
The 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 Brigand prototype (MX988) was first flown on 4th December 1944.
Four prototypes and 143 production aircraft were built of which 118 were completed as TF.Mk.1 or B.Mk.1 and 16 as Met.Mk.3 (for meteorological flights). The remainder were T.Mk.4 and T.Mk.5 Operational Trainers and 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in the Malaya campaign, where the aircraft was found to be both popular and robust until it was eventually superseded by the De Havilland Hornet and the English Electric Canberra in February 1953.
Specification (B.Mk.1)
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 164 Brigand
4 built
|
Prototype with Centarus VII engines |
Brigand TF.1
11 built
|
Production variant Torpedo Bomber |
Brigand B.1
106 built, 11 conversions
|
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
0 | No complete Brigand aircraft survive. |