View source for Consolidated XB-41 Liberator

{{short description|American bomber escort prototype}}
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{{Infobox aircraft
  |name =XB-41 Liberator
  |image = XB-41 Liberator 060713-F-1234S-039.jpg
  |caption =
  |type = [[Gunship#Bomber escort|Bomber escort]]
  |manufacturer =[[Consolidated Aircraft]]
  |designer =
  |first_flight =
  |introduction =
  |retired = 
  |status = Cancelled
  |primary_user = [[United States Army Air Forces]]
  |more_users =
  |produced =
  |number_built = 1
  |unit cost =
  |developed_from = [[Consolidated B-24 Liberator]]
  |variants =
}}

The '''Consolidated XB-41 Liberator''' was a single [[Consolidated Aircraft|Consolidated]] [[Consolidated B-24 Liberator|B-24D Liberator]] bomber, serial ''41-11822'', which was modified for the long-range escort role for U.S. [[Eighth Air Force]] bombing missions over [[Europe]] during [[World War II]].

==Design and development==
When the USAAF started strategic bombing in Europe there were no fighters available to escort the bombers all the way to distant targets. The bombers carried several defensive guns and formed up in boxes so that they could provide mutually covering fire but there was interest in providing more firepower for the formation.
The XB-41 Liberator was outfitted with 14 [[.50 BMG|.50 caliber]] (12.7 mm) machine guns. This was achieved by adding a second dorsal turret and a remotely operated Bendix turret (of the same type as fitted to the [[Boeing YB-40 Flying Fortress|YB-40]]) under the chin to the standard twin gun tail turret and twin gun retractable ventral [[ball turret]], plus twin mount guns at each waist window.<ref name=AinA>Davis 1987, p.24.</ref> The port waist mount was originally covered by a [[Plexiglas]] bubble; testing showed this caused severe optical distortion and it was removed.<ref name="AinA"/>

The XB-41 carried 12,420 rounds of ammunition, 4,000 rounds of which were stored in the bomb bay as a reserve.<ref name=AinA/> It was powered by four {{convert|1250|hp|kW|abbr=on}} [[Pratt & Whitney R-1830]]-43 [[radial engine]]s.

==Operational history==
On 29 January 1943, the sole XB-41 was delivered to [[Eglin Field]], Florida. Tests were carried out for two months at Eglin during February 1943.<ref>[http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_XB-41_Liberator.html Consolidated XB-41 Liberator]. Historyofwar.org. Retrieved on 2011-10-31.</ref> These indicated significant problems with the aircraft; on 21 March 1943, the Army declared the XB-41 as unsuitable for operational use;<ref name=AinA/> the conversion of thirteen Liberators to YB-41 service test aircraft was cancelled. Despite this, Consolidated continued to work on the XB-41 prototype; wide-blade propellers were fitted, and some of the armor was removed to reduce the aircraft's weight. Tests resumed at Eglin on 28 July 1943; however, the basic flaws of the "gunship" concept remained, and the XB-41 program was abandoned. The prototype XB-41 was redesignated TB-24D; it served as an instructional airframe for training mechanics on the B-24.<ref name=AinA/> It was scrapped at [[Maxwell Field]], Alabama on 2 February 1945.

==Specifications (XB-41)==
{{Aircraft specs
|prime units?=imp

|ref={{cn|date=June 2020}}
|crew=nine
|length ft=66
|length in=4
|length m=20.22 
|span ft=110
|span in=0
|span m=33.54 
|height ft=17
|height in=11
|height m=5.46 
|max takeoff weight lb=63,000 
|max takeoff weight kg=28,576 
|eng1 name=[[Pratt & Whitney R-1830]]-43
|eng1 type=[[radial engine]]s
|eng1 number=4
|eng1 hp=1,250  
|eng1 kw=934 
|max speed mph=289 
|max speed kmh=465  
|range miles=3,100 
|range km=4,989  
|ceiling ft=28,500 
|ceiling m=8,689 
|guns=14× [[.50 BMG|.50 in(12.7 mm)]] [[M2 Browning machine gun]]s
}}

==See also==
{{aircontent
|related=
* [[Boeing YB-40 Flying Fortress]]
* [[Consolidated B-24 Liberator]]
|sequence=
* [[Boeing XB-38 Flying Fortress|XB-38]] - [[Boeing XB-39 Superfortress|XB-39]] - [[Boeing YB-40 Flying Fortress|YB-40]] - '''XB-41''' - [[Douglas XB-42 Mixmaster|XB-42]] - [[Douglas XB-43 Jetmaster|XB-43]] - [[Boeing XB-44 Superfortress|XB-44]]
|lists=
* [[List of bomber aircraft]]
* [[List of military aircraft of the United States]]
|see also=
}}

==References==
;Notes
{{reflist}}
{{commons category|Consolidated XB-41 Liberator}}
;Bibliography
{{refbegin}}
* Andrade, John M. ''U.S. Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909''. Earl Shilton, Leicester: Midland Counties Publications, 1979. {{ISBN|0-904597-22-9}}. 
* Birdsall, Steve. ''Log Of The Liberators''. Garden City, New York: Doubleday and Company, 1973. {{ISBN|0-385-03870-4}}.
* Davis, Larry. ''B-24 Liberator in action''. Aircraft in Action No. 80. Carrollton, Texas: Squadron/Signal Publications, 1987. {{ISBN|0-89747-190-3}}.
{{refend}}

{{Consolidated B-24 Liberator family}}
{{USAF bomber aircraft}}

[[Category:Consolidated aircraft|B-41]]
[[Category:1940s United States bomber aircraft|Consolidated B-41 Liberator]]
[[Category:1940s United States fighter aircraft]]
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