Bristol Type X turret prototype Filton 1943
The Bristol Type X was designed as a replacement for the earlier Blenheim turret Mk I series. To improve performance, the complex B.I actuating system with its maze of pipes and prone-to-leakage glands and rams was abandoned in favor of hydraulic motors. Two guns were installed, one on each side of the gunner, significantly expanding the field of view. While the design sacrificed a clean fuselage outline, it included a large cut-out behind the turret to enhance firing capabilities in the low rear sector.
The twin Browning guns were fed from ammunition boxes mounted on the sides, with belts channeled up over feed rollers into the gun feedway. Spent links and cases were ingeniously carried away by a circular receiver and ejected through long chutes, safely disposing of them overboard. A persistent issue with the B.I was the gunner’s escape difficulty. However, the Type X addressed this concern with a sizable jettisonable panel in the cupola’s roof, intended for use during forced landings or accidents during take-off and landing. Since Blenheim sorties were mainly conducted at low altitude, bailing out was not a viable option. For maintenance and replacement, hoisting brackets were added to the gun ring housing as requested by gunnery officers, allowing armorers to lift the entire turret easily. The illustrations reveal a comprehensive set of services, including three floodlights. A new control column was implemented, retaining the ‘handlebar’ configuration but with master valve control levers on each handle. The guns were fired using Magnavox solenoid units, controlled by a push-button unit mounted on the right control handle.