TYPE: Maritime reconnaissance aircraft boat
AMOUNT: 16x
3x WERE LISENCE BUILT IN NORWAY AT: Marinens Flyfabrikk, Horten and Kjeller
ARMAMENT
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Secondary Armament Options (5 weapon stations)
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4x HVAR Rockets
-Mass: 1 kg
-Length: 173 cm
-Diameter: 127 mm
-Wingspan: 39.7 cm
-Warhead: 3.4 kg of TNT or Composition B
-Warhead weight: 20.6 kg
-Engine: 32 cm long x 12.7 cm diameter solid propellant rocket motor
-Propellant: Ballistite, extruded
-Maximum speed: 419 m/s plus speed of launching aircraft -
4x Mk.41 Model 1 Torpedoes
-Length: 120 inches
-Diameter: 21 inches
-Weight: 1327 pounds
-Propulsion: Seawater battery
-Enabling: No
-Guidance: Helix search Homing Active, passive
-FC Settings: Preset
-Warhead: Mk 41 150 pound HBX
-Exploder: Mk 19 type Contact
-Speed: 25 knots
-Range: 8000 yards -
4x Mk 54 Model 2 depth charge bomb
-Filler is TNT: 102.5 kg or HBX, HBX-1 112.7 kg
-Length: 138.6 Centimeter
-Largest height: 41.75 Centimeter
-Height: 35.25 Centimeter
-Weight: 158.75 Kilogram -
4x LAU10/A (ZUNI) rocket pods
Each pod had 4x rockets, in total 16 rockets
Mass: 36.1 kg (engine only)
Length: 2,000 mm
Diameter: 127 mm
Warhead: various
Engine: Solid-fuel rocket
Operational range: 8.0 km
Maximum speed: 2,599 km/h
Guidance system: none -
2x Two external tanks with a total of 3684 Ibs. fuel could be mounted under the wings.
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The fifth station was only used as an attachment for searchlights of the AN/AVQ-2C type
Internal storage options:
- 30x sonar buoys
- 21x marking buoys.
Radar
- 1x AN/APS-88 search radar mounted in the nose dome
- 1x ECM radar mounted in the wing
Electronic equipment
- A retractable boom in the tail equipped with MAD (Magnetic anomaly detector)
TECHNICAL DATA
Wingspan: 29.5Meter
Length: 19.1 Meter
Height: 7.8 Meter
Eigne: 2x Curtiss-Wright R1820-76B
Power: 1425 hp (Each) at 2700 rpm at take-off
Normal performance: 1100 hp. at 10300 ft. height at 2700 rpm
Crew: 6x
Empty weight: 10379.10 Kilograms
Loaded for ASW cruise: 16057.17 Kilograms
PERFORMANCE
Maximum speed: 380 km/h
Cruising speed: 240.76 Km/h
Stall speed: 118.52 Km/h
Operating altitude: 25000 ft.
Range: 4.500 kilometer
The maximum operating time at a radius of 200 nautical miles was: 13.44 hours.
The maximum range in transport was: 2,850 nautical miles.
SERIAL NUMBER,TAIL NUMBER, TIME IN SERVICE & FATE
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HISTORY
The Albatross was a twin-engined amphibious vehicle with roots dating back to the Grumman Goose from the days of the war. Norway’s version was equipped for anti-submarine warfare, in addition to rescue and ambulance missions. However, it lacked a pressurized cabin, which made it vulnerable to icing because it could not cross bad weather. The engines were a bit too weak in relation to the weight of the aircraft. Towards the end of the 1950s, there was a great need for a replacement for the Catalina aircraft that 333 Squadron had operated. Catalina was no longer usable as a weapons carrier or for submarine searches, and several options were considered. It eventually turned out that it was possible and then 18 Grumman SA-16 Albatross began the American arms aid program. on April 19, 1960, the Department of Defense was notified that nine aircraft had been authorized over the US defense budget. Shortly afterwards, the last 9 aircraft were also approved.
Nine of the aircraft were to replace the Catalina machines in 333 squadron and the last nine were assigned to 330 squadron, which had been decommissioned since February 1958. 333 squadron was to operate out of Andøya. 330 squadron was based at Sola. 330 thus entered its original role of maritime surveillance after operating the Thunderjet for a number of years.
The first planes that arrived in Norway were assigned to 33 squadron, which was also located on the sun at this time. The first 16 aircraft were delivered as SA16B ASW, while the last two had received the new American designation HU-16B ASW. all were upgraded SA-16A and had between 2,200 and 4,000 hours behind them in the air when they arrived in Norway. Some had served in Korea. As the personnel received the necessary training on the type, aircraft and crews were sent to Andøya for shorter or longer periods, and from January 1963 the squadron was permanently stationed here. 330 squadron was established on sol 1 March 1962. the first machine was 51-7204 WH-A which had arrived in Norway a month earlier. This squadron remained on the sun with some detachments to Bardufoss. It was also given the role of O.T.U. for Albatross, and all new crews were checked out here before further transfer to operational service.
Albatross was flown in Norway for seven years without loss of aircraft or human life. During this time, more than 54,000 flight hours were flown, compared to slightly over 25,000 hours with the Catalina in the years 1946.61. although the Albatross had served itself well in the role for which it was intended, there was eventually a need for more powerful equipment for patrolling the northern areas. It was therefore decided to shut down 330 Squadron at SOla. This officially happened on 1 October 1968, and the planes were stored for a short period. In the spring of 1969, the planes at 333 Squadron were also gradually taken out of service. The last four were written off on 14 May 1969. All the aircraft were then flown to Wiesbaden in Germany, and handed over to the USAF. Some were delivered to Greece, which was also a NATO member, others ended up in Spain. As a replacement, five new Norwegian-financed Lockheed P-3B Orions were delivered to 333 Squadron on Andøya. The time of amphibians in the Norwegian Air Force was almost over. Today there are no Albatross aircraft left in Norway, but some of the former Norwegian machines still exist in Greece.
ALBUM
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SOURCES
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Primary: https://flyblader.com/onewebmedia/Nr%2028%20HU-16%20Albatross.pdf
https://www.norli.no/boker/dokumentar-og-fakta/historie-og-dokumentar/krig-og-historie/luftforsvarets-historie-fortalt-gjennom-75-gjenstander?
https://www.adlibris.com/no/bok/norske-militarfly-9788271286873?
Norsk marinehistorie : modeller som forteller - detaljert visning - Biblioteksøk
A Brief History of U.S. Navy Torpedo Development - Part 2
Bomb, 350 lb Depth, AN-Mk 54 Mod 0, 1, Mk 54
Zuni (rocket) - Wikipedia
- Yes
- No