English Electric Canberra / Martin B-57 High-Altitude Medium Bomber / Reconnaissance (1951)
The Canberra progressed as a medium-to-high altitude bomber, so much so that the US ordered it as the B-57.
In practice, the system evolved to a substantially better product, utilizing three crewmembers to operate the machine, including the newer optical bomb aiming system. The system would find enough success throughout its production run that the aircraft would be featured in the gamut of roles ranging from bomber to trainer and reconnaissance to electronic warfare. The system itself would prove hardy enough that it would catch the eye of US military planners who would go on to license-produce the Canberra in the United States as the B-57 through the Martin company.
As a high-level, nuclear-capable system, the Canberra featured a large internal bomb bay running along the underside of the fuselage. Up to 6,000lbs of internal ordnance could be carried and future models would see external hardpoints added (along with cannons and machine guns on the American models) to showcase the versatility of the Canberra system. The Canberra became the Royal Air Force's first operational jet-powered bomber, along with becoming the first jet-powered bomber produced within Britain's borders. The system would reach some acclaim as well when it would complete two consecutive cross-Atlantic journeys within the period of 24 hours.
Various models were derived from the base Canberra. Chief among them were the main British production model designated as the Canberra B.Mk 2. Following models included an "intruder" series, a reconnaissance conversion model and various utilitarian variants such as target tugs, target drone and trainers. American models would see more radical variants in the B-57B, which utilized a crew of two and was armed with 4 x 20mm cannons, 8 x 12.7mm machine guns, external hardpoints and the base internal weapons bay. Later American models featured additional, albeit smaller, turbojets on the wing assemblies. Powerplants were built by the Pratt & Whitney company but were in fact licensed-produced models of the British Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire.
In Britain, the Canberra was produced by the English Electric company and would go on to have an extensive production and service life - no doubt due to the adaptability and defined role of the system itself. Several export variants were produced as well. Text ©2003-2013 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • No Reproduction Permitted
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Specifications for the
English Electric Canberra / Martin B-57
High-Altitude Medium Bomber / Reconnaissance
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Manufacturer: English Electric - UK / Martin - USA
Initial Year of Service: 1951
Production: 1,353
Focus Model: English Electric Canberra B.Mk 6
Crew: 3
Length: 65.49ft (19.96m)
Width: 64.01ft (19.51m)
Height: 15.65ft (4.77m)
Weight (Empty): 21,649lbs (9,820kg)
Weight (MTOW): 55,001lbs (24,948kg)
Powerplant: 2 x Rolls-Royce Avon RA.7 Mk 109 turbojet engines generating 7,400lbs each.
Maximum Speed: 580mph (933kmh; 504kts)
Maximum Range: 3,380miles (5,440km)
Service Ceiling: 49,213ft (15,000m; 9.3miles)
Rate-of-Climb: 3,400 feet per minute (1,036m/min)
Hardpoints: 2
Armament Suite:
Canberra B.Mk 2:
4 x 20mm Hispano Mk.V cannons OR 2 x 7.62mm machine gun pods.
2 x 37x2 51mm rocket pods OR 2 x Matra 18xSNEB 68mm rocket pods.
Air-to-Surface missiles as needed
Up to 8,000lbs of internal and external ordnance.
B-57B:
4 x 20mm M39 Cannons
Up to 4,500lbs of internal ordnance and 2,800lbs of external ordnance across four hardpoints.
Variants:
B.Mk 2 - Main Bomber Production Variant fitted with Avon RA.3 Mk 101 turbojet engines.
B.Mk 6 - Increased fuel capacity; fitted with Avon Mk 109 turbojets.
B.Mk 15 - Conversion of B.Mk 6 model with underwing hardpoints for external stores.
B.Mk 16 - Improved B.Mk 15
B.Mk 20 - Australian-produced version of the B.Mk 6 base model.
B(I).Mk 6 - Initial Intruder / Interdictor Base Production Model based on the B.Mk 6 with underwing bomb provisioning; fitted with ventral cannon gun pod.
B(I).Mk 8 - Initial Intruder / Interdictor Multirole Variant.
PR.Mk 3 - Initial Reconnaissance Production Model based on the B.Mk 2.
PR.Mk 7 - Reconnaissance Model based on the B.Mk 6.
PR.Mk 9 - Reconnaissance Model with increased wingspan and high-altitude capabilities; fitted with Avon Mk 206 turbojet engines generating 11,000lbs of thrust; increased center fuselage section.
British Trainer Model
British Tug Model
British Target Drone Model
B-57A - First United States Production Model fitted with Wright J65-W-I turbojets based on the Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire powerplants.
B-57B - Main US Production Model; two-crew seating in tandem; fixed 4 x 20mm cannons and 8 x 12.7mm machine guns; provisions for underwing stores; retained original internal bomb bay as well; night intruder capabilities.
B-57C - US-produced Dual-Control Variant based on B-57B model.
B-57E - US-produced Target Tug Model based on the B-57B model.
RB-57 - US-produced Photo-Reconnaissance Conversion Model.
RB-57F - US General Dynamics-produced ultra-high flight model fitted with 2 x Pratt & Whitney TF33-P-11 turbofan engines generating 18,000lbs of thrust; also fitted with 2 x Pratt & Whitney J60-P-9 turbojet engines underwing generating 3,300lbs of thrust; increased wingspan.
EB-57 - US-produced Electronic Warfare Conversion Model.
Operators: Argentina; Australia; Chile; Ecuador; Ethiopia; France; Germany; India; New Zealand; Pakistan (B-57); Peru; Rhodesia; Taiwan (B-57); South Africa; Sweden; United Kingdom; United States (B-57); Venezuela; Zimbabwe
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