From TheBestLinks.com
| Lockheed PV-1 Ventura
|
|
| Description
|
| Role | Patrol Bomber
|
| Crew | 6
|
| First Flight | July 31, 1941 (Ventura Mk.I)
November 3, 1942 (PV-1)
|
| Entered Service | February 1, 1943
|
| Manufacturer | Lockheed
|
| Dimensions
|
| Length | 51ft 5in | 15.7 m
|
| Wingspan | 65ft 6in | 20 m
|
| Height | 11ft 10in | 3.6 m
|
| Wing Area | 551 ft² | 51.2 m²
|
| Weights
|
| Empty | 20,197 lbs | 9,160 kg
|
| Loaded | 31,077 lbs | 14,090 kg
|
| Maximum takeoff | 34,000 lbs | 15,420 kg
|
| Powerplant
|
| Engine | 2 × Pratt & Whitney Double-Wasp GR-2800
|
| Power (each) | 2,000 hp | 1,490 kW
|
| Performance
|
| Maximum speed | 322mph @ 13,800ft | 518km/h @ 4,210m
|
| Combat range | 1,660 miles | 2,670 km
|
| Ferry range | km | miles
|
| Service ceiling | 26,300 ft | 8,020 m
|
| Rate of climb | ft/min | m/min
|
| Wing loading | 56.4 lb/ft² | 275.2 kg/m²
|
| Power/Mass | 0.129 hp/lb | 0.211 kW/kg
|
| Armament
|
| Guns | 4 × 0.5in machine guns
2 × 0.3in machine guns
|
| Bombs | 3000lbs, or
six 325-lb depth charges, or
one torpedo
|
| Avionics
|
| Avionics | ASD-1 radar
|
The Lockheed Ventura was a bomber and patrol aircraft of World War II, used by American and British forces in several guises.
It was developed from the Lockheed Lodestar transport as a replacement for the Hudson bombers
into service with the RAF. The RAF ordered 675 Venturas powered by Pratt & Witney Double-Wasp 2800-S1A4-G motors
rated at 1500hp (1120kW) and a fuselage 50ft (15.2m long). The use of three-bladed airscrews was said to make the type unusually quiet
in service. They were delivered from the summer of 1942 and served with the RAF as Ventura Mk.I.
The Venturas were initially used for daylight raids on occupied Europe, but like many of the RAF types they were too
vulnerable with no long-range fighter escorts. They were gradually transferred to patrol duties with Coastal Command.
The RAF placed a further order for 487 Ventura Mk.II, but many of these were diverted to USAAF service. The
USAAF placed its own order for 200 Ventura Mk.IIA, which were put into service as the B-34 Lexington. These
had 2000hp (1500kW) 2800-21 engines.
A batch of 18 aircraft fitted with the Wright R-2600-13 engine was built for armed reconnaissance
& observation as the Lockheed B-37. This program was discontinued in July 1942 as part of a complicated deal
between the rival Army and Navy land-based air forces. In exchange for use of the Navy's Renton factory to build
the B-29 Superfortress, the Army handed the land-based anti-submarine role to the Navy with free use of
the Lockheed factory to build a long-range Ventura. (The Navy were also permitted to procure their own versions of
the B-24 Liberator and B-25 Mitchell).
The Naval PV-1 Ventura had increased fuel capacity in two 155-gallon (700l) underwing drop tanks,
and an additional 490 gallons (2230l) could be carried in bomb bay tanks for ferry missions. They had
reduced defensive armament and a nose-mounted radar unit.
PV-1 Venturas were deployed to bases in the Aleutian Islands in April 1943. In addition to patrol duties
they carried out attacks on Japanese bases in Paramushiru and Shimushu in the Kurile Islands chain. They combined fast combat speed
with a low landing speed useful for island operations, and were used to
lead USAAF bomber formations.
They were later deployed in the Solomon Islands. 1600 PV-1s were built.
The PV-2 Harpoon was a major redesign of the Ventura with the wing area increased to 686 ft²
(63.7 m²) giving an increased load-carrying capability. However the wing was not strong enough and delivery
of PV-2s were delayed by necessary redesign. Deliveries were resumed with the PV-2D ground-attack variant
with 8 forward-firing machine-guns, but the bulk of the order was cancelled when the war ended. Some PV-2s saw service
in the Pacific theatre.
Venturas also served with RCAF, SAAF, RAAF and RNZAF forces, and after the war in several other
countries and in civilian conversions.
Related links
Top visited
0 of
0 links
[no links posted yet]
>> place link >>
Discussion
Last posted
0 of
0 messages
[no messages posted yet]
>> post message >>
Watch
You can
add this article to your own "watchlist" and receive e-mail notification about all changes in this page.
