Avro Lancaster - FN.20 Rear Gun Turret

Рет қаралды 59,180

Күн бұрын

Here, we shall look at the Avro Lancaster Bomber’s Frazer Nash FN.20 Rear Gun Turret. We shall cover its construction, the hydraulic system and duties carried out by the Air Gunner, known as ‘Tail End Charlie’. We shall refer to extracts from the wartime Air Ministry manuals, to give you a glimpse of what was involved in defending the Lancaster Bomber.
So sit back as we take you on a tour of the Lancaster’s Rear Gun Turret, as we embark on a journey aimed at promoting UK Aviation Heritage.
Textual extracts from Air Ministry Air Publications are Crown Copyright and transcribed with the kind permission of the National Archives, London. All colour diagrams are based on original Air Ministry Air Publications mono illustrations and transcribed into colour by Bryan Atkinson with the permission of the National Archives, London.
Thanks must also be given to the following superb organisations for their kind support when Bryan Atkinson originally developed The Lancaster Explored PC CD-ROM back in 2004, all are listed below and are included once again in this series of videos.
Lancaster B.Mk.I, PA474. The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.
Lancaster B.Mk.I, R5868. Royal Air Force Museum, London.
Lancaster B. Mk.III, DV372. Imperial War Museum.
Lancaster B.Mk.X, KB889. Imperial War Museum, Duxford.
Lancaster B.Mk.VII, NX611. Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre.
The Norman Groom & Jeremy Hall Lancaster Nose Sections.
The Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust.
The National Archives, London.
The material contained in this video is intended for historical, reference and entertainment value only, and is not to be construed as usable for aircraft or component restoration, maintenance, or use.
Consort for Brass - Classical Rousing by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Source: incompetech.com/music/royalty-...
Artist: incompetech.com/
Rear Turret Photographs -
Royal Air Force official photographer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Royal Air Force official photographer, Forward (F/O), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Table of Contents:
00:00 - Introduction
00:34 - FN20 Fuselage Location
00:41 - Support Ring Structure
01:26 - The Ammunition Box System
02:01 - The Ammunition Ducts
02:14 - The DoorStep
02:28 - FN20 Gun Turret Overview
03:03 - Ammunition Round Count
04:06 - The Gun Cradle
04:12 - Air Gunners Guard
04:20 - Empty Cartridge and Link Ejector Chutes
04:29 - Armour Plate Panels
04:46 - The Hydraulic System
05:30 - The Rotation Service Joint
05:43 - The Recuperator
06:28 - Rear Turret Mounting
06:53 - The Accommodation Ring
07:03 - The Turret Drum
07:13 - The Air Gunner's Seat
07:26 - The FN20 Turret Frame
08:10 - The Valve Box
08:25 - The Rotation Stop
08:44 - Hand Rotation Gear
08:57 - The Rotation Lock
09:08 - The Drift Scale
09:27 - The Cupola
10:28 - Turret Access Doors
11:13 - The Gun Cradle
11:41 - Gun Elevation Rams
11:47 - Gun Elevation and Sight Drive
12:26 - The Armour Plate Sections
12:38 - The Sight Radius Arm
12:58 - The Gun Sight
13:08 - Movement of the Gun Cradles
13:19 - Sight Radius Arm Movement
13:30 - Empty Cartridge Cases and Links
13:40 - Palmer Hydraulic Control
13:59 - Electrical Supply to the FN20 Turret
14:05 - Air Gunner's Instrument Panels
14:17 - The External Rotation Valve
14:41 - Turret Oxygen Supply
14:55 - Turret Operational Steps
15:01 - Entering the Turret
15:25 - Power Operation of the Turret
16:29 - Hand Lever Control Instructions
17:18 - Rear Turret Firing Arc
#lancasterbomber #avrolancaster #ukaircraftexplored

Пікірлер: 122

@johnfmather 2 жыл бұрын

Boy, these videos are so well done. I'm pleased the details are recorded for future generations. Thank you!

@ukaircraftexplored6556 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching. Yes, one reason I am creating and researching for these videos, is to illustrate what was involved with the design and function of each aircraft. Also, to show what the air and ground crews had to do to keep these famous aircraft operational. Thanks again for your kind feedback.

@stephensmith4480 2 жыл бұрын

Excellent presentation. I didn`t realise just how complicated those Turret`s were. I know one thing for certain, The men who sat in those things, for hours on end, not knowing weather they would ever see home again have my complete and utter Respect.

