
The Bristol Type 164 Brigand followed on from the Bristol 156 Beaufighter and was similarly aimed at the torpedo-carrying fighter and strike aircraft role. Primarily designed by Bristol Aeroplane Companyfor an ant-shipping / ground attack aircraft it was also utilised as a dive-bomber. Designed by Leslie J Frise against specification H.7/42, it was conceived as a faster edition of the Bristol Beaufighter utilising the wings, tail and undercarriage designs from the Bristol 163 Buckingham.
The Bristol 164 Brigand was a three-crew aircraft and was configured to carry a torpedo and rocket projectiles. Ultimately, most were deployed (B.1) in a light bomber / strike role with bombs, four forward-firing cannons and rocket projectiles.
The Bristol 164 Brigand prototype (MX988) was first flown on 4th December 1944.
Four prototypes and 143 production aircraft were built, of which 118 were completed as Bristol 164 Brigand TF.Mk.1 or Bristol 164 Brigand B.Mk.1 with a further 16 as Bristol 164 Brigand Met.Mk.3 (for meteorological flights). The remainder were Bristol 164 Brigand T.Mk.4 and Bristol Brigand 164 T.Mk.5 Operational Trainers. Many early Mark 1 aircraft were also subsequently converted to these latter roles.
The type served operationally in the Malaya campaign, where the aircraft was found to be both popular and robust until it was eventually superseded by the De Havilland DH103 Hornet and the English Electric Canberra in February 1953.
Specification (B.Mk.1)
Feature | Specification |
---|---|
Powerplant (2) | Two 2,470 hp Centaurus 57 with Methanol injection |
Span | 72 ft 4 in |
Maximum Weight | 39,000 lb |
Capacity and armament | Three crew. Four 20 mm Hispano cannon, 2,000 lb bomb load, or 500 lb bombs plus 8 60 lb rocket projectiles |
Maximum Speed | 358 mph |
Endurance / Range | 2,000 miles (2,800 miles with drop tanks) |
Variants
Type | Description |
---|---|
Type 164 Brigand
4 built
|
Prototype with Bristol Centarus VII engines |
Brigand TF.1
11 built
|
Production variant Torpedo Bomber |
Brigand B.1
106 built, 11 conv
|
Bomber variant |
Brigand MET.3
16 built
|
Unarmed reconnaissance variant |
Brigand T.4
9 built
|
Trainer variant with airborne interception radar
|
Brigand T.5
9 conversions
|
Improved Trainer variant |
Survivors
Type | Location |
---|---|
0 | No complete Brigand aircraft survive. |