VICKERS WARWICK 100 YEARS OF THE ROYAL AIR FORCE
PATROLLERS AND AIRLIFTERS RAF CENTENARY CELEBRATION 47Type: Six-crew air-sea-rescue and anti-submarine aircraft
First fl ight: August 13, 1939; entered service October 1943
Powerplant: Two 2,520hp (1,879kW) Bristol Centaurus radials
Dimensions: Span 96ft 9in (29.49m), length 70ft 6in (21.49m)
Weights: Empty 29,174lb (13,233kg), all-up 50,000lb (22,680kg)
Max speed: 290mph (467km/h) at 21,500ft (6,553m)
Range: 3,050 miles (4,908km)
Armament: One .50-cal gun in the nose and two .50-cals in beam positions, plus
four .303 or two .50-cal guns in the tail. Bomb load: 2,000lb (907kg)
Replaced: N /A
Taken on charge: 842 (16 B.1, 14 C.1, 275 ASR.1,) one B Mk.11, 132 GR Mk.II, 100 C Mk.III,
210 GR Mk.V, 94 ASR Mk.VI
Replaced by: Lancaster GR Mk.IIIVICKERS WARWICK MK.V
May 1946 the final examples on
charge with Coastal Command were
replaced by Lancaster GR Mk.IIIs
and the last overseas examples (with
621 Squadron in Palestine) were
retired in August that year.CARGO DUTIES
In addition to anti-submarine and
ASSR taskings, the Warwick also
served the RAF in the transport role
from 1943, when 14 bombers were
converted for use on the wartime
BOAC routes.
These aircraft had their turrets
removed and replaced with
streamlined fairings, and were also
used for carrying mail to British
forces in North Africa and
the Mediterranean.
Vickers would later create 100
Warwick C Mk.IIIs, which were
broadly similar but had a large
freight pannier mounted beneath
the fuselage. The aircraft could be
used as either a comfortable VIP
transport for eight to ten passengers,
or accommodate up to 24 troops or
6,170lb (2,799kg) of cargo.
The transport version of the
Warwick entered RAF service
with 525 Squadron at Lyneham,
Wiltshire in June 1944 and was also
used overseas. But the type suffered
from poor performance in hot and
high climates, and the fabric covering
soon perished in tropical conditions
so the service life in India was cut
short. The final examples retired after
just a year. Back in Britain, the cargo
variant flew on until May 1946 when
it was replaced by converted
Halifax bombers.“The transport version of the Warwick entered RAF service
with 525 Squadron at Lyneham, Wiltshire in June 1944 and was also
“The transport version of the Warwick entered RAF service
with 525 Squadron at Lyneham, Wiltshire in June 1944 and was also
“The transport version of the Warwick entered RAF service
used overseas.”
with 525 Squadron at Lyneham, Wiltshire in June 1944 and was also
used overseas.”
with 525 Squadron at Lyneham, Wiltshire in June 1944 and was also
Above left
Warwick ASR Mk.I,
HF944/K of 282
Squadron based at
St Eval, Cornwall in- The aircraft is
carrying the short
Mk.Ia Lifeboat.
Left
Some 14 Warwick
bombers were
converted for use on
the wartime BOAC
routes. These aircraft
had their turrets
removed and replaced
with streamlined
fairings. Note the
large civilian-style
codes.