Header.JPG

Armstrong Whitworth A.W.41 Albemarle

For a description of the format and data included in Production Tables, see here.

Produced Variants (See Note 1)

A.W.41 Albemarle B.Mk.I 5 crew mid-wing, cantilever monoplane medium bomber with twin fins and rudders and featuring a tricycle undercarriage and
  using non strategic materials. Based on the Bristol Type 155 (although this is disputed by Williams [3]) to Specification P.9/38
  and later Specification B.17/38. Design was transferred to Armstrong Whitworth and the requirement changed to
  reconnaissance bomber to Specifications B.18/38, to meet the requirements of OR.60. The first prototype initially featured
  short span wings and small area fins and rudders. Boulton Paul four gun dorsal turret and two gun manually operated ventral
  dustbin'. Two 1,590 h.p. Bristol Hercules XI powerplants.
A.W.41 Albemarle S.T.Mk.I Special Transport version of B.Mk.I; bombing gear and dorsal turret removed, replaced with hand operated twin-guns under a
  sliding hood. A freight door added on the starboard side.
A.W.41 Albemarle G.T.Mk.I Glider Tug. B.Mk.I fitted with Malcolm glider towing gear.
A.W.41 Albemarle S.T.Mk.II Troop Carrier. S.T.Mk.I with seating for 10 paratroops and a dropping hatch in the floor.
A.W.41 Albemarle G.T.Mk.II S.T.Mk.II fitted with Malcolm glider towing gear.
A.W.41 Albemarle Mk.IV Mk.1 with two 1,600 h.p. Wright GR-2600-A5B Cyclone 14 powerplants.
A.W.41 Albemarle S.T.Mk.V S.T.Mk.II with fuel jettison equipment to meet the requirements of OR.173. Dorsal turret retained.
A.W.41 Albemarle S.T.Mk.VI S.T.Mk.V with larger freight door.
A.W.41 Albemarle G.T.Mk.VI srs.i S.T.Mk.VI with Malcolm towing gear.
A.W.41 Albemarle G.T.Mk.VI srs.ii G.T.Mk.VI srs.i with dorsal turret removed.

Projected Variants

A.W.41 Albemarle Mk.III  Proposed variant with Rolls-Royce Merlin powerplants.