@ukaircraftexplored6556 2 жыл бұрын

Yes, exactly and thanks for watching

@HarborLockRoad 2 жыл бұрын

One more thing, the crews often removed some of the plexiglass windows as it interfered with spotting pursuing enemy fighters at night , thus, one can only imagine the noise, and cold, as well as the constant wind!

@jackthebassman1 Жыл бұрын

Wonderful post and of course, extremely interesting, many, many thanks.

@ukaircraftexplored6556 Жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it

@kellybreen5526 Жыл бұрын

Earl Porter gave me a model of a Lancaster when I was about 13 years old. He was an R/G on Halifaxes and sometimes manned the .5 in the belly. I am not sure which squadron he was in. Arthur Lobsinger was an R/G with 463 Squadron RAAF and was a dear friend. Arty trained in Wellingtons and Stirlings before joining 463. All 3 aircraft used more or less the same turret So your chapter on "the office" means a lot.

@ukaircraftexplored6556 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for subscribing and sharing, very interesting

@kevinralph5305 Жыл бұрын

My Grandfather flew in the Lancaster Bomber the with Path Finder Force (PFF), they were a highly specialised force, dedicated to target-marking for the rest of Bomber Command which was known as Main Force. Its crews acted not only as target-markers, but as guides and leaders on the long routes to the targets. They were also on rare occasions reallocated to Main Force role, very brave men. This is a fascinating video of the rear gunner and to think my Grandfather sat in one of those firing at the enemy thankfully he survived the war.

@ukaircraftexplored6556 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing

@harmonicparadox5941 8 ай бұрын

The level of detail!! My grandfather flew (survived is more appropriate) 38 missions as a TG in Lancaster's, incredible stories he told. We will remember them.

@ukaircraftexplored6556 8 ай бұрын

We certainly will. Thanks for watching

@dosrios9517 2 жыл бұрын

Someone else commented on same feeling I had, I was back in 1971 in engineering school.. then at college having to explain projects we had designed for various exercises. Any other Lucas Apprentices watching this ?

@ukaircraftexplored6556 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching

@Smannellites 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks, very interesting. Much more complex than I had realised.

@ukaircraftexplored6556 2 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

@dbaider9467 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for documenting this enormously complex machine in digestible pieces. All designed on paper with slide-rules. Amazing.

@ukaircraftexplored6556 Жыл бұрын

You're very welcome!

@Steve-GM0HUU Жыл бұрын

Very interesting thanks. Never realised how complex the turret was. Total of 10,000 rounds of ammunition is astounding.

@ukaircraftexplored6556 Жыл бұрын

Yes, there is a great deal to each of the turrets

@Bugsworth 5 ай бұрын

Nicely delivered sir!

@ukaircraftexplored6556 5 ай бұрын

Thank you kindly!

@brucegibbins3792 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you, yes I did find this program very interesting as I did, the program in the same series describing the belly gun. Having the gunner operating the guns in this position inside of the fuselage lessened the vulnerability of the gunner a bit. In contrast, the gunner operating the belly gun in a ball outside of the fuselage must have been unbelievably frightening especially for the small chaps whose size made them suitable for operating guns from this position. Courageous little blokes.

@ukaircraftexplored6556 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching

@KiltedCameraman 2 жыл бұрын

Absolutely brilliant

@ukaircraftexplored6556 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it

@davegoldsmith4020 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Bryan, I am really enjoying the Lancaster Videos look forward every week.

@ukaircraftexplored6556 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks, glad you like them!

@ggyoutube5949 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Bryan….I look forward to these every week……GREAT. B2.

@ukaircraftexplored6556 2 жыл бұрын

Glad you like them!

@allanriches9381 2 жыл бұрын

That was fantastic insight into the rear turret

@ukaircraftexplored6556 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Allan, much appreciated

@michaelguerin56 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you Bryan. Another great video.

@ukaircraftexplored6556 2 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it

@miekwest1 2 жыл бұрын

Excellent information and detail - and very well presented!

@ukaircraftexplored6556 2 жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

@glizzygulper8948 Жыл бұрын

thank you for adding subtitles, its such a small thing but very helpful. amazing video too!

@ukaircraftexplored6556 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for watching!

@fiamun 2 жыл бұрын

Very enjoyable to watch. So thorough! Thanks for your efforts. Pete, down in Melbourne.

