Westland Whirlwind Escort / Fighter-Bomber / Nightfighter (1940)
Though obsolete by 1944, the Westland Whirlwind was a twin-engine design ahead of its time when it appeared in 1938.
The Whirlwind featured a very identifiable design, mounting the engine nacelles underneath the low-wing monoplane assembly. The engines were set off from the wing roots with the cockpit set off of the nose where the battery of 4 x 20mm cannons rested. The pilot was afforded good visibility forward, up, to the rear and to the sides of his aircraft. The fuselage was of a most basic and slim design, mounting a traditional "T" type empennage tail system.
Though tested as early as 1938, the Whirlwind would not see frontline service until 1940, to which it entered the fray with some industry-leading design elements. Chief among these were the bubble-type canopy offering up good visibility and leading edge-mounted wing radiators. Initial performance was adequate but far below what was anticipated, The Peregrine powerplants did not offer up huge gains though the platform was extremely stable and fast at low altitudes. Whirlwinds served as bomber escorts during daylight raids with a fighter-bomber variant appearing as the Mk IA later on.
Engine developmental issues and a fast landing speed did not endear the system to warplanners who were already looking out for a replacement. The time would come in 1943 when such replacements were already dotting the RAF landscape and the Whirlwind was effectively dead. An impressive initial design, the Whirlwind played second fiddle to the United Kingdoms more notable designs - though the Whirlwind itself deserves a place of honorable mention nonetheless. Text ©2003-2013 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • No Reproduction Permitted
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Specifications for the
Westland Whirlwind
Escort / Fighter-Bomber / Nightfighter
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Manufacturer: Westland - UK
Initial Year of Service: 1940
Production: 116
Focus Model: Westland Whirlwind Mk I
Crew: 1
Length: 32.74ft (9.98m)
Width: 45.01ft (13.72m)
Height: 11.55ft (3.52m)
Weight (Empty): 7,840lbs (3,556kg)
Weight (MTOW): 10,269lbs (4,658kg)
Powerplant: 2 x Rolls-Royce Peregrine liquid-cooled piston engines developing 885hp each.
Maximum Speed: 360mph (580kmh; 313kts)
Maximum Range: 802miles (1,290km)
Service Ceiling: 30,000ft (9,144m; 5.7miles)
Rate-of-Climb: 3,000 feet per minute (914m/min)
Hardpoints: 2
Armament Suite:
4 x 20mm cannons in nose
Mk IA:
Up to 1,000lbs of external stores in addition to 4 x cannon armament.
Variants:
Mk I - Base Fighter Designation; fitted with 2 x Rolls-Royce Peregrine liquid-cooled piston engines delivering 885hp each.
Mk IA - Fighter-Bomber Variant; fitted with 2 x Rolls-Royce Peregrine 12-cylinder V-type engines delivering 765hp each; up to 1,000lbs of bombs.
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