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Baynes Bat, (1943) experimental glider for testing design of a tank carrying glider; General Aircraft Hamilcar, (1942) 7 t (6.9 long tons) of cargo and 2 crew. 412 built. General Aircraft Hamilcar Mk. X, Motorised version with 2x Bristol Mercury 31 of 965 hp. 22 examples converted
Data from Fighting Gliders of World War II, [39] British Warplanes of World War II, [40] BAE Systems. General characteristics. Crew: Two; Capacity: 28 troops / 2x ¼ton trucks / 1x M3A1 Howitzer + ¼ton truck with ammunition and crew / (20–25 troops was the "standard" Mark I load) [17] Length: 67 ft 0 in (20.42 m) Wingspan: 88 ft 0 in (26.82 m)
General Aircraft Hamilcar – British Aircraft of World War II; Hamilcar Glider page on d-daytanks.org.uk – includes pictures of the Hamilcar Glider parked and being towed. "Hamilcar Glider: A Survey of the Mammoth British tank-carrying Transport Glider" Flight 14 December 1944 pp. 634–638, 646; Hamilcar X Flight 1945
Baynes Bat (RAF) tailless tank carrying glider; Boulton Paul P.92 (RAF) turret fighter half scale prototype; Bristol Type 138 (RAF) high-altitude research; Folland Fo.108 engine testbed (operated by engine manufacturers) General Aircraft GAL.56 (RAF) tailless swept wing glider; Gloster E.28/39 (RAF) jet propelled aircraft
The British glider development started in mid-1940, prompted by the assault on Eben Emael. Among the types developed were the 28 trooper Airspeed Horsa and the 7-ton capacity General Aircraft Hamilcar cargo glider. The Hamilcar could carry vehicles, anti-tank guns and light tanks into action.
The General Aircraft GAL.48 Hotspur was a military glider designed and built by the British company General Aircraft Ltd during World War II.When the British airborne establishment was formed in 1940 by order of Prime Minister Winston Churchill, it was decided that gliders would be used to transport airborne troops into battle.
The British escape officer decided that the glider should be available for use in case the SS ordered the massacre of the prisoners as a way to get a message out to approaching American troops. The glider was approaching completion when the American Army liberated the prisoners on 16 April 1945.
Silent Skies: Gliders At War 1939–1945. Barnsley, UK: Pen & Sword Military, 2008. ISBN 0-7503-0633-5. March, Daniel J. British Warplanes of World War II. London: Aerospace Publishing, 1998. ISBN 1-874023-92-1. Mondey, David. The Hamlyn Concise Guide to British Aircraft of World War II. London: Chancellor Press, 2002. ISBN 1-85152-668-4.