https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handley_Page_Type_O
The Handley Page Type O was an early biplane bomber used by Britain during the
First World War. At the time, it was the largest aircraft that had been built in
the UK and one of the largest in the world. It was built in two major versions,
the Handley Page O/100 (H.P.11) and Handley Page O/400 (H.P.12).
The impression made by the Type O was such that for many years after the war,
any large aircraft came to be called a "Handley Page" in Britain and entered the
dictionary as such.
The design of the series of aircraft began shortly after the outbreak of the
First World War as a result of meetings between the Royal Navy's Director of the
Air Department, Captain Murray Sueter and Frederick Handley Page. Sueter
requested "a bloody paralyser of an aircraft" for long-range bombing. The phrase
had originated from Commander Charles Rumney Samson who had returned from the
front.
Role
Bomber
Manufacturer
Handley Page Aircraft Company
First flight
17 December 1915
Introduction
1916
Retired
1922
Status
Retired
Primary users
Royal Air Force
Royal Naval Air Service
Number built
600
The first O/100s deployed to France were received by 7A Squadron of the RNAS 5th
Wing at Dunkirk in late 1916. Their first combat came on the night of 16 March
At first the O/100s were used for daylight attacks, damaging a German destroyer
on 23 April 1917, but the loss of an aircraft to fighter attack two days later
resulted in a switch to exclusively night attacks, usually by one aircraft
against German-occupied Channel ports, railway targets and airfields. O/100s
were also used for anti-U boat patrols off the mouth of the River Tees in
September 1917.
After the war, O/400s remained in squadron service until replaced by the Vickers
Vimy toward the end of 1919. War-surplus aircraft were converted for civilian
use in the UK and nine were used by Handley Page's pioneering airline, Handley
Page Transport. Eight O/400s were fitted with passenger accommodation and
operated by the 86th (Communication) Wing, formed at Hendon to provide quick
transport between London and Paris for officials engaged in the negotiation of
the Treaty of Versailles. Two were finished in silver dope, named Great Britain
and Silver Star and fitted as VIP transports, while the others, seating eight,
retained their dark green finish.
Specifications (O/400)
General characteristics
Crew: four or five
Wingspan: 100 ft (30.48 m)
Height: 22 ft (6.71 m)
Empty weight: 8,502 lb (3,856 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 13,360 lb (6,060 kg)
Performance
Maximum speed: 97.5 mph (84.7 kn, 157 km/h)
Range: 608 nmi (700 mi, 1,120 km)
Service ceiling: 8,500 ft (2,600 m)
Rate of climb: 23 min to 5,000 ft
Endurance: 8 hours
Armament
position and 1 at ventral hatch)
Bombs: Up to 2,000 lb (907 kg) of *bombs
*
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