Originally designed as a heavy fighter version of the Bristol Beaufort torpedo bomber, the Beaufighter developed into a multi-role aircraft. Its large size enabled it to carry early AI radar sets along with a heavy armament of four 20mm cannon and six .303 machine guns, making it an effective night fighter.
Later variants were able to carry torpedoes and rockets for the strike role, where it was employed for anti-shipping strikes and ground attack.
The Bristol Beaufighter TF Mark X was derived from the Mk VI by substituting Hercules Mark XVII, which developed 1,735 hp at 500 feet. It was optimised for low level performance where the torpedo and anti-shipping attacks occurred. Later models had an additional tail fillet to improved stability.
Bristol Beaufighter TF Mark X, line drawingBristol Beaufighter TF Mark X being refueledBristol Beaufighters TF Mark XsBristol Beaufighters TF Mark Xs of 144 Sqn flying low over the North Sea on their way back to Dallachy after a strike, March 1944Bristol Beaufighter TF Mark Xs of No. 455 Squadron RAAF, about to depart from Langham, NorfolkBristol Beaufighter TF Mark X of 144 Sqn armed with rocket projectilesBristol Beaufighter TF Mark XBristol Beaufighter TF Mark X, RD826 Malaysia Post WarBristol Beaufighter TF Mark X, NV207 of 404 Sqn RCAF based at Dallachy Scotland February 1945Bristol Beaufighter TF Mark X, NV135Bristol Beaufighter TF Mark X, NT950 MB-T of 236 Sqn based at North Coates, LincolnshireBristol Beaufighter TF Mark X, NT946, of 489 Sqn RNZAF, carrying an 18-inch torpedoBristol Beaufighter TF Mark X, NT921 of 254 Sqn loaded with two 250-lb GP bombs under the fuselage and two 250-lb depth charges under each wingBristol Beaufighter TF Mark X, NE798, of No. 455 Sqn RAAF, in its dispersal at Langham, Norfolk, carrying two 500-lb MC bombs on a centreline attachment under the fuselageBristol Beaufighter TF Mark X, NE355Bristol Beaufighter TF Mark X, NE343 with rocket projectiles and a 200-gallon external fuel tankBristol Beaufighter TF Mark X, NE285 operating in the Far EastBristol Beaufighter TF Mark X, NE209 P6-J of 489 (NZ) SqnBristol Beaufighter TF Mark X, LZ293 MB-TBristol Beaufighter TF Mark X, LZ203 of 236 Sqn Coastal CommandBristol Beaufighter TF Mark X, LZ172Bristol Beaufighter TF Mark X, LZ114Bristol Beaufighter TF Mark X, LZ114Bristol Beaufighter TF Mark X, LZ114Bristol Beaufighter TF Mark X, LZ114Bristol Beaufighter TF Mark X, LZ114Bristol Beaufighter TF Mark X, LX803Bristol Beaufighter TF Mark X, LX803Bristol Beaufighter TF Mark X, 144 Sqn Tunisia 1943Beaufighter TF Mark XBeaufighter TF Mark XBeaufighter TF Mark XAn RAAF Bristol Beaufighter TF Mark X, A9-173Beaufighter TF Mark XBristol Beaufighter TF Mark X, RD767Bristol Beaufighter TF Mark X, NE343 with rocket projectiles and a 200-gallon external fuel tankBeaufighter TF Mark XBristol Beaufighter TF Mark X, RD767A line of Bristol Beaufighter TF Mark Xs of No. 603 Sqn start their engines at Gambut 3, Libya.Rearming a 489 Sqn RNZAF Bristol Beaufighter TF Mark X with a torpedo July 1944Bristol Beaufighter TF Mark X cockpitDamaged Bristol Beaufighter TF Mark X, NE831 PL-O of 144 Sqn after an attack on Destroyer Z-33Bristol Beaufighter TF Mark X of 455 Sqn RAAF 12 September 1944 with a trawlers mast embedded in its wing.
Bristol Beaufighter Armament
Bristol Beaufighter TF Mark X being refueledArmourers check the connections to of 3-inch rocket projectiles of a Bristol Beaufighter TF Mark X of 404 SqnBristol Beaufighter TF Mark X, being loaded with rocket projectilesBristol Beaufighter TF Mark X, NE355 2-H, of 404 Sqn RCAF, fully loaded with rocket projectilesArming a Bristol Beaufighter TF Mark X with 3-inch rocket projectiles at Alghero, Sardinia. An armourer loads 3-inch rockets onto Bristol Beaufighter TF Mark X LZ295 2-Z of 404 Sqn RCAFArmourers fitting 25-lb armour-piercing heads to 3-inch rockets and loading them onto a Bristol Beaufighter TF Mark X of 144 SqnA rocket projectile being loaded under the wing of Bristol Beaufighter TF Mark X, NE646 ‘V’, of 211 Sqn
