Handley-Page O/100

From Wings of Linen
Handley-Page O/100
Role Bomber
Manufacturer Handley-Page
First flight 17-18 Dec 1915[1][2] or Jan 1916 [3]
Introduction 16/17 March 1917[4]
Primary users U.K. (RNAS)
U.K. (RFC/RAF)
Number built 40[5] [note 1] [note 2]
Variants Handley-Page O/400
Wingspan 30.5 m (100 ft) [7][8]
Engine 2×250hp Rolls-Royce Eagles
Armament flexible nose Lewis and
pivot-mounted dorsal Lewis and one ventral Lewis[note 3][note 4]
710 kg (1,568 lb)[7] - 810 kg (1,792 lb)[8] of bombs
Max Speed 137 km/h (85 mph)[8] to 153 km/h (95 mph)[7]
Climb 300 m (1,000 ft) in 2:10[7]
Ceiling 2,100 m (7,000 ft) [7][8]
Endurance 8:00 [8]

Development of the Handley-Page O/100 was slowed only because Britain had never built such a large aeroplane before, and every part of the plane had to be thoroughly tested before the whole could be tested in December 1915. While it was originally envisioned to be powered by two 150hp Sunbeam engines, by late 1915 the excellent Rolls-Royce Eagle was available. Each 250hp engine was mounted in a nacelle with its own fuel tank. The long wings were made to fold (for both transportation and the use of standard hangars), and wires from upper king-posts supported the wide upper wing extensions. A box tail was an early innovation, providing better control in case of single engine failure as well as widening the rear arc of fire. They trickled into bombing units in France starting in November 1916, including the third example which was accidentally landed at a German airfield on its maiden cross-Channel flight.[3]

While several O/100's were ferried over the Channel in the early months of 1917, it wasn't until the night of 16/17 March 1917 that they carried out their first combat mission, a raid on the railroad station at Moulin-les-Metz by Third Wing RNAS.[4]

Though their numbers were never large, they could deliver the same bomb load as more than three Short Bombers or six Airco D.H.4s, so they were quite effective even in ones and twos. By autumn of 1917 they were flying in larger groups, eventually supplemented by the O/400. [3]

For more information, see Wikipedia:Handley-Page Type O.

Timeline [note 5]

Game Data

Wings of Glory

Unofficial Stats
Availability Maneuver Damage Dmg Points Max Alt. Climb
17Q2-18Q2 XA * 29 6 8

Blue Max/Canvas Eagles

Aircraft Chart

Miniatures and Models

1:144 Scale

1:200 Scale

1:285/6mm/1:288 Scale

1:600 Scale

1:700 Scale

Resources

Orthographic Drawings

References

Notes
  1. Plus six "intermediate" types with both O/100 and O/400 characteristics.[5]
  2. Forty were ordered even before the prototype was finished. Afterwards, production shifted to the O/400.[6]
  3. The latter fired downward from a trap door in the rear fuselage.[2]
  4. All of the rear guns were operated by a single gunner.
  5. British usage numbers are approximate, derived from the squadron histories.[9]
Citations
  1. Langham, p.23.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Lamberton, p.64.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Bruce'69, p.268.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Langham, p.54.
  5. 5.0 5.1 Langham, p.47.
  6. Angelucci, p.76.
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 Lamberton, pp.214-215.
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 Angelucci, p.69.
  9. Philpott'13, pp.379-444.
Bibliography
  • Enzo Angelucci, ed. The Rand McNally Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft, 1914-1980. New York: The Military Press, 1983 edition. ISBN 0-517-41021-4.
  • J.M. Bruce. British Aeroplanes 1914-18. Great Britain: Funk & Wagnalls, 1957, 1969. ISBN 0370000382
  • W.M. Lamberton and E.F. Cheesman, Reconnaissance & Bomber Aircraft of the 1914-1918 War. Great Britain: Harleyford Publications Ltd., 1962. ISBN 9780900435027
  • Rob Langham, Bloody Paralyser: The Giant Handley Page Bombers of the First World War. UK and USA: Fonthill Media Limited, 2016. ISBN 978-1-78155-080-9
  • Ian Philpott, The Birth of the Royal Air Force. Great Britain: Pen & Sword Books Limited, 2013. ISBN 978-1-78159-333-2