FirePower Series Aircraft

 

 

Avro Lancaster Mk. III

 

History:

The famed Lancaster was Britain's mainstay in that country's bomber offensive.  Flown mainly at night, the Lancaster was a medium-level bomber that could carry up to 12,000 pounds of bombs.  It gained notoriety in the Dam Busters affair, when large cylindrical bombs were fitted to specially equipped Lancasters which were used to attack and destroy German dams.

 

The Lancaster was not as well-armed as the American Flying Fortresses, but could carry more bombs under normal conditions, in part because it did not have to climb to the great heights used by the American bombers during daylight precision bombing.  Its more powerful Rolls-Royce Merlin engines also helped it carry greater loads, albeit to lower altitudes.

 

 

Distinctive characteristics:

 

 

Cockpit Panel:

 

Engineer’s Panel (looking over pilot’s right shoulder)

 

TOP                                                   BOTTOM

 

 

Defensive armament

 

Front Turret

 

 

Top Turret

 

 

Rear Turret (10,000 rounds of ammunition – 2,500 per gun)

 

 

 

 

Flying characteristics:

The Lancaster has few vices when it comes to how it handles.  Pilot’s have commented how well it behaved, even under maximum load conditions.  It has noticeably stronger engines than the US B-17, which greatly assists in its ability to get airborne under maximum load.  Stalls are forgiving.

 

Pilot Comments:

"She's a steady, stable airplane that'll get you home if you treat her right."

 

Combat tactics:

Engaging fighters:

In a sense, all of your eggs are in one basket – the rear turret.  It is armed with a quad .303 caliber turret, with 2,500 r.p.g.  With their high rate of fire, approaching the Lancaster from behind can be deadly (Luftwaffe pilots commented on the rain of bullets).  However, the .303 lacks the range of its .50 caliber big brother.

 

The Lancaster’s biggest vice is the lack of an underbelly turret.  The German’s quickly found this weakness.  A viable defense in a desperate situation may be to get rid of any bombs and get down on the deck, so attacking fighters cannot hit from below.

 

Ground attack:

Bombing targets is what the Lancaster is meant to do, and something it does quite well. 

 

 

Specifications:

Type:  Bomber  Power Plants:  Engines: 4x Rolls-Royce Merlin XX 12-cyl liquid cooled – 1,480hp each.  Armament:  8x .303 caliber machine guns.  2x in front turret, 2x in top turret, and 4x in rear turret. Weights:  Loaded 52,052 lb Dimensions:  Span, 102 ft; length 69 ft 6 in; height 20 ft

 

Firepower Certified Specifications:

Avro Lancaster Mk. III

TAKEOFF (up to 52,052 lbs.)

TAKEOFF (over 64,000 lbs. or short field)

CLIMBING (52,000 lbs.)

LANDING (44,000 lbs.)

Firepower Certified Specifications: