[2.0] Canberra In Foreign Service

* Along with its extensive service in the UK, the Canberra was also widely exported, with about a dozen foreign countries using the type. The Canberra proved very profitable for English Electric, and its users found the machine a good buy for the money.

[2.1] CANBERRA IN AUSTRALIAN & NEW ZEALAND SERVICE

* Even before the Canberra entered RAF operational service, there was interest in foreign purchases from the USA and Australia. In fact, the Americans would become the second-biggest user of the Canberra as the "B-57", though the B-57 would end up being a different beast -- in a few cases, a very different beast -- from the British Canberra.

The B-57 is the subject of the next chapter. The Australians were keenly interested in the Canberra, and in fact it is suspected that the name "Canberra" was selected to help close the deal with the Aussies. A license manufacturing deal was set up; two B.2s were diverted from RAF contracts as pattern aircraft, with deliveries in 1951:1952. Two T.4s were either passed on from the RAF or diverted from RAF contracts, to be delivered in 1956.

In addition, three B.2s were loaned for trials use by the Weapons Research Establishment (WRE) at Woomera: one was never actually transferred, the other arrived in 1952 and was returned in 1957, the third arrived in 1953 and was returned in 1957. Ironically, the third machine became a U.10 target drone and was sent back to Woomera, where it was shot down in 1965.

Australian production of the B.2 began at the Government Aircraft Factory (GAF) near Melbourne in 1951, with initial flight of a GAF-built "Canberra Mark 20", as the type was known in Aussie service, on 29 May 1953. The Mark 20 was not exactly the same as the B.2, since it featured the wet wing introduced in the British B.5 and B.6, had improved avionics, and only had two crew. It does not appear to have had the fuselage stretch.

A total of 48 Mark 20s was built into 1958. The last 21 were built with the more powerful Avon 109 engines instead of the Avon 101s of earlier production. Following the end of Mark 20 production, five of these machines were converted to "Mark 21" dual-control trainer spec, with the two B.2 pattern aircraft obtained initially also upgraded to this spec and given the Mark 21 designation. That gave 2 B.2 bombers; 4 T.4 trainers; and 48 Mark 20 bombers, for a total of 54 Canberras in Aussie service -- not counting the B.2 loaners and seven Mark 21 trainer rebuilds. Australian Canberras saw a fair amount of combat duty in Vietnam. Number 2 Squadron was transferred to Phan Rang Air Base in 1967, with their machines updated with improved avionics, such as a TACAN navigation system, and underwing stores pylons. The Aussie Canberras flew over 10,000 sorties from April 1967 into May 1971, generally in support of Australian troops in the field. Two were destroyed in combat, with one crew being lost and the other rescued. After the conflict, Aussie Canberras were used in a declining fashion in reconnaissance and target-tug roles, with the type finally withdrawn from service in 1982.

* New Zealand also operated a Canberra force. After placing an order, the New Zealanders were loaned as a stopgap 17 B.4s and 3 T.4s, with all these machines, except two that had crashed, returned in 1962. By that time the New Zealanders received their own machines, including 11 "B(I).12" attack aircraft and two "T.13" trainers, for a total of 13 Canberras. The B(I).12 was a B(I).8 with an autopilot and an additional fuel tank in the bomb bay; the first aircraft in the order was a modified RAF B(I).8, the other ten were built to order. The T.13s were effectively T.4s, with one built new, the other refurbished from RAF stocks.

The Canberras were obtained to help New Zealand maintain a Commonwealth military presence in Southeast Asia to help deal with Indonesian sabre-rattling, the operation being known by the appropriate name of CONFRONTATION. That was why the New Zealanders were provided with loaners until their own machines were delivered, since they had to meet an ongoing operational requirement. An understanding with the Indonesians was finally obtained in 1966, ending the standoff. In 1970, the eight surviving B(I).12 and the two T.13s were sold to India -- see below.

[2.2] CANBERRA IN VENEZUELAN & PERUVIAN SERVICE

* Venezuela was one of the early adopters of the Canberra, following up on the US and Australian licensing deals, and would become a very enthusiastic buyer for the type, resulting in a long order history:

• The initial buy was for six new B.2s, two of them diverted from RAF contracts, with deliveries in 1952.
  
  
• A second batch was delivered in 1957:1958, consisting of eight B(I).8 machines and two T.4s. All were new-build aircraft, though one of the B(I).8s had been ordered by Egypt and then embargoed -- Egypt would never be a Canberra user -- and the two T.4s were from an RAF order that was canceled early on; they never had British serials.
  
