Lockheed PV-1 Ventura & PV-2 Harpoon

Lockheed PV-1 Ventura & PV-2 Harpoon

J'ai regroupé les deux modèles car très proches( aussi du L-18 de base )

Je place le lien wikipedia en français, si quelqu'un veut remplir...



Le Lockheed Ventura était un [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] et [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] de la [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] utilisé par les [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] et le [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

Il fut développé par [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].


Le Ventura dérivé militaire du [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] fut commandé à 675 exemplaires par la [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] en février [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

387 furent pris en compte en 1942 avant l'arrêt des livraisons à la [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], le reste de la
commande étant réceptionnée par l'[Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] qui les utilisa principalement pour l'entraînement.

387 PV-1 furent utilisés par la RAF sur le théâtre méditerranéen et par le [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].
Peu apprécié par ses équipages à cause de ses mauvaises performances à basse altitude il fut relégué à des raids
diurnes lors d'opérations de diversion (opérations [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]).


[Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]

Le texte plus garni sur wikipedia en anglais :


The Lockheed Ventura was a [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] and patrol aircraft of [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], used by [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] and British
Commonwealth forces in several guises.
It was developed from the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] transport, as a replacement for the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] bombers then in service with the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].
The RAF ordered 675 Venturas in February 1940. They were delivered from mid-1942 onwards.


Development

Lockheed Ventura/B-34 Lexington


The Ventura was very similar to its predecessor, the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

The primary difference was not in layout; rather, the Ventura was larger and heavier than the Hudson.

Venturas were initially used for daylight raids on occupied Europe.

They proved unsuited to this task, because (like many other bombers used by the RAF), they were too vulnerable without long-range fighter escorts.
They were replaced in this role by the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].
The Venturas were gradually transferred to patrol duties with [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

The RAF placed a further order for 487 Ventura Mark IIs, but many of these were diverted to [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] service.

The U.S. Army Air Forces placed its own order for 200 Ventura Mark IIA, which were put into service as the B-34 Lexington.
Later redesignated RB-34.

Lockheed B-37


In 1941 August, large orders for Venturas were placed with [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] money.

Among the orders were for 550 armed reconnaissance versions of the Ventura.

This plane was originally planned to be built under the designation O-56.

The main differences between the Ventura and the O-56 were in the engines: rather than the 2,000 hp (1,491 kW) [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] radials of the Ventura, the O-56 used 1,700 hp (1,270 kW) [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]-13 radials.

Before completion of the first O-56, the U.S. Army Air Forces dropped the O- category used to designate 'observation' (reconnaissance) planes.
The O-56 was redesignated the RB-34B (RB- for 'reconnaissance bomber').
Before the first of these flew, the design was redesignated again as the B-37, because it used different engines.

RB was not used for Reconnaissance until after 1947.
F was used for photo rec.
R was used for Rotorcraft, which was changed to H for Helicopter after 1947.
The RB designation WAS eventually given to these aircraft to represent a Redesignation - in this case to a training roll.

While 550 were ordered by the Army Air Forces, acquisition by the USAAF stopped after only 18 were accepted, when the Army Air Forces agreed to turn over exclusive use of the Ventura to the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

PV-1 Ventura


The PV-1 Ventura, built by the Vega Aircraft Company division of Lockheed (hence the 'V' Navy manufacturer's letter that later replaced the 'O' for Lockheed), was a version of the Ventura built for the U.S. Navy
(see [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] below).

The main differences between the PV-1 and the B-34 were the inclusion of special equipment in the PV-1, adapting it to its patrol-bombing role.
The maximum fuel capacity of the PV-1 was increased from 1,345 gal (5,081 l) to 1,607 gal (6,082 l), to increase its range; the forward defensive armament was also reduced for this reason.

The most important addition was of an ASD-1 search radar.

Early production PV-1s still carried a bombardier's station behind the nose radome, with four side windows and a flat bomb-aiming panel underneath the nose.

Late production PV-1s dispensed with this bombardier position and replaced it with a pack with three 0.50 in
(12.7 mm) machine guns underneath the nose.
These aircraft could also carry eight 5 in (127 mm)[Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] rockets on launchers underneath the wings.

The PV-1 began to be delivered in 1942 December, and entered service in 1943 February.

The first squadron in combat was VP-135, deployed in the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] in 1943 April.

They were operated by three other squadrons in this theatre.

From the Aleutians, they flew strikes against bases in [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] and [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] islands in the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

Often, PV-1s would lead B-24 bomber formations, since they were equipped with radar.

In late 1943, some PV-1s were deployed to the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] as night-fighters.

