Lancasters began their operational careers under rather mixed results. Daylight raids without escort fighters in tow guaranteed ruin for bomber crews as enemy fighter patrols and interceptors coupled with ground-based FlaK fire could cut through Lancaster formations with relative impunity. On one early such raid, Lancasters managed to find their mark on German targets in Augsburg but lost seven of its twelve aircraft in the process. This forced Bomber Command to take the fight to the night skies to which Lancaster crews showcased their mettle. Daylight raids were now protected by escorting fighter groups which allowed for higher success rates in terms of returning crews.
Lancasters were credited with the sinking of the German KMS Tirpitz battleship when, on November 12th, 1944, two Lancaster groups engaged the vessel at Tromso Fjord in Norway with special 12,000lb "Tallboy" bombs designed specifically for armored targets. The battleship was appropriately sunk and a total loss for the shrinking German Navy. In similar-minded sorties, the "Grand Slam" mega-bomb came into play and targeted fortified underground positions, the 22,000lb creation sufficient in cutting through and disrupting the integrity of the concrete structures. The "Upkeep" series was a 9,250lb design intended for the destruction of dams.
Lancaster bombers formed some 59 Bomber Command squadrons and were credited with 156,000 bombing sorties in the whole course of the war, dropping some 681,600 tons (short) of ordnance.
The Lancaster served beyond the British and their RAF, seeing operational service (some during World War 2 and others in the post-war years) with Argentina, Australia, Canada, Egypt, France, Poland, the Soviet Union (via Lend-Lease) and Sweden. Production netted 7,377 units by February 2nd, 1946 when the last airframe was handed over to the RAF from Armstrong Whitworth. The final operational Lancaster was retired from Canadian service in 1963, some two decades since its introduction. Canada produced Lancasters under the B.Mk X (Lancaster B.Mk III) and B.Mk XV (Lincoln B.Mk I) designations.
The Lancaster series was produced in a few notable variants though the original Merlin XX-equipped B.Mk I models (later with Merlin 22 and 24 engines) survived through to the end of the war in 1945. The PR.Mk 1 was a photographic reconnaissance platform sans its guns and turrets and bomb-carrying capability. The B. Mk I (FE) was a tropicalized form intended for Far East actions against the Japanese. The B.Mk II incorporated the Bristol Hercules engines with 300 examples completed by Armstrong Whitworth. B.Mk III was used to signify B.MK I models completed with American Packard engines. The ASR.Mk III was a B.Mk III bomber model appropriately modified with lifeboat and detection antenna for the Air-Sea Rescue (ASR) role. The GR.Mk 3 was a maritime reconnaissance platform version of the B.Mk III series. The B.IV was given a lengthened fuselage with widened wings ad Boulton Paul powered turret with 2 x 12.7mm Browning heavy machine guns with power served through concurrent Merlin 85/68 engines. Such a difference was this mark that it became the Lincoln B.Mk I and this was followed by the B.Mk V becoming the Lincoln B.Mk II with widened wings and an even longer fuselage with Merlin 85 engines. Final production Lancasters became the B.Mk VII with revised armament.
Performance specifications for the definitive B.Mk I model included a top speed of 282 miles per hour, cruise speed of 200 miles per hour, range of 2,530 miles, service ceiling of 21,400 feet and a rate-of-climb nearing 720 feet per minute.
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