@ukaircraftexplored6556 2 жыл бұрын

Many thanks!

@nigelcole1936 Жыл бұрын

Terrific video thank you

@ukaircraftexplored6556 Жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it

@allandavis8201 2 жыл бұрын

Before watching the rest of this episode I think 💭 I ought to say that the way you present your knowledge and expertise takes me right back to my mechanics, and fitters courses at RAF Halton, sitting in the classrooms behind the B.E.T (Basic Engineering Training) workshops or in the other buildings used for training, obviously most of the visual presentations were using either large paper flow diagrams or overhead projectors, and of course the blackboards (no offence intended) that the instructor had painstakingly drawn diagrams, and of course they all carried at least one piece of chalk in their dust-coat pocket, ready to launch at anyone who got the dreaded ‘nodding donkey’(nodding off, usually after a night out at the bop), and you could always tell the instructor’s who had been teaching for some time, the invariably hit their hapless target. Not a computer generated diagram in sight, and I must admit I much prefer your ‘vis aids’. Thanks for another excellent episode, I am hooked, more,more,more please. 😀👍🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇺🇦

@ukaircraftexplored6556 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for sharing and for being hooked. I have a huge amount of information and AP diagrams to share. Please let me know what subjects you would like to see in the future

@pontymike56 2 жыл бұрын

another good video,amunition feed system very interesting

@ukaircraftexplored6556 2 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it

@SKILLED521 2 жыл бұрын

Very interesting. Many thanks.

@ukaircraftexplored6556 2 жыл бұрын

Our pleasure!

@markusv311 2 жыл бұрын

Totally amazing video. Love how its done, with al the drawing references etc. very good job. Thanks for sharing this

@ukaircraftexplored6556 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much 😀

@taofledermaus 2 жыл бұрын

Quite interesting!

@ukaircraftexplored6556 2 жыл бұрын

I think so too!

@1joshjosh1 Жыл бұрын

this kicks ass

@ukaircraftexplored6556 Жыл бұрын

Thanks

@richarddicey5447 2 жыл бұрын

Excellent presentation. I am intrigued as to how the ammunition feeds are maintained during turret rotation.

@ukaircraftexplored6556 2 жыл бұрын

The ammunition is fed into the turret by the servo feed mechanism, which rotates with the turret. Thanks for watching

@Eric-kn4yn 6 ай бұрын

2500k rounds per gun thats a big reserve

@patfontaine5917 2 жыл бұрын

I’m sorry it took me a while to get to this - been a busy few weeks painting flagpoles at our local cemetery. But it’s good to catch up. WOW! What a detailed production. Truly the best for ANYone who wants a good deep dive into history. Thanks, Bryan.

@ukaircraftexplored6556 2 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

@HarborLockRoad 2 жыл бұрын

Canadian actor Leslie Nielsen was a tailgunner on a RCAF Lancaster in ww2, that was what he attributed his hearing loss to.

@ukaircraftexplored6556 2 жыл бұрын

Very interesting

@BeyondLimits3D 2 жыл бұрын

Awesome videos. Thank you. Where do you get such detailed information? I'm hoping to start modeling high quality 3d versions of these planes, and would love access to documentation that shows every detail and measurement. Thanks.

@ukaircraftexplored6556 2 жыл бұрын

Measurements would be very hard to come by. You would need original factory drawings for that. Thanks for watching

@robertandrews4912 7 ай бұрын

My grandfather was a rear gunner (Australian).

@jackhurov544 2 жыл бұрын

What type(s) of materials were used to form a check against airflow between the rear part of the fuselage and the back of the Rear Gun Turret, where the two came into contact? Thanks and cheers!

@ukaircraftexplored6556 2 жыл бұрын

The Lanc had rear doors on the rear face of the turret and also two wooden doors located at the rear of the tailplane spar.

@NiceCuppa 2 жыл бұрын

Your videos are very interesting Bryan. Just a note, the description says forward turret rather than rear turret.

@ukaircraftexplored6556 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for that!

@lauriekleinknechtl1313 2 жыл бұрын

My dad was a tail gunner in the RCAF in WW11.

@ukaircraftexplored6556 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing!

@robertcaldwell2994 2 жыл бұрын

My Dad was also in RCAF 6th Bomber group Lancaster's. He was a bombardier and 2nd navigator. He was once sitting at the navigators table when a gunner collapsed at his feet. His air supply had been shot away. He put him on oxygen and they got below 10000 as soon as they can. Very different the my life experience as a 20 something.

