Bristol Beaufighter Prototypes

Originally designed as a heavy fighter version of the Bristol Beaufort torpedo bomber, the Beaufighter developed into a multi-role aircraft. Its large size enabled it to carry early AI radar sets along with a heavy armament of four 20mm cannon and six .303 machine guns, making it an effective night fighter.

Later variants were able to carry torpedoes and rockets for the strike role, where it was employed for anti-shipping strikes and ground attack.

Initial Beaufighter Prototype R2052

Beaufighter Prototype R2268 With Twin Fins

Twin fins were fitted to the tail of Beaufighter R2268 in an attempt to control instability. It was evaluated against installing a fin fillet, which was found to be more successful.

Beaufighter Prototype T3032 With Tail Fillet

Bristol Beaufighter Mk V

Two Beaufighter Mark IIFs were converted to Mark Vs by having one pair of cannons and the wing-mounted machine gun armament supplanted by a Boulton-Paul turret mounting four .303 machine guns. It was tested operationally by the Fighter Interception Unit and No. 406 Squadron RCAF, but the turret installation drastically reduced performance and further development was abandoned.

40mm Cannon Trial

The fourth prototype, R2055, had its regular armament replaced by a pair of 40 mm guns for attacking ground targets, the two guns being a Vickers S gun mounted on the starboard fuselage and a Rolls-Royce BH gun mounted on the port fuselage; these trials led to the Vickers gun being installed on an anti-tank Hawker Hurricane IID. These guns were not fitted to production Beaufighters.

Built as a Beaufighter Mk.IIF, T3177 was utilized as a flying test bed by Rolls Royce to evaluate the Rolls Royce Griffon engine’s capabilities. It was operated by B-Flight of the Armament Test Squadron. The Fairey Firefly also used the Griffon engine, resulting in the Beaufighter retaining the Hercules.