Production List Page Top
Serial Range
C/n
Type
(See Note 1)
Batch Qty
Conv.
Canc'd
Notes
 2 prototypes ordered from Armstrong Whitworth and assembled by Air Service Training Ltd., Hamble, to contract 816726/38.
 P1360 - P1361    Prototype  2      
 198 aircraft ordered from Gloster Aircraft, Brockworth, to contract B.40671/39. Contract transferred to A.W.Hawksley (see note 2). Delivered between October 1940 and March 1943. See note 3.
 P1362 - P1409    Mk.I  48  (1)    P1406 converted to the prototype Mk.IV
 P1430 - P1479      50      
 P1500 - P1529      30      
 P1550 - P1569      20      
 P1590 - P1609      20      
 P1630 - P1659      30      
 780 aircraft ordered from Gloster Aircraft, Brockworth, to contract B.53250/39. Contract transferred to A.W.Hawksley (see note 2). 2 aircraft delivered as Mk.I, 100 Mk.II, 1 Mk.IV, 49 Mk.V and 150 Mk.VI. 478 Mk.VI
 cancelled. Delivered between March 1943 and November 1944. See note 4.
 V1598 - V1599    Mk.I  2      
 V1600 - V1647    Mk.II  48      
 V1694 - V1723      30      
 V1738 - V1759      22      
 V1760    Mk.IV  1      
 V1761 - V1787    Mk.V  27      
 V1809 - V1828      20      
 V1841 - V1842      2      
 V1843 - V1885    Mk.VI  43      
 V1917 - V1941      25      
 V1962 - V2011      50      
 V2025 - V2039      15      
 V2040 -  V2054      15      
 V2067 - V2068      2      
 V2069 - V2116          48  
 V2155 - V2179          25  
 V2193 - V2242          50  
 V2271 - V2300          30  
 V2314 - V2353          40  
 V2377 - V2406          30  
 V2440 - V2464          25  
 V2503 - V2542          40  
 V2573 - V2622          50  
 V2636 - V2665          30  
 V2681 - V2720          40  
 V2749 - V2798          50  
 V2812 - V2831          20  
 191 aircraft ordered from A.V. Roe, to contract B.53249/39. Cancelled.
 V2835 - V2884    Mk.VI      50  
 V2933 - V2952          20  
 V2966 - V3000          35  
 V3017 - V3066          50  
 V3085 - V3120          36  
 800 aircraft ordered from A.V. Roe, to contract B.53249/39. Cancelled.
 X1391 - X1440    Mk.VI      50  
 X1465 - X1499          35  
 X1516 - X1555          40  
 X1580 - X1609          30  
 X1648 - X1692          45  
 X1717 - X1741          25  
 X1790 - X1799          10  
 X1812 - X1846          35  
 X1893 - X1932          40  
 X1965 - X1999          35  
 X2026 - X2045          20  
 X2092 - X2106          15  
 X2133 - X2177          45  
 X2194 - X2228          35  
 X2253 - X2267          15  
 X2304 - X2353          50  
 X2402 - X2446          45  
 X2483 - X2517          35  
 X2542 - X2566          25  
 X2579 - X2613          35  
 X2630 - X2654          25  
 X2687 - X2736          50  
 X2753 - X2787          35  
 X2836 - X2860          25  
 100 aircraft ordered from A.W.Hawksley, Brockworth, to contract B.53250/39, to meet USSR requirement. Cancelled and transferred to RAF. See note 4.
 LV482 - LV501    Mk.VI  20      
 LV532 - LV577      46      
 LV590 - LV623      34      
 200 aircraft ordered from A.W.Hawksley, Brockworth, to contract B.53250/39, to meet USSR requirement. Cancelled. See note 4.
 NG506 - NG548    Mk.VI      35  
 NG561 - NG603          35  
 NG617 - NG656          35  
 NG669 - NG710          35  
 NG723 - NG754          35  
 
Total Production
602
(1)
1669
 

Aircraft Delivered to the Soviet Union
Serial
Notes
 14 aircraft intended for Soviet Union. 11 delivered to the Soviet Union between March and April 1943, 3 crashed during delivery.
 P1455  Lost 11 March 1943 during the delivery flight to the Soviet Union.
 P1477  To GVF (Grazdanskovo Vozdushnogo Flota - civil air fleet) as CCCP-L406, May 1943.
 P1503  Crashed in Scotland before the delivery flight to the Soviet Union.
 P1562  To GVF as CCCP-L408, May 1943.
 P1567  Left Scotland for Moscow-Vnukovo 03 March 1943 as the first to be delivered. To GVF as CCCP-L400, May 1943.
 P1590  To GVF as CCCP-L401, May 1943.
 P1595  Scheduled to GVF as CCCP-L409, but ntu due to accident.
 P1636  To GVF as CCCP-L402, May 1943.
 P1637  To GVF as CCCP-L407, May 1943.
 P1638  To GVF as CCCP-L410, May 1943.
 P1640  To GVF as CCCP-L403, May 1943.
 P1642  To GVF as CCCP-L404, May 1943.
 P1645  Lost 27 April 1943 during the delivery flight to the Soviet Union.
 P1647  To GVF as CCCP-L405, May 1943.




Production Summary

Page Top 

All Aircraft By Mark
Type Built New Conv. Canc'd Total
 Prototype 2     2
 Albemarle Mk.I 200     200
 Albemarle Mk.II 100     100
 Albemarle Mk.IV 1 (1)   2
 Albemarle Mk.V 49     49
 Albemarle Mk.VI 250   1669 1919
  602 (1) 1669  


