10 September remained the only squadron's aircraft. One was shot down by Bf 110 on 10 September at Michałówek near Sulejówek (crew was killed). The second, damaged by pair of Bf 109s on 12 September, crash landed in Brześć. Probably both carried still Bulgarian markings.

Damaged aircraft left at Okęcie airfield were captured by Germans. Five of them were repaired and delivered to Bulgaria[4]. One of them was tested by the Germans in Rechlin in 1940, then in October delivered to Bulgaria too.

[edit] Variants

PZL.43
First production series, 12 built.
PZL.43A
Second production series with more powerful Gnome-Rhone 14N-01 engine, 42 built.
PZL.43B
Improved version, powered by a 980-hp (731-kW) Gnome-Rhone N.1 engine.

[edit] Operators

Flag of Bulgaria Bulgaria
  • Bulgarian Air Force operated 50 aircraft [5]
    • 2. jato/ Obrazcow Orliak (2. Squadron of the Exemplary Wing) operated 12 PZL.43
    • 1. Lineen Orliak (Level-flight (bomber) Squadron) operated 36 PZL.43A, 12 in each jato (Squadron)
    • 1. Razuznawatelen Polk (Reconnaissance Regiment) operated PZL.43A between March 1942 and August 1944
    • 2. Lineen Polk (Level-flight (bomber) Regiment) operated PZL.43A between March 1942 and August 1944
    • 113. jato za blisko razuznavanye (Close Distance Reconnaissance Squadron) operated 13 PZL.43A between August 1944 and early 1945
    • 123. jato za blisko razuznavanye operated 11 PZL.43A between August 1944 and early 1945 [6]
Flag of Nazi Germany Nazi Germany
Flag of Poland Poland
  • Polish Air Force
    • 41 Eskadra Rozpoznawcza (Reconnaissance Squadron) operated 5 PZL.43A aircraft

[edit] Specifications (PZL.43A)

[edit] Technical design

The aircraft was conventional in layout, low-wing, all-metal, metal-covered cantilever monoplane. A fuselage was semi-monocoque. The crew consisted of three: pilot, bombardier and a rear gunner. A combat station of bombardier was in a gondola underneath a hull, where he also operated an underbelly machinegun. The fixed undercarriage was well spatted, but despite a massive look, it was not suited for rough airfields. Fuel tanks in wings: 740 l. Three-blade propeller.

The plane could take up to 700 kg of bombs under wings, like PZL.23. Common option were 24 x 12.5 kg bombs (300 kg in total). The plane was fitted with a camera.

General characteristics

  • Crew: 3
  • Length: 9.95 m ()
  • Wingspan: 13.95 m (45 ft 9 in)
  • Height: 3.3 m (10 ft 10 in)
  • Wing area: 26.8 m² (288 ft²)
  • Empty weight: 2,200 kg ()
  • Loaded weight: 3,100 kg ()
  • Useful load: 900-1,325 kg ()
  • Max takeoff weight: 3,525 kg ()
  • Powerplant: 1× Gnome-Rhone 14N-01 14-cylinder twin radial engine, 1020 hp (750 kW)

Performance

Armament

  • 4 x machine guns:
    • 2 x 7.92 mm PWU wz.36B fixed in nose;
    • 1 x 7.92 mm PWU wz.36R in rear upper station;
    • 1 x 7.92 mm PWU wz.36R in underbelly station;
  • 600-700 kg bombs.


[edit] References

  1. ^ Glass and Mazur, PZL.43 "Czajka" - eksportowa wersja "Karasia", p.42
  2. ^ Kopański and Sikora, P.23 Karaś, p.16
  3. ^ Kopański and Sikora, P.23 Karaś, p.16
  4. ^ Kopański and Sikora, P.23 Karaś, p.42
  5. ^ Glass and Mazur, PZL.43 "Czajka" - eksportowa wersja "Karasia", p.41
  6. ^ Glass and Mazur, PZL.43 "Czajka" - eksportowa wersja "Karasia", p.42
  • Glass, Andrzej and Mazur, Wojciech. PZL.43 "Czajka" - eksportowa wersja "Karasia" in Militaria Vol.4 No.1/1999 (ISSN 1231-692X) (in Polish).
  • Kopański, Tomasz J. and Sikora, Krzysztof. P.23 Karaś. Monografie Lotnicze #23. Gdańsk: AJ-Press, 1993 (ISBN 83-86208-27-9) (in Polish).

[edit] External links

[edit] See also

Related development

Comparable aircraft Neman R-10 - Heinkel He 70 - Fairey Battle - A-35 Vengeance - Mitsubishi Ki-30 - DAR-10
Related lists List of bomber aircraft

v • d • e
Lists relating to aviation
General
Military
Accidents/incidents
Records
Languages