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Giant revolver model
- Thread starter sksvlad
- Start date
Yep that's what I thought.
Photo captioned as a Grumman Albatross - military (USAF, USN and USGC) and civilian operators - not sure which in pic... Not sure if drop tanks used much by civilian aircraft - only known of military use.
Hazord Hi!
This type of Drop tank was not used on P51.
This is the 150gal USNavy external fuel tank (the so-called the "universal 150 gallons" drop tank). It was introduced in 1945 for use on the Hellcat then modified post war and saw then extended use:
A surviving 150gal USN external fuel tank plaque on such a post-ww2 tank indicates its compatibility for : AD-1, AM=1, F6F, F7F, F8F, F4U1-1D, F4U-4. F4U-5, FG-1D, A-26, A2D, F2G,
Empty weight 84lbs. Aluminum alloy. dimensions: 11ft (3.3528m) long x max diameter 2ft (0.6096m)
Here the pics
and pics of ww2 tanks used on the P-51: 75 gal (metal) 110 gal (metal) and 110gal (compressed paper)
There were a number of variations of the 75 gal tank. All these P-51 tanks were also converted for use as napalm bombs thence my interest in them.
This type of Drop tank was not used on P51.
This is the 150gal USNavy external fuel tank (the so-called the "universal 150 gallons" drop tank). It was introduced in 1945 for use on the Hellcat then modified post war and saw then extended use:
A surviving 150gal USN external fuel tank plaque on such a post-ww2 tank indicates its compatibility for : AD-1, AM=1, F6F, F7F, F8F, F4U1-1D, F4U-4. F4U-5, FG-1D, A-26, A2D, F2G,
Empty weight 84lbs. Aluminum alloy. dimensions: 11ft (3.3528m) long x max diameter 2ft (0.6096m)
Here the pics
and pics of ww2 tanks used on the P-51: 75 gal (metal) 110 gal (metal) and 110gal (compressed paper)
There were a number of variations of the 75 gal tank. All these P-51 tanks were also converted for use as napalm bombs thence my interest in them.
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This kind of storage yards could indeed become a great playground ....in suitable peacetime :smile::
(The tanks on the first photograph are the metal version of the 110 gallons tank. On the second photgraphy metal tanks are grey colored, while the paper tanks are painted with aluminium dope)
some other views of these paper tanks:
and of their napalm bomb version used by the B-17 of the 388th bomb group 8th Air force over the pocket of Royan:
(The tanks on the first photograph are the metal version of the 110 gallons tank. On the second photgraphy metal tanks are grey colored, while the paper tanks are painted with aluminium dope)
some other views of these paper tanks:
and of their napalm bomb version used by the B-17 of the 388th bomb group 8th Air force over the pocket of Royan:
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Used by Spitfires a year or so before that, mainly in the Mediterranean and North Africa / Malta theatre. Called slipper tanks then.
Millsman, Hi!
Slipper tanks were streamlined tanks (in the Spitfire Pilot Notes they are called "auxillary blister drop tank"), what we call today "Conformal belly tank".
They were quite different from the external tanks suspended under wings or fuselage. They looked like slippers put on the underbelly of the Spitfires.
Slipper tanks existed in 30, 45, 90 or 170 gal capacity as can be seen in the following photographs:
This photograph shows a slipper tank in situ under a Spitfire in flight:
The VB series were the first Spitfires able to carry the range of specially designed "slipper" drop tanks which were fitted underneath the wing centre-section. Small hooks were fitted, just forward of the inboard flaps: when the tank was released these hooks caught the trailing edge of the tank, swinging it clear of the fuselage.
Spits with the ability to carry the slipper tank began to be issued in about March 1942
The 90 gal tank was more or less restricted to the Med, i.e. Trop Spits, at least initially, while the 30 gal was used by the Home squadrons.
the 30, 45, and 90-gallon versions were used on fighter missions with the 170 gallon tank reserved for ferry missions (and for recco missions on the PRXI).
The 90 gallon one was disliked by the pilots because it made the Spit unstable and difficult to take off.
The drag penalty imposed by slipper tank carriage was relatively high compared to the later "torpedo" ("cigar") style 45 gal drop tanks that were mounted on struts clear of the fuselage. Compared with the slippers, the "torpedo" drop tanks were little used.
Slipper tanks were streamlined tanks (in the Spitfire Pilot Notes they are called "auxillary blister drop tank"), what we call today "Conformal belly tank".
They were quite different from the external tanks suspended under wings or fuselage. They looked like slippers put on the underbelly of the Spitfires.
Slipper tanks existed in 30, 45, 90 or 170 gal capacity as can be seen in the following photographs:
This photograph shows a slipper tank in situ under a Spitfire in flight:
The VB series were the first Spitfires able to carry the range of specially designed "slipper" drop tanks which were fitted underneath the wing centre-section. Small hooks were fitted, just forward of the inboard flaps: when the tank was released these hooks caught the trailing edge of the tank, swinging it clear of the fuselage.
Spits with the ability to carry the slipper tank began to be issued in about March 1942
The 90 gal tank was more or less restricted to the Med, i.e. Trop Spits, at least initially, while the 30 gal was used by the Home squadrons.
the 30, 45, and 90-gallon versions were used on fighter missions with the 170 gallon tank reserved for ferry missions (and for recco missions on the PRXI).
The 90 gallon one was disliked by the pilots because it made the Spit unstable and difficult to take off.
The drag penalty imposed by slipper tank carriage was relatively high compared to the later "torpedo" ("cigar") style 45 gal drop tanks that were mounted on struts clear of the fuselage. Compared with the slippers, the "torpedo" drop tanks were little used.
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