Re: Dark Earth Timeline Discussion
Posted: Fri Sep 18, 2026 5:41 pm
I'd like them replace Canberra since it was a near perfect machine.
It has been replaced, firstly by the TSR-2 in the heavy role and then by the Vickers Thunderbolt in the light.
To expand:
1.) The DE Canberra was a "light medium" which entered service in the final years of the Second World War. It was a 1st generation jet bomber. As of the late 1970s, jet fighters and bombers are in their 4th generation.
2.) Performance: The historical Canberra had a combat range of 810 miles, a top speed of 580mph at altitude or 518mph at sea level, a ceiling of 48,000ft and an 8000lb maximum bombload, with a 65ft length, 64ft wingspan, 960 square feet wing area and a MTOW of 55000lb. The DE Canberra is 78ft long, has a wingspan of 75ft, a wing area of 1250 square feet and a MTOW of 75000lb, with a combat range of 1375 miles, a top speed of 640mph at 42000ft, a ceiling of 55000ft and 12000lb maximum bombload.
3.) British Production was 90 in 1943, 192 in 1944, 245 in 1945, 200 in 1946, 235 in 1947, 288 in 1948, 306 in 1949, 329 in 1950, 462 in 1951, 452 in 1952, 394 in 1953, 329 in 1954, 276 in 1955, 284 in 1956, 310 in 1957, 278 in 1958, 236 in 1959 and 219 in 1960 for 5125 of all variants. Further production occurred in Canada (629), Australia (426), South Africa (157) and under license in the USA by Martin Aircraft as the B-56.
4.) The development of a replacement began in 1952. Peak RAF deployment came in 1958 with 640 in Bomber Command's Light Bomber Force, 320 in MEAF, 240 in the FEAF, 160 in RAF Mediterranean, 160 in RAF India, 460 ground attack bombers in the Tactical Air Forces and RAF Germany, just over 200 photo recce planes, 120 EW types, and 200 assorted trainers for 2536 on paper strength.
5.) Exports: India 684; Arab Union states 320; Austria-Hungary, Germany, France and Italy 250; Belgium, the Netherlands Sweden, Egypt, Japan, Argentina and Brazil 120; Persia, Mexico, Portugal, Bulgaria and Chile 100; Yugoslavia, Nigeria and Rhodesia 80; Kenya and Peru 48; Libya, Ethiopia, the Ashante Confederation, Tanganyika, Uganda and Cameroon 24
6.) By 1960, the Canberra was getting long in the tooth, behind the cutting edge of military aviation and obsolescent. By 1970, she was obsolete in her original form as a bomber or strike aircraft.