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Handley Page Type O

1918 WORLD WAR 1

History

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The Handley Page O/400 series were the main heavy bombers of the RAF at the end of the First World War. The O/400 is derived directly from the previous O/100 model series, with each model assigned the designations "100" and "400" representing the engine horsepower rating. Similarities aside, not only did the O/400 incorporate new engines into the bomber design, but the system also featured newly developed bomb sights that, albeit slightly, improved both aircraft and crew capabilities.

Heavy bombers will be heavily used by the British Army, with more than 500 prototypes to be produced, while the U.S. Army will provide a limited number.

The O/400 was a basic design that met World War I standards, despite its size100 feet of wingspan and nearly 63 feet in length. The plane is piloted by three people and is equipped with two landing gear systems, each with two wheels mounted. The engine differentiates the system from the previous O/100 design by flanking the fuselage with 360-horsepower Rolls-Royce-branded Eagle VIII V-12 engines.

The wing design is typical of the heavy bomber biplane type, with struts spanning the structure. The rear of the aircraft is equipped with a triple rudder dual elevator system.

Handley Page O/400 The Mammoth's armament consisted of three Lewis-type machine gun systems mounted in various defensive positions around the hull. Weapon capabilities are impressive as they can take up to 16 x 112 lb bombs or up to 8 x 250 lb bombs. Bombing was carried out with the Drift Sight Mk 1A bomb sight designed by LT Commander Wimperis.

The system was able to process aerial information that the bomber could use in drift form, the aircraft's current airspeed and altitude, to improve the bombing capabilities of its predecessor. Overall, the system was in place by the end of the war and was fully operational throughout the British Empire, with no less than 11 RAF squadrons in operation.