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| Country:
UK |
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Type: Bomber |
| Manufacturer:
Handley Page |
| Service:
1916 - 1921 |
| First
Flight: December 1915 |
| Production:
600 |
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The Handley Page Type O was an early bomber aircraft used by Britain during World War I. At the time, it was the largest aircraft that had been built in the UK and one of the largest in the world. It was built in two major versions, the Handley Page O/100 (H.P.11) and Handley Page O/400 (H.P.12).
The first O/100s to be deployed to France were received by 7A Squadron of the RNAS 5th Wing at Dunkirk in late 1916. Their first combat came on the night of March 16, 1917 when a single aircraft was sent to bomb a railway junction at Moulins-lès-Metz. The improved O/400 started to enter service in April 1918, gradually allowing the re-equipment of more squadrons, being used for both support for the ground forces on the Western Front, particlularly during the German Spring Offensive, and for stategic bombing under the control of the Independent Air Force. After the war, O/400s remained in British service until replaced by the Vickers Vimy towards the end of 1919. About 10 war-surplus aircraft were converted for civilian use in the UK and India by Handley Page.
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| TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS ( O/400) |
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General characteristics
- Crew: 4 or 5
- Length: 62 ft 10¼ in (19.16 m)
- Wingspan: 100 ft (30.48 m)
- Height: 22 ft (6.71 m)
- Wing area: 1,648 ft (153.1 m)
- Empty weight: 8,502 lb (3,856 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 13,360 lb (6,060 kg)
- Powerplant: 2 x Rolls-Royce Eagle VIII piston, 360 hp (268 kW) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 97.5 mph (84.7 knots, 157 km/h)
- Range: 608 nm (700 mi, 1,120 km)
- Service ceiling 8,500 ft (2,600 m)
- Rate of climb: 23 min to 5,000 ft
- Endurance: 8 hours
Armament
- Guns: 5 x 0.303 in Lewis guns (2 on nose Scarff ring, 2 on dorsal position and 1 at ventral hatch)
- Bombs: Up to 2000 lb (900 kg) of bombs
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