维克斯惠灵顿 | |
|---|---|
| 国家 | 英国 |
| 主题 | 远程中型轰炸机 |
| 代码 | 维克斯·威灵顿 |
| 描述 | 福托画廊 42 照片走动的飞机«维克惠灵顿» |
维克斯惠灵顿画廊照片， 维克斯惠灵顿 是英国飞机双引擎，远程中型轰炸机设计于1930年代中期在布鲁克兰兹在韦布里奇，萨里，由维克斯-阿姆斯特朗的首席设计师，R.K.皮尔森。
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The Vickers Wellington was a highly significant British twin-engine medium bomber that formed the backbone of RAF Bomber Command during the early years of World War II. It was famously nicknamed the “Wimpy” by its crews, after the character J. Wellington Wimpy from the Popeye cartoons. The aircraft was renowned for its immense strength and ability to absorb battle damage.
The Geodetic Airframe
The Wellington’s most defining and vital characteristic was its unique geodetic construction, a design concept pioneered by Vickers’ chief designer, Barnes Wallis. This method gave the aircraft its legendary resilience.
- Structural Lattice: The airframe consisted of a basket-weave lattice of duralumin (aluminium alloy) beams. This intricate metal framework distributed stresses efficiently across the entire structure.
- Outer Skin: Unlike other aircraft using stressed metal skin, the geodetic frame was covered in doped fabric (linen).
- Battle Resilience: Because the load was carried by the internal lattice rather than the skin, Wellingtons could often return to base after sustaining severe combat damage that would have destroyed conventionally built aircraft.
Armament and Power
The Wellington evolved significantly throughout its service life, employing various engines and defensive layouts.
- Powerplants: Early models were powered by Bristol Pegasus radial engines, but later and more numerous versions used more powerful engines like the Bristol Hercules radial or the Rolls-Royce Merlin in-line engines.
- 主要武器： Its offensive capability included a bomb load of up to 4,500 lbs.
- Defensive Turrets: Protection was primarily provided by powered turrets, most commonly featuring a twin-gun nose turret and a powerful four-gun tail turret. An early retractable ventral “dustbin” turret proved impractical and was quickly abandoned in favour of manually operated beam guns.
Wartime Roles and Legacy
With over 11,400 aircraft built, the Wellington was the most-produced British multi-engined aircraft of World War II, showing its adaptability and longevity.
- Bomber Command: It was the workhorse of the RAF’s night bombing campaign until it was eventually superseded by heavier, four-engine bombers like the Lancaster and Halifax, which had greater range and bomb loads.
- Coastal Command: Post-1942, the Wellington found a new, crucial role in Coastal Command for maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare. These versions were equipped with Air-to-Surface Vessel (ASV) radar and the powerful Leigh Light searchlight for hunting U-boats at night.
- Training: The aircraft also saw extensive use as a training platform for bomber crews until the 1950s, continuing its service long after its front-line combat role ended.
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