@vicparkes9855 Жыл бұрын

@@robertcaldwell2994 Barbara Parkes writes My father, Alec Clayton, designed engineering with Frazer-Nash and Donald Healey on their sports cars Before being transferred to rear gun turrets onLancaster bombers, he designed machines to make the canopies. Aged 12, then, now 91, he took me on a Lancaster in for repair and I shall never forget the feeling of the gun turrets, Tight, hard leather seating and straps, the guns, how cold it all was……… . The bravery of those young men!

@bossdog1480 2 жыл бұрын

Quite a bit more complicated than I thought. It's funny dad never spoke about it at all. I guess this was his home in training though the war ended before he got to use it for real.

@ukaircraftexplored6556 2 жыл бұрын

Glad you found it interesting

@dflo4165 Жыл бұрын

Great presentation! All the pictures are crystal clear. We’re the Drawings done at the factory or by you? I just can’t get over the amount of information you put in these videos! The Lanc was one of my favorite aircraft. I still need to finish a paper model I started. Had to move and the printed sheets are in storage, but the fuselage is with me. It was a heavy hauler, the only plane that could fly carrying the Grand Slam. Didn’t have to hit the target, just hitting close by was enough. It would cause an earthquake and broke the target with the shock. Amazing! I’m a yank, so I always wondered what a B-17 with four Merlins would do. I don’t think it could compare with the Lanc’s larger wingspan. It would go much faster!! Thanks for your videos, I saw two and had to subscribe! Take care and stay safe!

@ukaircraftexplored6556 Жыл бұрын

Most of the drawings are based on wartime AP manual diagrams and are completely recreated by myself. Thanks so much for watching.

@JohnyG29 2 жыл бұрын

Great job! Have you got any information on the automatic gun laying Village Inn FN121 tail turret that was fitted on Lancasters later in the war?

@ukaircraftexplored6556 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks. I'll have to check, if so, may create a video to cover.

@thierryruellan1828 9 ай бұрын

During take off and landing, where were.both gunners sitting? In their turets or somewhere else on folding seats in the fuselage?

@ukaircraftexplored6556 5 ай бұрын

In their turrets

@andrewbegg9944 2 жыл бұрын

The colour cross section that you show on the front 'page', where did you get them and can I get them?

@ukaircraftexplored6556 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for your question, Andrew. I personally created all the graphics within each video including the one you mention. I am considering producing a range of books or ebooks offering all the diagrams from each of the series of videos and more. Is that something you may be interested in? Thanks for watching

@andrewbegg9944 2 жыл бұрын

@@ukaircraftexplored6556 very much so, being an engineer and having an interest in the minutii, I find that many TV programs gloss over the details in favour of dumbing down, when I want dumbing up. I'm sure you could sell the cross sections as prints, I can't be the only weirdo out there! Don't answer that.

@mandolinic 2 жыл бұрын

I was most interested to learn that the turret includes an armoured shield. I'd heard somewhere that the only armour on a Lanc was in the pilot's seat - but clearly that's wrong.

@ukaircraftexplored6556 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much for watching!

@throttlegalsmagazineaustra7361 11 ай бұрын

Most squadrons removed all armour plating from their aircraft as a matter of course, preferring to sacrifice the protection for height. The plating behind the pilot's head was the only armour left in the aircraft.

@Eric-kn4yn 2 жыл бұрын

I was surprised to see how quickly r turret rotated.wjat power was the motor for it

@ukaircraftexplored6556 2 жыл бұрын

It was a Hydraulic Motor. If the motor failed, the turret is fitted with a Hand Rotation Gear. Thanks for watching

@Eric-kn4yn 2 жыл бұрын

@@ukaircraftexplored6556 turret rotated very fast. Saw on YT. Tracking a/c..needed that. .yanks in b17. Couldn't track meteors jets too fast. Practice to counter me262

@concise707 Жыл бұрын

Any chance of a similar production on the Rose-Rice turret?

@ukaircraftexplored6556 Жыл бұрын

Will look into it

@concise707 Жыл бұрын

@@ukaircraftexplored6556 👍

@rosstisbury1626 2 жыл бұрын

great vid . . what a pity they didnt use .50 Brownings

@ukaircraftexplored6556 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching

@danielhampson 2 жыл бұрын

No nonesense excellent video. Of all the jobs man has ever done, tailgunner has to be one of the most dangerous.