Notes
  1. The Mark numbers allocated are clearly defined in the RAF contract delivery cards. However, role designations are not, but are given in most publications on the Albemarle, and those from Tapper [1], Bowyer [2] and Williams [3] have been reviewed here.
    In addition to role designations, both Tapper and Bowyer allude to series suffices. Definition of Mark/Role/Series designations can be found in the Produced Variants list, but note the following:
    • This author understands that the use of "series ii" with respect to Mk.I aircraft relates to the addition of glider towing gear. As such, the use of a series ii suffix with G.T. (Glider Tug) role designation is superfluous.
    • The use of a "Mk.IIa" and "series iii" by Bowyer is both unique to him and undefined. As such, they have been omitted from the Produced Variants list.
    Albermarle Role and Series Designations
    Tapper
     
    Bowyer
     
    Williams
    Serial Range
    Type
    Batch Qty
     
    Serial Range
    Type
    Batch Qty
     
    Serial Range
    Type
    Batch Qty
       
     P1360 - P1361  Prototype  2    P1360 - P1361  Prototype  2    P1360 - P1361  Prototype  2
     P1362 - P1401  Mk.I  40    P1362 - P1369  Mk.I srs.i  8    P1362 - P1393  Mk.I  32
             P1370 - P1371  S.T.Mk.I srs.i  2        
             P1372 - P1373  Mk.I srs.i  2        
             P1374  S.T.Mk.I srs.i  1        
             P1375 - P1376  Mk.I srs.i  2        
             P1377  S.T.Mk.I srs.i  1        
             P1378  Mk.I srs.i  1        
             P1379  S.T.Mk.I srs.i  1        
             P1380 - P1384  Mk.I srs.i  5        
             P1385  S.T.Mk.I srs.i  1        
             P1386 - P1394  Mk.I srs.i  9    P1394 - P1409  G.T.Mk.I  16
             P1395  S.T.Mk.I srs.i  1        
             P1396  Mk.I srs.i  1        
             P1397  S.T.Mk.I srs.i  1        
             P1398 - P1401  Mk.I srs.i  4        
     P1402 - P1409  G.T.Mk.I  8    P1402  G.T.Mk.I srs.ii  1        
             P1403  S.T.Mk.I srs.ii  1        
             P1404 - P1409  G.T.Mk.I srs.ii  6        
     P1430 - P1478  G.T.Mk.I  49    P1430 - P1432  G.T.Mk.I srs.ii  3    P1430 - P1478  G.T.Mk.I  49
             P1433  S.T.Mk.I srs.ii  1        
             P1434 - P1446  G.T.Mk.I srs.ii  13        
             P1447 - P1448  S.T.Mk.I srs.ii  2        
             P1449 - P1451  G.T.Mk.I srs.ii  3        
             P1452  S.T.Mk.I srs.ii  1        
             P1453  G.T.Mk.I srs.ii  1        
             P1454 - P1457  S.T.Mk.I srs.ii  4        
             P1458 - P1471  G.T.Mk.I srs.ii  14        
             P1472 - P1473  S.T.Mk.I srs.ii  2        
             P1474  G.T.Mk.I srs.ii  1        
             P1475  S.T.Mk.I srs.ii  1        
             P1476 - P1478  G.T.Mk.I srs.ii  3        
     P1479  S.T.Mk.I srs.i  1    P1479  S.T.Mk.I srs.ii  1    P1479  S.T.Mk.I  1
     P1500 - P1510  S.T.Mk.I srs.i  11    P1500  S.T.Mk.I srs.ii  1    P1500 - P1510  S.T.Mk.I  11
             P1501  G.T.Mk.I srs.ii  1        
