AVRO LANCASTERS|COMBAT COMPARISON COMBAT COMPARISON|AVRO LANCASTERS
and efficient than two larger ones.
In addition, the threat of powerplant
failure or stoppage due to battle
damage was less pronounced
compared with
a twin.T
he Avro Lancaster is often
singled out as the best all-round
bomber of its generation. With
its considerable range, ability
to carry the heaviest bomb loads,
high performance and longevity, it’s
easy to see why the big Avro is so
highly regarded. But is that reputation
justified? And what of its RAF siblings?
Let’s take a look at the contenders.
Bomber Command’s aircraft can be
divided into two distinct categories:
the twin-engined types that dominated
early on and the larger, four-engined
bombers that rose to prominence in
the second half of the conflict. Initially,
the British concentrated on twins,
informed by the need to both manage
production output and minimise
potential maintenance. However, the
advantages of four-engined bombers
developed by both the US and the
Soviet Union spurred a rethink. A
configuration of four smaller engines
was proving more reliableBELOW
Avro Lancaster
I R5689 of 50
Squadron. It was
crash-landed in
Lincolnshire on
September 19,
1942, claiming
the lives of five
crew members.
(ALL IMAGES KEY
COLLECTION)THE ‘BIG THREE’
The first of the ‘big three’ four-engined
bombers out of the blocks was the
Short Stirling, which made its combat
debut in February 1941, serving up to
the mid-war years, but its head start was
perhaps its downfall. It was designed
to Specification B.12/36, issued in July
1936, and soon became outmoded,
ultimately surpassed by the younger,
smaller upstarts – the Lanc and the
Halifax. In the Stirling’s defence,
certain restrictions had been
placed on its design, such as
maximum wingspan, which
weren’t demanded on
the later types.
The Stirling
was by far the
longest ofWAS THE LANCASTER TRULY SUPERIOR TO ALL OF ITS CONTEMPORARIES?
FELIX ROWE COMPARES THE AVRO TO THE OTHER MAIN ATTACK
AIRCRAFT TYPES FROM WORLD WAR TWO TO FIND OUT.
WORLD WAR TWO'S
FINEST BOMBER?
54 http://www.britainatwar.com
and efficient than two larger ones.
In addition, the threat of powerplant
failure or stoppage due to battle
damage was less pronounced
compared with
a twin.T
he Avro Lancaster is often
singled out as the best all-round
bomber of its generation. With
its considerable range, ability
to carry the heaviest bomb loads,
high performance and longevity, it’s
easy to see why the big Avro is so
highly regarded. But is that reputation
justified? And what of its RAF siblings?
Let’s take a look at the contenders.
Bomber Command’s aircraft can be
divided into two distinct categories:
the twin-engined types that dominated
early on and the larger, four-engined
bombers that rose to prominence in
the second half of the conflict. Initially,
the British concentrated on twins,
informed by the need to both manage
production output and minimise
potential maintenance. However, the
advantages of four-engined bombers
developed by both the US and the
Soviet Union spurred a rethink. A
configuration of four smaller engines
was proving more reliableBELOW
Avro Lancaster
I R5689 of 50
Squadron. It was
crash-landed in
Lincolnshire on
September 19,
1942, claiming
the lives of five
crew members.
(ALL IMAGES KEY
COLLECTION)THE ‘BIG THREE’
The first of the ‘big three’ four-engined
bombers out of the blocks was the
Short Stirling, which made its combat
debut in February 1941, serving up to
the mid-war years, but its head start was
perhaps its downfall. It was designed
to Specification B.12/36, issued in July
1936, and soon became outmoded,
ultimately surpassed by the younger,
smaller upstarts – the Lanc and the
Halifax. In the Stirling’s defence,
certain restrictions had been
placed on its design, such as
maximum wingspan, which
weren’t demanded on
the later types.
The Stirling
was by far the
longest ofWAS THE LANCASTER TRULY SUPERIOR TO ALL OF ITS CONTEMPORARIES?
FELIX ROWE COMPARES THE AVRO TO THE OTHER MAIN ATTACK
AIRCRAFT TYPES FROM WORLD WAR TWO TO FIND OUT.
WORLD WAR TWO'S
FINEST BOMBER?