PV-2 Harpoon


The PV-2 Harpoon was a major redesign of the Ventura with the wing area increased from 551 ft² (51.2 m²) to 686 ft² (63.7 m²) giving an increased load-carrying capability.

The motivation for redesign was weaknesses in the PV-1, since it had shown to have poor-quality takeoffs when
carrying a full load of fuel.
On the PV-2, the armament became standardised at five forward-firing machine guns.

Many early PV-1s had a bombardier's position, which was deleted in the PV-2.
Some other significant developments included the increase of the bombload by 30% to 4,000 lb (1,800 kg), and the
ability to carry eight 5 in (127 mm) HVAR rockets under the wings.

While the PV-2 was expected to have increased range and better takeoff, the anticipated speed statistics were projected lower than those of the PV-1, due to the use of the same engines but an increase in weight.

The Navy ordered 500 examples, designating them with the popular name Harpoon.

Early tests indicated a tendency for the wings to wrinkle dangerously.

As this problem could not be solved by a 6 ft (1.8 m) reduction in wingspan (making the wing uniformly flexible), a
complete redesign of the wing was necessitated.

This hurdle delayed entry of the PV-2 into service.
The PV-2s already delivered were used for training purposes under the designation PV-2C.

By the end of 1944, only 69 PV-2s had been delivered.
They finally resumed when the redesign was complete.
The first aircraft shipped were the PV-2D, which had eight forward-firing machine guns and was used in ground attacks.

When [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] ended, all of the order was cancelled.

With the wing problems fixed, the PV-2 proved reliable, and eventually popular.

It was first used in the Aleutians by VP-139, one of the squadrons that originally used the PV-1.

It was used by a number of countries after the war’s end, but the United States ceased ordering new PV-2s, and they
were all soon retired from service.

Civil conversions


Ex-military PV-1 Venturas from Canada and South Africa were converted by Howard Aero in [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] in the 1950s and 60s as high-speed executive transports.

The earliest conversions, called Super Venturas, incorporated a 48 in (122 cm) fuselage stretch, extra fuel tankage, large picture windows, luxury interiors, and weapons bays transformed into baggage compartments.

The landing gear was swapped for the heavier-duty units from the PV-2.

Later versions, built in the 1960s, were called Howard 350s. At least fifteen PV-2s were further modified, including cabin pressurisation under the designation [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

A final PV-1 modification by Howard was the Eldorado 700, with longer wings, a pointed nose, and streamlined engine cowlings.

Operational History


Royal Air Force


387 PV-1s were used by the RAF as the Ventura G.R.V.
They were used in the Mediterranean and by [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].
Some RAF aircraft were modified into Ventura C.V transport aircraft.

The Ventura Mark I was first delivered to the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] in September 1941, and flew its first combat mission on 3 November 1942 against a factory in [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

On 6 December 1942, 47 Venturas engaged in a daylight, low-altitude attack against [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], also in the Netherlands.
This was the primary event that demonstrated the Ventura's weakness in such raids: of the 47, nine of the bombers were downed.
Following this tragedy, tactics were switched to medium-altitude raids.

The Ventura fared little better in this strategy. During one attack on a power station in [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] on 3 May 1943, [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]'s [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] was told the target was of such importance that the attack was to be continued
regardless of opposition.

All ten Venturas to cross the coast were lost to German fighters. Squadron Leader [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], (later the last of [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]), won the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] for his leadership in this raid.

It was never a very popular plane among RAF crews, and despite the fact that it was 50 mph (80 km/h) faster and
carried more than twice as many bombs as its predecessor, the Hudson, it proved ill-suited to its task as a bomber.

By the summer of 1943, the Ventura had been phased out of service in favour of the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

Its last mission was flown by [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] on 9 September 1943.

After leaving bombardment service, a number were modified to be used by Coastal Command; they served as the Ventura G.R.I.

A small number of Venturas were also used in other countries, including [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] and [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

Royal Australian Air Force


55 PV-1s were used by the RAAF in the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], serving primarily in [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

Initially, air crews and ground staff disliked the Ventura, preferring the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

But in many cases, the PV-1 had developed a grudging respect from its operators.

Royal Canadian Air Force


Venturas were in use by the RCAF from 16 June 1942 to 18 April 1947 in the home defence coastal patrol role in
both Eastern and Western Air Command.

They were flown by 8, 113, 115, 145, and 149 Squadrons, as well as by 1 Central Flying School, Trenton, Ontario, and at[Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] (RAF No. 34 Operational Training Unit).

They were also flown at RCAF Station Yarmouth in World War II.

