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Re: Boulton Paul Type E v. FN 120/121

Posted by Alan Hulme on Sun Sep 07, 2003 04:42:53 AM

In reply top Boulton Paul Type E posted by Cees Broere on Sat Sep 06, 2003 09:45:32 AM

: Hi Les,

Firstly, re the F.N. 121, I believe this was the variant of the F.N. 120 fitted with A.G.L.T. radar. I understand this worked well enough after some initial teething troubles, but the problem remained of the large number of echoes from other bombers in the stream. This led to the introduction of the "Z" equipment in our aircraft, which required an Infra Red telescope to be aligned alongside the gunners standard sight - I expect this added significantly to the gunners workload at times of high stress!

Also, when the A.G.L.T. equipment went u/s, there must have been a clear disadvantage in having all that bulky equipment blotting out his downwards view. Even with the equipment working, it must still have given vision problems when the enemy aircraft had closed in and swift and decisive action was required if the bomber was to survive. We've all read about how gunners removed the perspex from their F.N. rear turrets in order to improve the view anyway, and this was partly so they could lean forward and search beneath them more effectively - that would have been difficult with all that equipment fitted.

Perhaps a more balanced comparison would be the "straight" F.N.120 (itself derived from the earlier F.N.20) and the B.P. Type E.

In his Despatch on War Operations, published post war, Sir Arthur Harris reviewed the performance of all aspects of Bomber Command, including aircraft and armament. He had been calling for improvements to bomber turrets for years, without much success.

He came out decisively in favour of electrically operated turrets, based on Bomber Command statistics showing:

"that turrets, operated hydraulically, such as the F.N.120, were between seven and thirteen times more vulnerable to damage and fire, than turrets operated electro-hydraulically, such as the Boulton Paul turrets fitted to Halifax aircraft"

And, of course, after years of using Frazer Nash turrets in the Manchester and Lancaster, it was the B.P. Type D rear turret that was installed in the Lincoln.

O.K. Cees, I concede an advantage to the Halifax!

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