United States of America
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[Technical Details] [Different Versions] [Operational Remarks] [Strengths] [Weaknesses]
When the Lockheed Hudson entered production for the British, Lockheed started to look at possible successors. A Likely candidate would be the Model 18 Lodestar. This aircraft was more advanced, and well suited because of it's longer fuselage. In September a study was presented to the British in two different versions: a pure Hudson successor with 2 engines in the 1,000 hp - 1,200 hp (746 kW - 895 kW) range, or a Blenheim successor with two engines in the 1,600 hp - 2,000 hp (1.193 kW - 1.491 kW) range.
Already were the weaknesses of the Blenheim showing, and in Februari 1940 the United Kingdom ordered 25 preliminary aircraft for the medium bomber role.
After Lockheed had given correct performance estimates, the British increased the oreder to 300 aircraft in May 1940, and later yet increased it to 375. Because the main production facility lacked the capacity, production was moved to the Vega Aircraft Corporation subsidiary. This move delayed the entry of the Ventura to the summer of 1942.
Further pictures:
| Technical data on the Lockheed Ventura Mk I |
|---|
| Powerplant | 2 × Pratt & Whitney R-2800-S1A4-G Double Wasp radial, rated at 1850 hp (1379.16 kW) each | Role during war |
| |
| Length | 51 ft 5 inch | Height | 11 ft 10.5 inch | |
| Empty weight | unknown | Operational weight | 22500 lb typical, 19200 lb max | |
| Wing Span | 65 ft 6 inch | Wing Aspect ratio | 7.79 | |
| Wing Area | 551 sq ft | Service ceiling | 25000 ft | |
| Maximum speed | 312 mph at 15500 ft | Cruising speed | 272 mph at optimum altitude | |
| Initial climb rate | 2,035 ft per min | Range | 925 miles typical | |
| Fuel capacity internal | 470 Imp gal (565 US gal) | Fuel capacity external | - | |
| Machine guns |
| Cannons | - | |
| Bomb load | Up to 2,500 lb, carried in a lower-fuselage weapons bay rated 2,500 lb. General disposables load consisted of: unknown number of bombs | Torpedoes/rockets | - | |
| Crew | 5: pilot, co-pilot (optional), navigator/bombardier, radio operator/gunner, gunner | Naval or ground based | Ground | |
| First flight (prototype) | 31 July 1941 | Operational Service | June 1942 - mid 1960's | |
| Manufacturer | Lockheed Aircraft Corporation | Number produced | 2.475 total, 188 this version |
| Metric system |
|---|
| Length | 15.67 m | Height | 3.62 m | |
| Empty weight | unknown | Operational weight | 10206 kg typical, 8709 kg max | |
| Wing Span | 19.96 m | Wing Aspect ratio | 7.79 | |
| Wing Area | 51.19 m² | Service ceiling | 7620 m | |
| Maximum speed | 502 km/h at 4724 m | Cruising speed | 438 km/h at optimum altitude | |
| Initial climb rate | 620 m per min | Range | 1489 km typical | |
| Fuel capacity internal | 2.139 liters | Fuel capacity external | - | |
| Machine guns |
| Cannons | - | |
| Bomb load | Up to 1.134 kg, carried in a lower-fuselage weapons bay rated 1.134 kg. General disposables load consisted of: unknown number of bombs | Torpedoes/rockets | - |
| Technical data on the Lockheed PV-1 Ventura |
|---|
| Powerplant | 2 × Pratt & Whitney R-2800-31 Double Wasp radial, rated at 2000 hp (1490.98 kW) each | Role during war |
| |
| Length | 51 ft 9 inch | Height | 11 ft 11 inch | |
| Empty weight | 20197 lb | Operational weight | 31077 lb typical, 34000 lb max | |
| Wing Span | 65 ft 6 inch | Wing Aspect ratio | 7.79 | |
| Wing Area | 551 sq ft | Service ceiling | 26300 ft | |
| Maximum speed | 322 mph at 13800 ft | Cruising speed | 170 mph at optimum altitude | |
| Initial climb rate | 2,230 ft per min | Range | 1360 miles typical, 1660 miles max | |
| Fuel capacity internal | 672 Imp gal (807 US gal) plus provision for up to 408 Imp gal (490 US gal) auxiliary fuel in 2 × 204 Imp gal (245 US gal) weapon bay tanks | Fuel capacity external | Up to 258 Imp gal (310 US gal) in 2 × 129 Imp gal (155 US gal) drop tanks | |
