British military aircraft designation systems

The designation system for aircraft of the British forces was introduced in 1918. Since then, for mission aircraft, in contrast for example to the U.S. system assigned, only names and no alphanumeric designations. In the system, in principle, to this day almost unchanged existing only in 1927 and 1932, notable changes were introduced.

Before 1918

1884 a first system for the balloons existing since 1878 Air Battalion was implemented. It was determined that the names of small balloons with the letter " F", which should begin by the middle with "S" and large balloons with a "T". Became known, the corresponding designations Fly, Spy and Swallow. But no balloon was found to be large enough for the "T " class apparently.

The 18 air ships of the British Army, built 1907-1913, were given names in Latin, Greek, French and even German. So, for example, was the first Army airship in 1907 the curious name " Nulli Secundus ". 1914 dissolved the army on their airship department and handed over the remaining " beta ", " gamma ", " delta " and " Eta " to the Navy. This marked their rigid airships with "R" ( for rigid airship ) and a subsequent number that was assigned but not consistently. Thus, the second and third airship has been referred to as " R9 " and " R23 ." The series ended with " R101 ".

The balloon unity of the army eventually grew to 1905 by different names and locations for based in Farnborough Royal Aircraft Factory ( RAF). The Superintendent of the RAF eventually led in 1911 to a system for designation of a aircraft, which initially was mainly related to contemporary French designs. The prefixes of the names were:

• BE: ( Blériot Experimental ) For airplanes with a tractor propeller
• FE: ( Farman Experimental ) for aircraft with a pusher propeller, from 1913/14, for Fighter Experimental
• SE: ( Santos ( Dumont ) Experimental ) for aircraft with canard design ( canard ), from 1913/14, for Scout Experimental
• RE: ( Reconnaissance experimental) for two-seat aircraft
• T. E.: ( Tatin Experimental )
• B. S.: ( Blériot Scout )
• H.R.E.: ( Hydroplane Reconnaissance Experimental )
• C.E.: (Coastal experimental )
• A. E.: ( Armed Experimental )
• N. E.: ( Night -flying experimental )

Until 1918, there were also individual experiments with alphanumeric systems, but could not prevail. The army, ie the Royal Flying Corps used an alphanumeric system for the example, the Bristol Fighter 1916 as F.2A or has been referred F.2B. Unofficially, but also called Biff or Brisfit.

The use of such " nickname" was becoming more popular within the flying units. Of these unofficial names especially the Pup, the Camel and the 1 ½ Strutter were known. Among the almost forgotten names include, for example, Quirk, Ninak, Tinsyde, Big Ack and Harry Tate.

1917, the system has been thoroughly revised and resembled according to the definition of names assigned to individual specification classes very much the 1918 system. These classes were:

These names were retained in 1918 after the handover of the aircraft to the newly formed Royal Air Force.

1918 system

There was a list of the manufacturers listed in any company alliterativer a letter is assigned (or two). As documented in the tables at the same time restrictions on the naming had to be considered, this system has led to some criticism. The final decree was therefore once again revised and published as Air Publication 547 in January 1919.

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Since the necessary single-seat fighter intended bird names that start with the same or the prescribed letters are very rare, has often resorted to exotic species. For example, the Boulton and Paul Bobolink ( a North American songbird ), Vickers Vireo ( a South American finch ), and the Armstrong - Whitworth Ara. Emerged The Alliterationsvorschrift had officially until 1921 inventory, but also later an attempt was made by the manufacturers on a voluntary basis to find correspondingly suitable name.

1927 system

In the mid- 1920s it was realized that the stock quickly went to names you can use in the present system is running low. In a first step revision models that were only in the drawing board or prototype stage were not provided in 1927 with a name. It was in these cases, only the notation introduced in 1920 the tender requirement ( Air Ministry Specifications ) of the British Air Ministry used (eg.

The system of 1927 was extremely unpopular with the manufacturers, they argued for a return to the old system. Often translated by the manufacturer with respect to the Air Ministry and used to continue even numbers according to the specifications from the year 1918.

1932 system

Then a strongly revised designation system in 1932 prescribed that partially took over the old rules again.

In 1949 there were in this system, some small changes,

• The British Empire was replaced by the Commonwealth, but this was noticeable only in the exclusion of South Africa. South African names were used until then only in two cases: Short Springbok ( 1923) and the Hawker Duiker (1922 ), both of which were deer name,
• Helicopter should be named after trees, but this was actually implemented only at the Bristol Sycamore. Already in the system of 1918, there were a category for trees.

Variants and use identifier

Between the two world wars, a variant identifier was introduced in the form of Roman numerals after the name. Before that usually marks or Mk stood (English Version ). New variant numbers were assigned in a substantial change in the output draft, letters showed minor changes (example: Bristol Bulldog Mk.IIA ).

To account for a change in the original intended use in its name, in 1942 a prefix for the use has been introduced. This resulted, for example, Boulton Paul Defiant Mk.I from the night fighter Defiant NF Mk.II from the turn some were rebuilt as Target Towing Defiant Mk.II TT. Marine versions of land-based types were actually in many cases the prefix Sea of the name (example: From the Spitfire Mk.V the Seafire Mk.I was derived ).

Since 1948 be used instead of Roman numerals Arabic. Over time it became common also omit one or the Mark Mk additive.

Comments

Officially, should be used as the label name of any RAF bases. This, however, remained relatively often unnoticed, such as the Handley Page Heyford (RAF base Upper Heyford ), Short Sarafand (RAF Sarafand in the British protectorate of Palestine), Handley Page Hendon, Fairey Hendon (RAF Hendon ) and the Handley Page Hinaidi ( RAF Hinaidi show near Baghdad ). An unexplained exception of the rules described represents the Fairey III, for never were assigned a name and apparently wore no nicknames.

Sir Charles Portal decreed that no names of famous RAF officers were allowed to be used. However, were used by other famous names of past military personalities Time: Armstrong Whitworth Albemarle (Lord and before General Monk ), Avro Anson ( Admiral Lord ), Bristol Beaufort (Duke and place ), Handley Page Clive ( Clive General ) and Fairey Gordon ( General Gordon ).