Avro 694 Lincoln

For a description of the format and data included in Production Tables, see here.

Contents

Type Description - UK Variants

• Type 694 Lincoln B.Mk.I
• Long-range bomber for the RAF, originally designated Lancaster B.Mk.IV, to meet the requirements of Specification B.14/43. Compared to the Lancaster, it featured numerous improvements, such as the adoption of stronger, longer span, higher aspect ratio (10.30 compared with 8.02) wings along with engines fitted within Universal Power Plant installations. The aircraft also possessed an enlarged fuselage that accommodated increased fuel and bomb loads and allowing for the carriage of up to 14,000 lb of bombs, or exceptionally 1 x 22,000 lb Grand Slam Deep Penetration bomb. Defensive armament consited of twin 0.5 in M2 Browning machine-guns in a Boulton Paul Type F nose turret, remotely controlled from the bomb-aimer‘s seat with a periscopic sight, twin 20 mm Hispano MK.IV or Mk.V cannon in a Bristol B.17 dorsal turret and twin 0.5 in M2 Browning machine-guns in a Boulton Paul Type D tail turret, radar controlled by a blind-firing device in the extreme tail of the blind-firing device in the extreme tail of the aircraft known as automatic gun laying. Though larger, structurally, the Lincoln was almost identical to the Lancaster except that he outer wings were made in two portions, unlike the Lancaster who‘s outer wing came as a single portion with a detachable tip. As a result the ailerons were also constructed in two sections with a link plate between them to allow for wing flexing. The ailerons were all-metal with metal covering and had auto servo-tab and hand trim tabs while the hydraulically operated trailing edge split flaps came in two sections between the ailerons and fuselage. H2S radar was fitted in the ventral fuselage covered by a cupola and an F-24 camera was also carried. Navigation equipment included Rebecca Mk.ll. Loran and Gee Mk.ll. Four 1,750 h.p. two-stage supercharged Rolls-Royce Merlin 85 powerplants were fitted in a new annular installation offering low drag plus armour plating.

• Type 694 Lincoln B.Mk.II
• (Later styled B.2) Originally designated Lancaster B.Mk.V; as the B.Mk.I with 1,750 h.p. Packard Merlin 68, 68A or 300 powerplants.

• Type 694 Lincoln U.Mk.5
• Drone conversion of B.Mk.II, to meet the requirements of Specification D.171D&P. Conversion by Avro using kits supplied by Flight Refuelling Ltd.

Type Description - Canadian Variants

• Type 694 Lincoln B.Mk.XV
• Canadian built equivalent of the B.Mk.I.

Type Description - Australian Variants

• Type 694 Lincoln Mk.30
• Australian built equivalent of the B.Mk.I.

• Type 694 Lincoln Mk.30A
• Mk.30 with stronger wing spars and skins and a higher all up weight. Four 1,750 h.p. Rolls-Royce Merlin 85 or 1,650 h.p. Rolls-Royce Merlin 102 powerplants.

• Type 694 Lincoln Mk.31
• (Later styled GR.31). General reconnaissance version of Mk.30 for the RAAF, fitted with a 6 ft 6 in longer nose. Four 1,750 h.p. Rolls-Royce Merlin 85 or 1,650 h.p. Merlin 102 powerplants.

• Type 694 Lincoln MR.31
• Anti-submarine warfare and maritime reconnaissance version of Mk.31.

Projected Variants

• Type 694 Lincoln ASR.Mk.III
• A.S.R. variant, featuring the same wings and undercarriage as the B.Mk.II, with a shortened fuselage with a saddle tank for increased range. The tailplane featured twin fins and rudders, larger than the B.Mk.II and moved to the top of the fuselage. Four Rolls-Royce Griffon powerplants with six-bladed counter rotating propellors. Eventually developed into the Type 696 Shackleton.

• Type 694 Lincoln B.Mk.IV
• Similar to B.Mk.II with Rolls-Royce Merlin 85 powerplants.

• Type 694 Lincoln MR.32
• A.S.R. variant featuring radar and MAD tail similar to the Neptune.

• Type 712
• Lincoln meteorological aircraft to meet the requirements of OR.259.

• Type 717
• Lincoln test-bed with two Napier Nomad powerplants in the outer nacelles.

• (none)
• Long range derivative to meet the requirements of Specification E.6/46 (OR.216)

Production Tables Index

Type 694 Lincoln - U.K. Production
Type 694 Lincoln - Australian Production
Type 694 Lincoln - Canadian Production
Type 694 Lincoln - Exports
Type 694 Lincoln - Civil Conversions

Notes

1. Various of the freighter conversions have been referred to in publications as 'Lincolnians' but this is incorrect. The Type 695 Lincolnian civil variant of the Lincoln remained a project only.
2. Between 1937 and 1945, Production Specifications were designated by the type and mark of aircraft, suffixed by the letter P and a sequence number identifying the individual order. B.Mk.1 and B.Mk.2 were originally Lancaster Mk.IV and Mk.V, hence the IV/P and V/P Specifications, so "Lancaster IV/P2", was the 2nd Production Specification for the Lancaster Mk.IV, i.e. Lincoln B.Mk.1. (Note the aircraft type has been omitted from the table for convenience). Those in parentheses are assumed, based on Meekcoms and Morgan [12].

Production References

1. Avro Aircraft Since 1908, A.J. Jackson (Putnam, 1965 and 1990)
2. Air Britain RAF Aircraft Register Series, Various Volumes (Air-Britain Publications)
3. Lancaster - the Story of a FamousBomber, Robertson and Russell (Harleyford Publications, 1964)
4. Aeromilitaria, 1982/2 (Air-Britain Publications)
5. Aeromilitaria, 1988/2 (Air-Britain Publications)
6. The British Roundel Jan 1997 through Jan 2006
7. Air Arsenal North America, Phil Butler with Dan Hagedorn (Midland Publishing, 2004)
8. http://www.amilarg.com.ar/avro-lincoln.html
9. RAF Air Historical Branch: RAF Aircraft Movement Card (A.M. Form 78) (Dept of Archive and Aviation Records, RAF Museum, Hendon, Records MFC-77-15-61, -62)
10. RAF Air Historical Branch: Contract Delivery Cards (Dept of Archive and Aviation Records, RAF Museum, Hendon, Records MFC-78-8-2)
11. Ministry of Aircraft Production Aeroplane Price Books (Dept of Archive and Aviation Records, RAF Museum, Hendon, Records X005-2126)
12. British Aircraft Specifications File, K.J. Meekcoms and E.B. Morgan (Air-Britain Publications, 1994)