| Machine guns |
| Cannons | - | |
| Bomb load | Up to 5,000 lb, carried in a lower-fuselage weapons bay rated 3,000 lb, and on two hardpoints under the wings rated at 1,000 lb each. General disposables load consisted of:
| Torpedoes/rockets | Alternatively to weapons in weapon bay:
| |
| Crew | 5: pilot, co-pilot (optional), navigator/bombardier, radio operator/gunner, gunner | Naval or ground based | Ground | |
| First flight (prototype) | 31 July 1941 | Operational Service | June 1942 - mid 1960's | |
| Manufacturer | Lockheed Aircraft Corporation | Number produced | 2.475 total, 1.066+ this version |
| Metric system |
|---|
| Length | 15.77 m | Height | 3.63 m | |
| Empty weight | 9161 kg | Operational weight | 14097 kg typical, 15422 kg max | |
| Wing Span | 19.96 m | Wing Aspect ratio | 7.79 | |
| Wing Area | 51.19 m² | Service ceiling | 8016 m | |
| Maximum speed | 518 km/h at 4206 m | Cruising speed | 274 km/h at optimum altitude | |
| Initial climb rate | 680 m per min | Range | 2189 km typical, 2671 km max | |
| Fuel capacity internal | 3.055 liters plus provsion for up to 1.855 liters auxiliary fuel in 2 × 927 liters weapon bay tanks | Fuel capacity external | Up to 1.174 liters in 2 × 587 liters drop tanks | |
| Machine guns |
| Cannons | - | |
| Bomb load | Up to 2.272 kg, carried in a lower-fuselage weapons bay rated 1.361 kg, and on two hardpoints under the wings rated at 454 kg each. General disposables load consisted of:
| Torpedoes/rockets | Alternatively to weapons in weapon bay:
|
Here is a quick overview of all different versions, without the full technical specifications:
| Different versions of the Lockheed PV-1 Ventura |
|---|
| Lockheed Ventura Mk I | Like described in the introductory text at the top of this page, the Ventura (Lockheed Model 37) was adapted for military use from the Model 18 Lodestar, resulting in the Model 21. It was meant to be either a Lockheed Hudson successor, or a Bristol Blenheim successor. The long range of the Ventura meant it was very well suited for the maritime patrol bomber role, in which it would subsequently be featured. Thus the Ventura releaved the Hudson of it's tasks, offering more advanced features. Number built: 188 | ||||||
| Lockheed Ventura GR.Mk I | Italian based Ventura Mk I's received the new designation GR.Mk I. Any specific reason is unclear to me at the moment. Redesignated aircraft | ||||||
| Lockheed Ventura Mk II | This version (Lockheed Model 37-21-01) was based on the Ventura Mk I, but was powered by 2 × Pratt & Whitney R-2800-31 Double Wasp radial, built to US military rather than civil standards. Other than that the weapons bay's rating was increased to 3,000 lb (1.361 kg) and provisions for 650 Imp gal (780 US gal, 2.952 liters) of auxiliairy fuel in an additional tank in the weapons bay were made. Number built: 487 | ||||||
| Lockheed Ventura Mk IIA | This version (the Lockheed Model 37-27-02) differed only slightly from the Ventura Mk II. It's main differences were several US equipment items and armament. The latter was most notable by the Martin dorsal turret with 2 × 0.50 inch (12,7 mm). 200 aircraft were ordered by the USAAF, but only 25 were delivered. The remainder went to Great Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Number built: 112 | ||||||
| Lockheed Ventura GR.Mk V | This version was ordered by the US Navy as the PV-1 Maritime patrol bomber. Under the Lend-Lease act however they ended up in British, Canadian, South African, New Zealand and Australian air forces. Number built: 387 | ||||||
| Lockheed Ventura C.Mk V | Some Ventura GR.Mk V were converted as unarmed transports, designated with Ventura C.Mk V Number converted: unknown | ||||||
