Fokker T.IV

T.IV

Role: Maritime patrol floatplane
Manufacturer: Fokker
First flight: 1927
Introduced: 1927
Retired: 1942
Primary users: Netherlands Portugal
Number built: 33

The Fokker T.IV was a Dutch torpedo bomber/maritime reconnaissance floatplane of the 1920s and 30s. First flying in 1927, it served with the Dutch Naval Aviation Service in the Dutch East Indies until the remaining aircraft were destroyed during the Japanese invasion in 1942.

Development and design

The Fokker T.IV was developed to meet the requirements of the Royal Netherlands Navy for a maritime patrol/torpedo bomber aircraft for use in the Dutch East Indies. First flying on June 7, 1927, the T.IV was a twin engined floatplane with a thick, cantilever, high mounted monoplane wing and a deep, slab sided fuselage. An open cockpit housed the two pilots, while the aircraft had a defensive armament of three machine guns in nose, dorsal and ventral positions, while carrying either a torpedo or 800 kg (1,764 lb) of bombs. The initial version was powered by two 450 hp (340 kW) Lorraine-Dietrich broad arrow engines.

In 1935, Fokker produced a developed version, the T-IVa, to supplement the existing T-IVs in Dutch service. Wright Cyclone radial engines replaced the Lorraine Dietriches, while the pilots were provided with an enclosed cockpit in a hump over the wing root, and enclosed nose and dorsal gun turrets were fitted. 12 were built for the Dutch Naval Aviation Service, while the remaining T-IVs were rebuilt to the T-IVa standard.

Operational history

Deliveries of the original T.IV to the Dutch Naval Aviation Service in the Dutch East Indies started in 1927 and continued until 1930. The second batch of 12 TIVa aircraft was delivered to the East Indies from 1936 to 1938, with the original T.IVs being rebuilt as T.IVas.

The T.IV proved to be a reliable and seaworthy aircraft, and continued in use for local patrols and air-sea rescue operations from the naval base at Soerabaja on Java until 1942, when the Japanese attacked the Dutch East Indies. All the remaining TIVs were destroyed during the Japanese invasion, either by Japanese bombing or scuttled.

Variants

T.IV
Original production version, powered by 336 kW (450 hp) Lorraine Dietrich engines. 18 built.
T.IVa
Refined version with Cyclone radial engines, enclosed cockpit and gun turrets. 12 built.

Operators

Netherlands

Dutch Naval Aviation Service

Portugal

Portugal received three T.IVs, powered by Rolls-Royce Eagle engines.

Specifications (T.IVa)

Data from The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft

General characteristics

Crew: 4
Length: 17.60 m (57 ft 8¾ in)
Wingspan: 26.20 m (85 ft 11½ in)
Height: 6.00 m (19 ft 8¼ in)
Wing area: 97.80 m² (1,053 ft²)
Empty weight: 4,665 kg (10,285 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 7,200 kg (15,873 lb)
Powerplant: 2x— Wright SR-1820-F2 Cyclone 9 cylinder radial, 559 kW (750 hp) each

Performance

Maximum speed: 260 km/h (140 kn, 161 mph)
Cruise speed: 215 km/h (116 kn, 134 mph)
Range: 1560 km (843 NM, 969 mi)
Service ceiling: 5900 m (19,355 ft)
Wing loading: 73.6 kg/m² (15.1 lb/ft²)
Power/mass: 160 W/kg (0.095 hp/lb)

Armament

1 x— 7.9 mm (.31 in) Browning machine gun each in nose and dorsal turrets and ventral position
Up to 800 kg (1,764 lb) bombs internally or 1 x— torpedo externally.

Bibliography

"THE FOKKER T. IV SEAPLANE: A Twin-Engined Torpedo or Bombing Monoplane". Flight. 26 January 1928. Pages 49-50.
Donald, David (ed.) The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. Aerospace Publishing. 1997. ISBN 1-85605-375-X.
Gunston, Bill. The Encyclopedia of the World's Combat Aircraft. Feltham, Middlesex, UK,: Hamlyn, 1977. ISBN 0 600 331 44 X.
Taylor, M.J.H. Warplanes of the World: 1918-1939. Shepperton, Surry, UK: Ian Allen, 1981. ISBN 07110 1078 1.
Taylor M.J.H.(Editor). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Bracken, 1989. ISBN 1 85170 324 1.
Purnell's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Modern Weapons and Warfare (Part work 1978-1979). London : Phoebus. p.2336.

Fokker T.IV Pictures

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Source: WikiPedia