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The Handley Page Halifax 

The H.P. 57 Halifax is not as well know as the outstanding Avro Lancaster, yet is performed excellent after the initial shortcomings were solved. Like the Lancaster, it's design started as the H.P. 55 twin-engine bomber, alternatively fitted with 2 × Bristol Hercules radials, or 2 × Rolls Royce merlins.
In 1935 the first prototype was ordered by the RAF, as a medium bomber, but soon after that a new requirement was issued for a faster medium bomber. Handley Page redesigned their H.P. 55 to the H.P. 56. This type had somewhat reduced wingspan, and the powerplant alternatively 2 × Bristol Hercules or 2 × Rolls Royce Vulture X. Worries concerning the Vultures made Handley Page (like Avro did too) decide to make it a 4 engine bomber, based on the Rolls Royce Merlin. The designation was the H.P. 57

Version list:

• Handley Page Halifax B.Mk III ^(*)
• Other Handley Page Halifax versions

Further pictures:

Handley Page Halifax Mk I, without the dorsal turret

Technical data on the Handley Page Halifax B.Mk III

Powerplant	4 × Bristol Hercules XVI radial, rated at 1615 hp (1203.97 kW) each		Role during war	Heavy Bomber Transport
Length	71 ft 7 inch		Height	20 ft 9 inch
Empty weight	38240 lb		Operational weight	54400 lb typical, 65000 lb max
Wing Span	98 ft 10 inch		Wing Aspect ratio	7.81
Wing Area	1250 sq ft		Service ceiling	24000 ft
Maximum speed	282 mph at 13500 ft		Cruising speed	215 mph at 20000 ft
Initial climb rate	960 ft per minute, Climb to 20,000 ft in 37 minutes 30 sec		Range	1030 miles minimum, 1985 miles typical
Fuel capacity internal	1,998 Imp gal (2,400 US gal), plus provision for 576 Imp gal (692 US gal) in 6 wing weapon cell tanks		Fuel capacity external	-
Machine guns	1 × 0.303 inch Vickers 'K' trainable forward firing in the nose position, 300 rounds 4 × 0.303 inch Browning trainable in powered dorsal turret, 1,160 rounds each 4 × 0.303 inch Browning trainable in powered tail turret, 1,160 rounds each		Cannons	-
Bomb load	Up to 14,500 lb carried in weapons bay rated 13,000 lb and 6 wing cells rated 500 lb. General loadout of weapons bay: 1 × 8,000 lb bomb, or 2 × 4,000 lb bombs, or 4 × 2,000 lb bombs, or 8 × 1,000 lb bombs, or 2 × 1,500 lb mines plus 6 × 500 lb bombs, or 9 × 500 lb bombs The wing cells could carry alternatively 6 × 500 lb or 250 lb bombs		Torpedoes/rockets	-
Crew	7: pilot, co-pilot, navigator/bombardier/gunner, radio operator, flight engineer, two gunners		Naval or ground based	Ground
First flight (prototype)	25 October 1939		Operational Service	November 1940 - March 1952
Manufacturer	Handley Page Ltd.		Number produced	6.176 total, 2.091 this version

Metric system

Length	21.82 m		Height	6.32 m
Empty weight	17346 kg		Operational weight	24676 kg typical, 29484 kg max
Wing Span	30.12 m		Wing Aspect ratio	7.81
Wing Area	116.12 m²		Service ceiling	7315 m
Maximum speed	454 km/h at 4115 m		Cruising speed	346 km/h at 6096 m
Initial climb rate	293 m per minute, Climb to 6095 m in 37 minutes 30 sec		Range	1658 km minimum, 3194 km typical
Fuel capacity internal	9.083 liters, plus provision for 2.619 liters in 6 wing weapon cell tanks		Fuel capacity external	-
Machine guns	1 × 7,7 mm Vickers 'K' trainable forward firing in the nose position, 300 rounds 4 × 7,7 mm Browning trainable in powered dorsal turret, 1.160 rounds each 4 × 7,7 mm Browning trainable in powered tail turret, 1.160 rounds each		Cannons	-
Bomb load	Up to 6.577 kg carried in weapons bay rated 5.897 kg and 6 wing cells rated 227 kg. General loadout of weapons bay: 1 × 3.629 kg bomb, or 2 × 1.814 kg bombs, or 4 × 907 kg bombs, or 8 × 454 kg bombs, or 2 × 680 kg mines plus 6 × 227 kg bombs, or 9 × 227 kg bombs The wing cells could carry alternatively 6 × 227 kg or 113 kg bombs		Torpedoes/rockets	-

Here is a quick overview of all different versions, without the full technical specifications:

Operational remarks:

The halifax was the only British "Heavy" that also served in the Far East. Also, the initial problems and lack of performance made the Halifax not very dependable, and was not usede on targets that were stamped "very dangerous". Later this improved, and the Halifax, although not as economical as the Lancaster, could be used on any target in Germany or the Far East

Strengths:

• Capable of carrying a heavy warload
• Dependable aircraft

Weaknesses:

• Slow climb rate
• Low performance
• inadequate handling characteristics. Later versions improved somewhat.

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