[WWII] Blackburn B-6 Shark

[Phaelen Bleux]

Blackburn B-6 Shark
Evolved from the B-3 torpedo-bomber prototype, the B-6 was designed as a private venture to meet an Air Ministry specification for a torpedo-spotter-reconnaissance aircraft for the Fleet Air Arm. In 1933, the design began naval aviation tests, and the following year was accepted after deck landing trials on the HMS Courageous. In 1935 the B-6 was fitted with floats and successfully passed sea trials. Although it was only in production for three years, 238 Sharks were delivered by Blackburn, with the Mk II being the most numerous (126 built).
The B-6 Shark entered service in 1935, but was replaced only 2 years later by the Fairey Swordfish. The Royal Canadian Air Force operated 7 Mk IIs and 2 Mk IIIs; these planes remained in service until 1944.
The plane uses 28 gallons of aviation fuel per hour at routine usage. The historical endurance was 4.9 hours. A full load of fuel and ammo costs $37. Torpedo sold separately.

Blackburn B-6 Shark Mk II
Subassemblies: Medium Fighter chassis +3; Heavy Fighter wings with Biplane option +2; 2 fixed wheels +0.
Powertrain: 567-kW aerial HP gasoline engine with 567-kW prop and 135-gallon fuel tank [Body] (Fire 14).
Occ.: 3 XCS Body
Cargo: 7 Body

Armor
Body, Wings, Wheels: 2/3

Weaponry:
Aircraft LMG/7.7mm Vickers [Body:F] (500 rounds).
Aircraft LMG/7.7mm Vickers [Body:B] (500 rounds).
460mm Torpedo [Body:U] or 1,600 lbs. Bombs.

Equipment:
Body: Navigation instruments, medium radio transmitter and receiver (10-mile), casemate mount for rear MG.

Statistics:
Size: 35'x46'x12’ Payload: 2.04 tons Lwt.: 4.06 tons
Volume: 200 Maint.: 49 hours Cost: $16,604

HT: 8. HPs: 120 Body, 180 each Wing, 12 each Wheel.

aSpeed: 150 aAccel: 4 aDecel: 32 aMR: 8 aSR: 1
Stall Speed: 56 mph. Take Off Run: 348 yards. Landing Run: 314 yards.
gSpeed: 189 gAccel: 9 gDecel: 10 gMR: 0.5 gSR: 2
Ground Pressure: Extremely High. No Off-Road Speed.

Design Notes:
Historical wing area was 489 sf. Wing weight, cost and HPs were divided by 2 to lower design weight; loaded weight was decreased 44 lbs. more to the historical. Design aSpeed was 182 mph. Historical values were used for all calculations when available. A 135-gallon fuel tank was purchased for the design; this is an estimate based on design fuel consumption and historical endurance. MG loadouts are a guess.

Variants:
The Mk I featured a 500-kW engine. 16 built.
The Mk IIA was a floatplane version built for the Portuguese Navy. 6 built.
The Mk III enclosed all the crew stations with a canopy and featured a 600-kW engine. 95 built.