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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Armstrong
Whitworth Aircraft Since 1913, Oliver Tapper (Putnam., 1973)
Aircraft For The Royal Air Force,
M.J.F. Bowyer (Faber and Faber Ltd., 1980)
The Unloved Albemarle, Ray Williams, Air Enthusiast Quarterly
#39 (May-Aug 1989)
Royal Air Force Aircraft P1000 - R9999, James J. Halley (Air Britain (Historians),
1996)
Royal Air Force Aircraft W1000 - Z9999, James J. Halley (Air Britain (Historians), 1998)