             P1502 - P1510  S.T.Mk.I srs.iii  9        
     P1511 - P1529  G.T.Mk.I  19    P1511 - P1518  G.T.Mk.I srs.ii  8    P1511 - P1529  G.T.Mk.I  19
             P1519 - P1520  S.T.Mk.I srs.iii  2        
             P1521 - P1529  G.T.Mk.I srs.ii  9        
     P1550 - P1553  G.T.Mk.I  4    P1550 - P1553  G.T.Mk.I srs.ii  4    P1550 - P1553  G.T.Mk.I  4
     P1554 - P1569  S.T.Mk.I srs.ii  16    P1554 - P1556  S.T.Mk.I srs.iii  3    P1554 - P1569  S.T.Mk.I  16
             P1557  G.T.Mk.I srs.ii  1        
             P1558 - P1569  S.T.Mk.I srs.iii  12        
     P1590 - P1609  S.T.Mk.I srs.ii  20    P1590 - P1609  G.T.Mk.I srs.ii  20    P1590 - P1609  S.T.Mk.I  20
     P1630 - P1659  S.T.Mk.I srs.ii  30    P1630 - P1659  S.T.Mk.I srs.iii  30    P1630 - P1659  S.T.Mk.I  30
     V1598 - V1599  Mk.I  2    V1598 - V1599  G.T.Mk.I srs.iii  2    V1598 - V1599  G.T.Mk.I  2
     V1600  G.T.Mk.II  1    V1600 - V1605  G.T.Mk.II  6    V1600 - V1647  G.T./S.T.Mk.II  48
     V1601 - V1647  S.T.Mk.II  47    V1606 - V1647  G.T.Mk.IIa  42        
     V1694 - V1723  S.T.Mk.II  30    V1694 - V1723  G.T.Mk.IIa  30    V1694 - V1723  G.T./S.T.Mk.II  30
     V1738 - V1759  S.T.Mk.II  22    V1738 - V1759  G.T.Mk.IIa  22    V1738 - V1759  G.T./S.T.Mk.II  22
     V1760  Mk.IV  1    V1760  Mk.IV  1    V1760  Mk.IV  1
     V1761 - V1787  S.T.Mk.V  27    V1761 - V1787  S.T.Mk.V  27    V1761 - V1787  S.T.Mk.V  27
     V1809 - V1828  S.T.Mk.V  20    V1809 - V1828  S.T.Mk.V  20    V1809 - V1828  S.T.Mk.V  20
     V1841 - V1842  S.T.Mk.V  2    V1841 - V1842  S.T.Mk.V  2    V1841 - V1842  S.T.Mk.V  2
     V1843 - V1885  S.T.Mk.VI  43    V1843 - V1885  G.T./S.T.Mk.VI  43    V1843 - V1885  S.T.Mk.VI  43
     V1917 - V1941  S.T.Mk.VI  25    V1917 - V1941  G.T./S.T.Mk.VI  25    V1917 - V1941  S.T.Mk.VI  25
     V1962 - V2011  S.T.Mk.VI  50    V1962 - V2011  G.T./S.T.Mk.VI  50    V1962 - V2011  S.T.Mk.VI  50
     V2025 - V2039  S.T.Mk.VI  15    V2025 - V2039  G.T./S.T.Mk.VI  15    V2025 - V2039  S.T.Mk.VI  15
     V2040 - V2054  G.T.Mk.VI srs.i  15    V2040 - V2054  G.T./S.T.Mk.VI  15    V2040 - V2054  G.T.Mk.VI  15
     V2067 - V2068  G.T.Mk.VI srs.i  2    V2067 - V2068  G.T.Mk.VI srs.ii  2    V2067 - V2068  G.T.Mk.VI  2
     LV482 - LV501  G.T.Mk.VI srs.ii  20    LV482 - LV501  G.T.Mk.VI srs.ii  20    LV482 - LV501  G.T.Mk.VI  20
     LV532 - LV577  G.T.Mk.VI srs.ii  46    LV532 - LV577  G.T.Mk.VI srs.ii  46    LV532 - LV577  G.T.Mk.VI  46
     LV590 - LV623  G.T.Mk.VI srs.ii  34    LV590 - LV623  G.T.Mk.VI srs.ii  34    LV590 - LV623  G.T.Mk.VI  34

    Summary of how these three authors use role Mark/Role/Series designations is in the following tables:

    Albermarle Role and Series Summary
    Tapper
     
    Bowyer
    Type
    Batch Qty
     
    Type
    Batch Qty
     
     Prototype
     2
       Prototype
     2
     Mk.I
     42
       Mk.I srs.i
     32
     G.T.Mk.I
     80
       G.T.Mk.I srs.ii
     88
           G.T.Mk.I srs.iii
     2
     S.T.Mk.I srs.i
     12
       S.T.Mk.I srs.i
     8
     S.T.Mk.I srs.ii
     66
       S.T.Mk.I srs.ii
     14
     