| Lockheed PV-1 Ventura | When the USA entered the War, the US Navy and US AAF agreed that maritime patrol should be considered as a task for the Navy. The USAAF then suspended the B-34 orders, so that Lockheed could concentrate on the Navy variant. In stead of a Patrol Bomber it was initially perceived as a Patrol aircraft. The Navy put different constraints forward, resulting in the PV-1. This version (Lockheed Model 237-27-01) had a bigger fuel capacity, the ability to carry drop tanks, lightened gun armament, a more diverse load of disposables, and naval equipment including an ASD-1 surface search radar. The first PV-1 was delivered in November 1942, and the first aircraft still retained the B-34's bombardier position. Later aircraft didn't need this posotion because there was no need for a bombardier, and the position was replaced with 3 × 0.50 inch (12,7 mm) fixed forward-firing guns for increased firepower against sub-marines. Additionally the offensive weaponry was increased with 8 launchers for 5 inch rockets. Number built: 1.600 | ||||||
| Lockheed PV-1P Ventura | All PV-1's carried an oblique reconnaissance camera as standard equipment. Yet in 1945 a number of aircraft received additional cameras for use as a dedicated reconnaissance aircraft, subsequently redesignated PV-1P ventura. Number converted: unknown. | ||||||
| Lockheed PV-3 Ventura | the last 27 aircraft of the Ventura Mk II version were delivered to the US Navy. These aircraft were redesignated to PV-3 Ventura. Redesignated aircraft | ||||||
| Lockheed B-34 Lexington | In 1941 the USAAF ordered 200 Lockheed Model 147-27-02 aircraft, which would be delivered to the UK under the Lend-Lease pact. These aircraft were redesignated by the British to Ventura Mk IIA. When the USA enetered the War in December 1941, 20 airrcaft were retained for the USA. These aircraft had additional or changed armament and fuel capacity, and were fitted with a surface search radar. Number built: 20 | ||||||
| Lockheed B-34A Lexington | This batch of aircraft was built as the Ventura Mk IIA for the RAF, and as the B-34A Lexington for the USAAF. During production some blocks were identified:
Number built: 167 | ||||||
| Lockheed B-34B Lexington | The remainder of the B-34 contractwere delivered to the Navigation Training standard. Number built: 13 | ||||||
| Lockheed RB-34 Lexington | In October 1942 the remainder of the B-34's were redesignated to RB-34 Lexington to indicate their changed operational status: training only. Redesignated aircraft | ||||||
| Lockheed RB-34A Lexington | In October 1942 the remainder of the B-34A's were redesignated to RB-34A Lexington to indicate their changed operational status: training only. Redesignated aircraft | ||||||
| Lockheed RB-34B Lexington | In October 1942 the remainder of the B-34B's were redesignated to RB-34B Lexington to indicate their changed operational status: training only. Redesignated aircraft | ||||||
| Lockheed B-37 | In August 1941 the USAAF ordered 550 Lockheed Model 137-96-03 aircraft, originally designated O-56 for the armed observation and reconnaissance roles. These aircraft would be powered by 2 × Wright R-2600-13 radials, rated at 1,700 hp (1.484 kW) each. The weapons bay could carry 2,000 lb (907 kg) of disposables. The guns were totalled to 5 × 0.50 inch (12,7 mm) guns, and 4 × 0.3 inch (7,62 mm) guns. Before the first aircraft could be delivered, the O-for-Observation designation was dropped by the USAAF, so these aircraft were redesignated to RB-34B, later to B-37. This last designation was meant to indicate the Wright engines, as opposed to the Pratt & Whitney engines. Because of production constraints, only 18 were delivered. Number built: 18 |
The Ventura was first meant as a fast light bomber, a replacement for the Blenheim and/or Hudson. However, when the Ventura entered service in October 1942 it quickly became clear that it could not fulifil the role of fast daylight bomber well. The Ventura was phased out of Bomber Command, and transferred to Coastal Command and Italy. In Italy the Ventura was redesignated to Ventura GR.Mk I (see below), while in Coastal Command it was mainly used for meteorological missions.
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