The Lockheed Hudson Super Electra

When Lockheed was founded, it first sought to establish a solid base with small and fast aircraft. In 1935 Lockheed decided they were ready for a larger design, and went to enlarge one of their most recent successes. Since Douglas was working at it's DC-3 (C-47) design at the time, Lockheed opted for a somewhat smaller aircraft, but with the same powerplants. This way it would be faster. Work on earlier models was still in progress, so design of the Model 14 was delayed. This turned out to be no problem, because the result was more advanced then initially planned. It had a great range of possible engines, Fowler flaps, leading-edge slats and a flexibel passenger cabin.
The high performance of the resulting aircraft made it very suitable for adoption to the military role. In June 1938 the British Aircraft Purchasing Comission ordered the first 200 right off the drawing board.

Versions:

• Lockheed Hudson Mk I (*)
• Lockheed Hudson Mk IV (*)
• Lockheed A-29 (*)
• Other Lockheed Hudson versions
• Lockheed Model 14 Super Electra versions
• Lockheed C-111 versions
• Lockheed XR-40 versions
• Lockheed A-28 versions
• Lockheed A-29 versions
• Lockheed PBO-1 versions
• Lockheed AT-18 versions
• Tachikawa type LO (Japanese licence built) versions

Further pictures:

Lockheed Model 14 Super Electra (Hudson) or Lockheed A-29 (same model) in full flight

Technical data on the Lockheed Hudson Mk I

Powerplant	2 × Wright GR-1820-G102A Cyclone radial, rated at 1100 hp (820.04 kW) each		Role during war	Light Bomber U-boat Destroyer Maritime/Coastal patrol reconnaissance Bomber Transport
Length	45 ft 3.75 inch		Height	10 ft 10.5 inch
Empty weight	12091 lb		Operational weight	17500 lb typical, 19500 lb max
Wing Span	65 ft 6 inch		Wing Aspect ratio	7.79
Wing Area	551 sq ft		Service ceiling	21000 ft
Maximum speed	222 mph at 7900 ft		Cruising speed	191 mph at 10000 ft
Initial climb rate	2,180 ft per min, Climb to 10,000 ft in 10 min 0 sec		Range	1140 miles typical, 1960 miles max
Fuel capacity internal	536 Imp gal (644 US gal)		Fuel capacity external	-
Machine guns	2 × 0.303 inch Browning fixed forward-firing in the upper nose, 500 rounds each 2 × 0.303 inch Browning trainable in the Boulton Paul Type C Mk II power operated dorsal turret, 1,000 rounds each		Cannons	-
Bomb load	Up to 1,350 lb, carried in the lower-fuselage weapons bay, rated at 1,400 lb. General disposables load consisted of: 4 × 250 lb anti-submarine, general-purpose or semi-armor-piercing bombs, or 10 × 110 lb anti-submarine bombs, or 12 × 112 lb Mk VIIc anti-submarine bombs		Torpedoes/rockets	-
Crew	6: pilot, co-pilot, bomb-aimer/navigator, radio operator/dorsal gunner, 2 gunners (optional)		Naval or ground based	Ground
First flight (prototype)	10 December 1938		Operational Service	Early 1939 - 1949
Manufacturer	Lockheed Aircraft Corporation		Number produced	2.941 total, 350 this version

Metric system

Length	13.81 m		Height	3.31 m
Empty weight	5484 kg		Operational weight	7938 kg typical, 8845 kg max
Wing Span	19.96 m		Wing Aspect ratio	7.79
Wing Area	51.19 m²		Service ceiling	6401 m
Maximum speed	357 km/h at 2408 m		Cruising speed	307 km/h at 3048 m
Initial climb rate	664 m per min, Climb to 3.050 m in 10 min 0 sec		Range	1835 km typical, 3154 km max
Fuel capacity internal	2.438 liters		Fuel capacity external	-
Machine guns	2 × 7,7 mm Browning fixed forward-firing in the upper nose, 500 rounds each 2 × 7,7 mm Browning trainable in the Boulton Paul Type C Mk II power operated dorsal turret, 1.000 rounds each		Cannons	-
Bomb load	Up to 612 kg, carried in the lower-fuselage weapons bay, rated at 635 kg. General disposables load consisted of: 4 × 113 kg anti-submarine, general-purpose or semi-armor-piercing bombs, or 10 × 50 kg anti-submarine bombs, or 12 × 51 kg Mk VIIc anti-submarine bombs		Torpedoes/rockets	-

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

Remarks:

The Hudson had a lot of 'Firsts' on it's account. It is noted that the Hudson was the first USA built aircraft in RAF service. It was the first RAF aircraft to score a kill against an enemy aircraft on 8 October 1939. It was the first aircraft in Coastal Command to be fitted with an A.S.V. radar. It was the first aircraft to destroy a submarine with underwing rockets in may 1943. Apart from that it is known that a Hudson forced a German submarine to surrender, just by circling it in August 1941.
The Hudson was used by the Alied forces all over the world, in virtually all theatres. It was used in the European theatres mostly by Coastal Command, and in the Far East it was used against the Japanese. Not only were they used for maritime patrol, but also as plain bombers in the Netherlands East Indies and New Guinea.

Strengths:

• Good performance for it's role

Weaknesses:

• Unknown

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