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Variants
Type 156 Beaufighter Prototypes
(4 built)
Beaufighter Mk IC The Mk IC
was meant to act as a long-range day fighter, aircraft received a second
station to accomodate a navigator, and increased fuel capacity, these additional
tanks were first situated in the lower fuselage, but later placed in the
vacated room of 2 of the wing based guns, direction finding system in stead
of the radar (397 built)
Beaufighter Mk IF Night-Fighter
version, based on the Bristol Beaufort bomber, the first models were fitted
with the AI Mk IV Air Interception radar. (553 built)
Beaufighter Mk II Prototypes
powered by Merlin X engines (2 built)
Beaufighter Mk IIF Very similar
to the Mk I fighters, but powered by Rolls Royce Merlin XX inverted-vee
emgines, had the same dimensions as the Mk I, except for the slightly increased
length to 13.03 m (42 ft 9 inch). Also the weight was slightly less: 6169
kg (13,600 lb) empty, takeoff typical 9203 kg (20,290 lb). (450 built)
Beaufighter Mk V Prototypes,
fitted with dorsal turrets and Merlin XX engines (2 built)
Beaufighter Mk VI Converted
from Mk IF, powered by Hercules VI engines (3 built)
Beaufighter Mk VIF Essentially
a Mk I, it was fitted with 2 Bristol Hercules VI radial engines, later
models of this version were fitted with the slightly more powerfull Bristol
Hercules XVI engines, which had a fully automatic mixture carburetor. This
plane was a night fighter development, fitted with the AI.Mk VII radar,
later even the AI.Mk VIII. armament was 4 × 20 mm canons, and 6 wing
mounted (7.7 mm) machineguns. (1079 built)
Beaufighter Mk VIC Long-range
day fighter, powered by the Bristol Hercules VI engines, provisions were
made to be able to replace the 6 wing mounted machine guns with extra fuel
tanks, increasing the range. Later aircraft received hardpoint under the
wings, where bombs or rockets could be placed. (693 built)
Beaufighter Mk VIC (ITF) Interim
Torpedo Fighter, the torpedo to be used was a standard 18 inch (457 mm)
torpedo, weight 1,650 lb (748 kg), Mk VI ITF received Airbrakes to
give it a steadier approach to the release point. In just 2 weeks Bristol
had modified an existing Mk VI which could also carry the American standard
torpedo: 22.5 inch (571 mm), weight 2,127 lb (964 kg). (50 built)
Beaufighter TF.Mk X and XC
Torpedo Fighter and Anti-shipping strike fighter, powered by Bristol Hercules
XVII engines with the supercharger locked in medium state, and cropped
impeller blade,. received more ammo for their cannons, and a flexible rearward
firing 0.303 inch (7.7 mm) machinegun for improved defence. This type was
also fitted with radar: the AI.Mk VIII. This radar was able to locate submarines
and ships. (2205 built)
Bristol Beaufighter TT.Mk 10 As an after-war
development, Bristol converted some 36 TF.Mk X's for target towing. They
were stripped from armament and armour. (36 built)
Bristol Beaufighter Mk XIC Essentially
the same as the TF.Mk X, this version had it's hardpoints for torpedoes
removed. (163 built)
Beaufighter Mk XX Australisn-built
for RNZAF, similar to TF.Mk X
DAP Beaufighter Mk XXI Australian
version of the Beaufighter Mk XX, Concerned with the number of aircraft
Britain could deliver, Australia decided to built them theirselves, because
it was feared that also the powerplants would be in short supply, they
decided to place the Wright GR-2600-A5B Cyclone. In fact, it turned out
that the supply of Hercules powerplants were sufficient. Further developments
of the DAP Beaufighter resulted in this version: the 6 × 0.303 inch
(7.7 mm) guns were replaced by 4 × 0.50 inch (12 mm) guns, and a
provision was made for a Sperry autopilot. The torpedo hardpoints and radar
were removed. (364 built)
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