     
       S.T.Mk.I srs.iii
     56
     G.T.Mk.II
     1
       G.T.Mk.II
     6
     S.T.Mk.II
     99
       G.T.Mk.IIa
     94
     Mk.IV
     1
       Mk.IV
     1
     S.T.Mk.V
     49
       S.T.Mk.V
     49
     S.T.Mk.VI
     133
       G.T./S.T.Mk.VI
     148
     G.T.Mk.VI srs.i
     17
       
     
     G.T.Mk.VI srs.ii  100    G.T.Mk.VI srs.ii
     102


    Albermarle Role Summary
     
    Tapper
    Bowyer
    Williams
    Type
    Batch Qty
    Batch Qty
    Batch Qty
     Prototype
     2
     2
     2
     Mk.I
     42
     32
     32
     G.T.Mk.I
     80
     90
     90
     S.T.Mk.I
     78
     78
     78
     G.T.Mk.II
     1
     100
     
     S.T.Mk.II
     99
     
     
     G.T./S.T.Mk.II
     
     
     100
     Mk.IV
     1
     1
     1
     S.T.Mk.V
     49
     49
     49
     S.T.Mk.VI
     133
     
     133
     G.T./S.T.Mk.VI
     
     148
     
     G.T.Mk.VI
     117
     102
     117

    Finally, the usage of the four gun dorsal turret is unclear. It is indicated that it was removed on the S.T.Mk.I, but most photographs of that Mark show the turret fitted. Does that mean that it was fitted to G.T.Mk.I aircraft? Also, the Mk.V is indicated as a Mk.II with fuel jettison, but any MkV photos I have seen clearly show a turret fitted.

  2. The Hawker Siddeley Group formed a new company at Brockworth, A.W. Hawksley Ltd, to be responsible for the assembly of the Albemarle.The aircraft were assembled using sub assemblies that came from more than a thousand subcontractors, including Harris Lebus Ltd., the Rover Car Co. and MG Motors.

  3. Per Albemarle contract delivery card, it was initially intended that the aircraft "be produced alternatively for bomber and G.R. use and will be modified with de-icing or barrage balloon cutter gear.
         1st 70 a/c neither wing de-icing nor barrage cutters.
         ii) Approximately next 130 wing de-icing only.
         iii) Approx: the 200th a/c onwards, produced in batches of 50 alternating between
              a) those fitted de-icing.
              b) those fitted barrage balloon cutter."
    It is not known how much the production aircraft followed this memo.

  4. The first part of Contract B.53250/39 to A.W. Hawksley, per Requisition No. A.A.1/E.11/39, was for 2 Mk.I and 100 Mk.II in batches between V1598 and V1759 as indicated.
    The second part, per Requisition No. A.A.1/E.11/42, was initially for 550 Mk.IV, beginning with V1696 - V1723 and continuing through V2068, followed by LV482 - LV623 and NG506 - NG754, all in the indicated batches. This was then reduced to 300 Mk.IV aircraft V1760 - V2068 and LV482 - LV623 in the indicated batches, until finally only one Mk.IV was ordered, along with 49 Mk.V, the remaining 250 becoming Mk.VI.

Production References
  1. Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft Since 1913, Oliver Tapper (Putnam., 1973)
  2. Aircraft For The Royal Air Force, M.J.F. Bowyer (Faber and Faber Ltd., 1980)
  3. The Unloved Albemarle, Ray Williams, Air Enthusiast Quarterly #39 (May-Aug 1989)
  4. Royal Air Force Aircraft P1000 - R9999, James J. Halley (Air Britain (Historians), 1996)
  5. Royal Air Force Aircraft W1000 - Z9999, James J. Halley (Air Britain (Historians), 1998)
  6. Western-built aircraft in Soviet & Eastern Block service, available from:  http://www.oldwings.nl/st/foreigners.pdf

top



Page Revision History Page Top

Revised at Version 1.4.0
  • Page completely rewritten

V1.4.4 Created by Roger Moss. Last updated August 2020