Fokker T.VIII

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fokker_T.VIII

The Fokker T.VIII was a twin-engined torpedo bomber and aerial reconnaissance
floatplane designed and manufactured by Dutch aviation company Fokker.

It was developed in the late 1930s as a more-capable successor to the Fokker
T.IV. While the Dutch Naval Aviation Service had originally desired for its use
in both the home waters and in the Dutch East Indies, the Second World War broke
out as production was ramping up to meet these needs. In addition to its service
in the Netherlands, both the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Luftwaffe would
operate small numbers of the type.

The Fokker T.VIII was a twin-engined monoplane floatplane, featuring a
three-part fuselage of oval cross-section and a mid-wing configuration. The
first fuselage section consisted of a monocoque light alloy construction, while
the centre section was all-wood and had incorporated the wing as well; the rear
fuselage section was largely made of steel tubing and fabric. The undercarriage
consisted of a pair of floats composed of rust-proof duralumin; internally, each
float contained six waterproof compartments along with an auxiliary fuel tank.

The aircraft's construction changed throughout its manufacture. While the T.VIII
W/G model featured a wing comprising a pair of cross-beams with bakelite ribs
and clad in plywood, as well as a steel-framed tail covered by fabric; for the
later-built T.VIII W/M variant, both the tail and the wing were constructed from
a lightweight alloy instead. At the time of the T.VII's development, Fokker was
developing new construction methods that involved transitioning from traditional
mixed-construction to an all-metal approach.

The nose section, which housed the aircraft's observer, featured several large
plexiglass windows for external visibility and a bomb-aiming panel in the floor
in front of him. Behind the observer's position was the cockpit, in which the
pilot was seated on the left side adjacent to the wing's leading edge; directly
behind the pilot was the third crew member, who was a combined wireless
operator/tail gunner. The movable rear gun was fitted to a retractable mounting;
the pilot could also fire a fixed forward-facing machine gun. A maximum payload
of 1,330 lbs of either torpedoes or bombs would be carried within a hold within
the wing's center section; this hold was furnished with hydraulically-actuated
doors. Fuel was principally housed in tanks between the main spars on the wings.


Role
Torpedo-bomber seaplane

Manufacturer
Fokker

First flight
1938

Introduction
1939

Primary users
Marine-Luchtvaartdienst
Royal Air Force
Luftwaffe

Number built
36

The aircraft went into production almost immediately following the type's first
flight in 1938; a total of eleven T.VIIIs entered service with the Netherlands
Naval Aviation Service. Initial operations were dominated by trials and training
missions, aiming to familiarise Dutch personnel with the aircraft's operation.
By September 1939, the month during which the Second World War broke out, the
type was used to patrol Dutch territorial waters, intending to guard against
violations of Dutch neutrality by the forces of either side. On 13 September
1939, a T.VIII was attacked by a German Dornier Do 18 flying boat; the aircraft
was destroyed while attempting to land and the crew captured by the Germans;
this incident led to a change in Dutch aircraft markings from the red, white,
and blue roundel to an orange triangle so that Dutch aircraft would be more
readily distinguishable from either their British or French counterparts.

Having anticipated a German invasion of the Netherlands, military planners had
already directed that the T.VIIIs be dispersed prior to May 1940. Immediately
following the German invasion in 1940, nine aircraft were relocated to bases in
France; while some reconnaissance missions were flown early on, these were soon
suspended in the face of German aerial superiority. On 22 May 1940, these
aircraft escaped to the United Kingdom; notably, one T.VIII was used to aid in
the escape of two members of the Dutch Cabinet. Those aircraft that reached
Britain would form the nucleus of No. 320 (Netherlands) Squadron RAF, Coastal
Command, based at Pembroke Dock in Pembrokeshire, South Wales. The unit
performed numerous convoy escort and anti-submarine patrols, aiming to detect
and attack Germany raiding forces. It was also used for espionage operations as
a liaison aircraft for contacting members of the Dutch resistance on the
continent. Eventually, a lack of spares meant that these aircraft become
unserviceable and were retired; their Dutch crews were transferred to
newly-procured Lockheed Hudson light bombers.

Early on 6 May 1941 four men – former Lieutenant Govert Steen and Corporal Evert
Willem Boomsma, both of the Army Aviation Brigade, along with Fokker technician
Wijbert Lindeman, and former Dutch Army Lieutenant Jan Beelaerts van Blokland –
swam out to the Fokker T.VIIw TD+CL moored on the Minervahaven on the IJ in
Amsterdam. At dawn they managed to take off (Steen, a fighter pilot, had never
flown the type before) and flew to England, evading British anti-aircraft fire,
and landing at Broadstairs, Kent. Beelaerts van Blokland and Lindeman joined the
Princess Irene Brigade, with Beelaerts van Blokland becoming its commander
during operations in Normandy, while Steen joined No. 129 Squadron RAF, flying
79 sorties before being shot down and killed on 5 June 1942.

Specifications (T.VIII W/G)

General characteristics
Crew: 3
Length: 13 m (42 ft 8 in)
Wingspan: 18 m (59 ft 1 in)
Height: 5 m (16 ft 5 in)
Gross weight: 5,000 kg (11,023 lb)
Powerplant: 2 × Wright R-975-E3 Whirlwind 9-cyl. air-cooled radial piston
engines, 336 kW (451 hp) each

Performance
Maximum speed: 285 km/h (177 mph, 154 kn) at 3,000 m (9,843 ft)
Range: 2,750 km (1,710 mi, 1,480 nmi)
Service ceiling: 6,800 m (22,300 ft)

Armament

2 × 7.92 (0.312 in) machine guns
600 kg (1,323 lb) of bombs or torpedoes


General characteristics
Crew: 3
Length: 13 m (42 ft 8 in)
Wingspan: 18 m (59 ft 1 in)
Height: 5 m (16 ft 5 in)
Gross weight: 5,000 kg (11,023 lb)
Powerplant: 2 × Wright R-975-E3 Whirlwind 9-cyl. air-cooled radial piston
engines, 336 kW (451 hp) each

Performance
Maximum speed: 285 km/h (177 mph, 154 kn) at 3,000 m (9,843 ft)
Range: 2,750 km (1,710 mi, 1,480 nmi)
Service ceiling: 6,800 m (22,300 ft)

Armament

2 × 7.92 (0.312 in) machine guns
600 kg (1,323 lb) of bombs or torpedoes



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