A total of 21 Mk. I, 108 Mk. II, and 157 G.R. Mk. V were in service during this period for a grand total of 286 aircraft.

South African Air Force


The [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] also received some 135 PV-1s, which were used to protect shipping around the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], and to bomb [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] shipping in the Mediterranean.

They were used by the South African Air Force up to 1960.

Royal New Zealand Air Force


From August 1942 [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], (operating in Europe as part of the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]), was equipped with the type, although losses (including on 3 May 1943 the loss of all 11 aircraft attacking Amsterdam), lead to their replacement with the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] in June.

The [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] in the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] received 139 Venturas and some Harpoons from June 1943 to replace [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] in the maritime patrol bomber and medium bomber roles.

Initially Venturas were unpopular with the RNZAF, due to rumoured poor performance on one engine, the fate of [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] V.C.'s 487 Squadron (above) as well as the failure of the U.S. to provide [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] with promised [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

Despite that the RNZAF Venturas came to be amongst the most widely used of any nations, seeing substantial action until VJ day over South West Pacific islands.

The first 19 RB-34s that arrived by sea from the U.S. in June had much equipment either missing or damaged.

Six airworthy machines were hurriedly produced by cannibalisation and sent into action with [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] in
[Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].
On 26 June, the first PV-1s were flown to [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] and [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] was able to convert to 18 of these by 1 August, then replacing the mixed 3 Squadron in action at [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] in late October.

By this time [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] at[Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] and [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] were also using the type.

The following year [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] and [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] also received Venturas.
Some squadrons were retained on garrison duty while others followed the allied advance to [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] and [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]
and to [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

RNZAF Venturas were tasked with routine patrols, anti-shipping strikes, minelaying, bombing and strafing missions, [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] patrols, photographic reconnaissance and, in an apparently bizarre case of taking Lockheed
marketing's slogan of The Fighter-Bomber too literally, even (briefly) fighter sweeps.

RNZAF machines did often clash with Japanese fighters, notably during an air-sea rescue patrol on Christmas Eve of 1943.
NZ4509 was attacked by nine Japanese single-engined fighters over St. George's Channel. It shot down three, later confirmed, and claimed two others as probables, although being heavily damaged in the action.

The pilot, Flying Officer D. Ayson and navigator Warrant Officer W. Williams, were awarded the DFC, the dorsal turret
gunner Flight Sergeant G. Hannah was awarded the DFM.

By late 1944, the Ventura began to be phased out of frontline action, as the RNZAF backed away from the Patrol bomber concept, orders for PV 2 Harpoons being cancelled after a handful or aircraft had been delivered.

At [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], only 30 PV-1 s remained on the front line with 3 Squadron at Jacquinot Bay.

Planned re-equipment with [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] did not take place until after the cessation of hostilities.

The last Ventura unit was 2 Squadron, which continued to operate PV-1s and -2s on meteorological duty until 1948.

A restored RNZAF RB-34 (NZ4600) is owned by the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] in [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

United States Army Air Forces

Some 264 Ventura Mark IIs ordered by the RAF were seized by the U.S. Army Air Force.

Though some were used as anti-submarine patrol bombers under the designation B-34 Lexington, most were used for training with various stateside units.

27 of these were used by the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] for anti-submarine patrols as well; these were designated [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] and [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

United States Navy

During the early months of 1942, the primary responsibility for anti-submarine warfare in the United States was shouldered by the Army Air Force.

This irked the Navy, as it considered this region of battle its burden.
To carry out such a task, the Navy was
pursuing a long-range, land-based patrol and reconnaissance aircraft with a substantial bombload.
This goal was always resisted by the Army Air Force, which carefully protected its monopoly on land-based bombing.
This forced the navy to use long-range floatplanes for these roles.
The Navy was unable to upgrade to better planes until the Army Air Force needed the Navy plant in Renton,
Washington to manufacture its [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

In exchange for use of the Renton plant, the Army Air Force would discontinue its objections to Naval land-based
bombers, and provide planes to the Navy. One of the clauses of this agreement stated that production of the B-34 and B-37 by Lockheed would cease, and instead these resources would be directed at building a navalised version, the PV-1 Ventura.

The PV-1 began to be delivered in December 1942, and entered service in February 1943.

The first squadron in combat was VP-135, deployed in the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] in April 1943.
They were operated by three other squadrons in this theatre.
From the Aleutians, they flew strikes against [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], a [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] island. Often, PV-1s would lead B-24 bomber
formations, since they were equipped with radar.
In late 1943, some PV-1s were deployed to the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

After the war the US Navy deemed many PV-1's as obsolete and the aircraft were sent to [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], OK to be demilitarized and reduced to scrap.