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Handley Page Halifax



Type: Heavy Bomber, later ECM platform, special transport and glider tug, cargo transport and paratroop carrier.
Origin: Handley Page
Models: Halifax I to IX
Crew: Bomber: Seven
First Flight:
    Prototype: October 25, 1939
    Production Mk. I: October 1, 1940
    Production Mk. III: July 1943
Service Delivery: November 23, 1940
Final Delivery From New: November 20, 1946
Final mission: GR. VI on March 1952
Number Produced: 6,176

Powerplant:
Halifax Mk. I:
  Model: Rolls-Royce Merlin X
  Type: 12-Cylinder liquid cooled vee
  Number: Four     Horsepower: 1,280 hp

Halifax Mk. II:
  Model: Rolls-Royce Merlin XX
  Type: 12-Cylinder liquid cooled vee
  Number: Four     Horsepower: 1,390 hp

Halifax Mk. II Srs 1A:
  Model: Rolls-Royce Merlin XXII
  Type: 12-Cylinder liquid cooled vee
  Number: Four     Horsepower: 1,390 hp

Halifax Mk. III:
  Model: Bristol Hercules
  Type: 14-Cylinder Two-Row Sleeve-Valve Radial
  Number: Four     Horsepower: 1,650 hp

Halifax Mk. VI:
  Model: Bristol Hercules 100
  Type: 14-Cylinder Two-Row Sleeve-Valve Radial
  Number: Four     Horsepower: 1,800 hp

Dimensions:
Wing span:
    Mk. I to Early III: 98 ft. 10 in. (30.12m)
    Later III: 104 ft. 2 in. (31.75m)
Length:
    Mk. I, II & II Srs 1: 70 ft. 1 in. (21.36m)
    II Srs 1A onwards: 71 ft. 7 in. (30.12m)
Height: 20 ft. 9 in. (6.32m)
Wing Surface Area: N/A

Click To Enlarge
  Weights:
Empty:
    Mk. I Srs 1: 33,860 lb. (15,359 kg)
    Mk. II Srs 1A: 35,270 lb. (16,000 kg)
    Mk. VI: 39,000 lb. (17,690 kg)
Loaded:
    Mk. I: 55,000 lb. (24,948 kg)
    Mk. I Srs 1: 58,000 lb. (26,308 kg)
    Mk. I Srs 2: 60,000 lb. (27,216 kg)
    Mk. II: 60,000 lb.
    Mk. II Srs 1A: 63,000 lb.
    Mk. III: 65,000 lb. (29,484 kg.)
    Mk. V: 60,000 lb.
    Mk. VI: 68,000 lb.
    Mk. VII, VIII, IX: 65,000 lb.

Performance:
Maximum Speed:
    Mk. I: 265 mph (426 km/h)
    Mk. II: 270 mph (435 km/h)
    Mk. III & IV: 312 mph (501 km/h)
    Mk. V, VII, VIII, & IX: 285 mph (460 km/h)
Initial Climb (Typical): 750 ft/min (229m/min)
Service Ceiling:
    Merlin engined marks: 22,800 ft. (6950m)
    Hercules engined marks: 24,000 ft. (7315m)
Range with maximum load:
    Mk. I: 980 miles (1577 km)
    Mk. II: 1,100 miles (1770 km)
    Mk. III, VI: 1,260 miles (2030 km)

Armament:
Halifax Mk. I:
Two .303 in. Brownings in nose turret.
Four .303 in. Brownings in tail turret.
Two .303 in. Brownings manually aimed from beam positions.

Halifax Mk. II:
Two .303 in. Brownings in nose turret.
Four .303 in. Brownings in tail turret.
Two .303 in. Brownings in Hudson type dorsal turret.

Halifax Mk. II Srs 1 Special:
One .303 in. Vickers K manually in nose.
Four .303 in. Brownings in tail turret.
Four .303 in. Brownings in Defiant type dorsal turret.

Halifax GR.II Srs 1A:
One .50 in. Browning manually in nose.
Four .303 in. Brownings in tail turret.
Four .303 in. Brownings in Defiant type dorsal turret.

Payload: N/A

Sources:
Gunston, Bill - The Encyclodepia of the Worlds Combat aircraft, 1976, Chartwell Books, Inc., New York

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