@ukaircraftexplored6556 2 жыл бұрын

Yes it certainly was. Thanks for watching

@sgg00dchild 6 ай бұрын

I would have been nice to understand how the bullets are fed in the turret, from below unto the .303.

@mac4boys541 2 жыл бұрын

My Grandfathers brother was a Tail Gunner, somehow he survived the war, but was killed crossing the road in 1946, probably PTSD related. A Messeeschmitt could get him, but a Morris did. RIP great uncle

@ukaircraftexplored6556 2 жыл бұрын

Sad tale, thanks for sharing

@delong8998 9 ай бұрын

My great uncle was a rear gunner, I have a picture of him, we have his classic 'banksy' nose that's common in our family, like looking back in time at yourself, brave man, he survived and died of natural causes. My great grandad was a royal engineer, he was just behind the front lines where the Germans were pushing at the battle of the bulge, he was tasked with setting explosives on the oil containers, these large reservoirs of petrol the Germans were trying to take, the Americans arrived just in time and most likely saved his life, the explosives never needed to be used, he survived the war

@gavanwhatever8196 Жыл бұрын

Interesting that the rear gunner had 10 times the ammunition that the mid upper gunner had. Guess we know who was busier...

@ukaircraftexplored6556 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching

@thierryruellan1828 9 ай бұрын

Another question ❓

@thierryruellan1828 9 ай бұрын

I wanted to ask if there were any camera gun systems in any of Lancaster's turrets?

@ukaircraftexplored6556 5 ай бұрын

No, there wasn't. Thanks for watching

@eugenemurray2940 2 жыл бұрын

Didn't some have RADAR?

@ukaircraftexplored6556 2 жыл бұрын

Yes, some were fitted with H2S Radar. Thanks for watching

@faeembrugh Жыл бұрын

There was a radar device called MONICA fitted to rear turrets which detected aircraft approaching a bomber's tail. Unfortunately the Germans found out about it and developed a detector which actually enabled nightfighters to find RAF bombers using MONICA so it was discontinued.

@eugenemurray2940 Жыл бұрын

'MONICA!'... Should've named it with a better codename like... ROSIE MCRADIOLOCATORFACE

@sailormanoyster1849 Жыл бұрын

Thank you my fi W A TILENS CHrlie with 6 1 squadron and he wS Lancaster an crazy 🤪

@ukaircraftexplored6556 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching

@larry4789 Жыл бұрын

My dad was a rear gunner with 61 & 83 Squadrons

@pauliedweasel 2 жыл бұрын

One thing I never understood was ehh the British stuck with 30 caliber guns in the bomber turrets at a time when axis planes were being fitted with heavier armor that was Mapuche more resistant to the relatively light 30 cal bullets as opposed to the much heavier 50 cal projectiles of the Browning guns. I’m also guessing that the .303 ammo used in the 30 cal guns in airplanes was probably a lot hotter loading than the .303 ammo used in the bolt action Enfield No. 1 Mk3 and No.4 Mk1 service rifles, similar to the hotter 9mm ammo that the Germans used in the MP38 and MP40 sub machine guns. I like the heavier 2,500 round loadings per gun, given the 1,000 to 1,100 cyclic rate per guns it gives you a lot of shooting time without worrying to much about running out. Since the hydraulics were only powered by one engine this design would seem to be troublesome if you had engine failure. A very ingenious turret design to be sure… carry on cowboy!

@ukaircraftexplored6556 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing

@timkbirchico8542 2 жыл бұрын

I watched this vid because I was wondering why the Lancasters shot my Bf 109 E3s up so much whilst playing war thunder. Thanks , what a nasty spikey bomber.

@ukaircraftexplored6556 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching

@karlsnow5281 2 жыл бұрын

Seems too weak to carry the weight and rear loads of flying and landing. Did it ever snap off ? The ring I mean

@ukaircraftexplored6556 2 жыл бұрын

No, I haven't read of any cases of the mounting ring snapping off. The are photographs showing the rear turret being completely sheared off, as it was sadly in the path of a bomb dropped by another aircraft higher up in the formation.

@karlsnow5281 2 жыл бұрын

@@ukaircraftexplored6556 yes I've seen a Mitchell being taken down by the bomber above it. Thanks for the info