  
• A third batch was obtained in 1965:1967, consisting of twelve B.2s and two PR.3s, all refurbished from RAF stocks. Four of the B.2s were actually kitted up to an intruder configuration like the B(I), with the cannon pack and underwing stores pylons, and were referred with the designation of "Canberra B(I).2". Venezuela was the only Canberra user to use this particular Canberra configuration.

That gave 18 B.2 / B(I) bombers; 2 PR.3 reconnaissance machines; 2 T.4 trainers; and 8 B(I).8 intruders, for a total of 30 Canberras in Venezuelan service.

The Venezuelans really liked their Canberras, and flew them into the 1990s. There were a series of upgrade and life-extension programs, with the updated machines redesignated by adding "80" to the original designation: "B.82", "B(I).82", "T.84", and "B(I).88". It seems that the upgraded machines had fairly state of the art avionics and weaponry, and it's a bit of a pity that details are hard to find as to what their configurations were. They were finally withdrawn in 1990.

* Peru displayed a similar enthusiasm for the Canberra; the order history was even more elaborate:

• The initial buy was for eight B(I).8 machines delivered in 1956:1957, four diverted from RAF stocks, four being new-build. A ninth new-build B(I).8 was obtained in 1960 as an attrition replacement.
  
  
• Six refurbished B.2s and two T.4s were delivered in 1966:1967. They were updated after delivery to the enhanced "T.72" and "T.74" trainer standards respectively.
  
  
• A total of six refurbished B.2s and B.6s (three each), updated to an improved B(I).6 standard designated "B(I).56", was delivered in 1969.
  
  
• A single refurbished B(I).8 was obtained in 1971 as an attrition replacement, being updated to "B(I).68" standard.
  
  
• A single refurbished T.4 was obtained in 1973, with the machine upgraded to T.74 spec.
  
  
• Eleven refurbished B(I).8 machines, upgraded to B(I).68 standard, were obtained in 1975:1978, with the refurbishment contracted out to Marshall of Cambridge.
  
  
• In 1991, Peru obtained five B(I).12 machines that had been retired from South African service. An SAAF T.4 was obtained in 1993 as well.

That gave 2 B.2 bombers; 10 T.4 [T.72, T.74] trainers; 6 B(I).6 [B(I).56] intruders; and 26 B(I).8 [B(I).68, B(I).12] intruders, for a total of 44 Canberras in Peruvian service. As with Venezuelan Canberras, Peruvian Canberras carried an interesting range of stores.

[2.3] CANBERRA IN INDIAN SERVICE

* The biggest Canberra user after the UK and the US was India:

• The first order included 53 new-build B(I).8, six T.4, and eight PR.7 machines, built to an improved spec and given designations "B(I).58", "T.54", and "PR.57" respectively. 18 of the B(I).58s, two of the T.54s, and three of the PR.57s were diverted from RAF contracts.
  
  
• The initial contract also included an option for 11 more new-build B(I).58s and one new-build T.54, with the option being exercised the machines being delivered in 1958:1959.
  
  
• The second order included six new-build B(I).58s, delivered in 1963.
  
  
• The third order included one T.54 and three PR.57s, all refurbished T.4 and PR.7 machines, with deliveries in 1963.
  
  
• The fourth order included a single T.54, refurbished from a T.4 and delivered in 1968.
  
  
• The fifth order included ten "B(I).66" machines, refurbished from B.6s, and two "PR.67s", refurbished from PR.7s to a slightly improved spec compared to the PR.57. Deliveries were in 1970:1971.
  
  
• The sixth and final order was for six refurbished T.4 machines, fitted up in India as "TT.418" target tugs. They were generally similar to UK TT.18s, with a Rushton winch / target module under each wing.

India also obtained eight B(I).12 and two T.13 machines from New Zealand in 1970. That gave 14 T.4 [T.54, T.13, TT.418] trainers; 6 B(I).6 [B(I).66] intruders; 13 PR.7 [PR.57, PR.67] reconnaissance machines; and 78 B(I).8 [B(I).58, B(I).12] intruders, for a total of 112 Canberras in Indian service.

Indian Canberras saw plenty of combat, though ironically their "first blood" was in Africa, with Indian Air Force (IAF) Canberras deployed as part of a United Nations peacekeeping force in the Congo, where the aircraft performed strikes against insurgent groups in 1961:1962. IAF Canberras also performed attacks on Pakistani targets in the 1965 Indo-Pakistan War, though results were disappointing, mostly due to poor mission planning and preparation. Two were shot down by Pakistani fighters -- one by an F-86, the other by an F-104, both using Sidewinder AAMs -- and three were destroyed on the ground, ironically by Martin B-57 Canberras supplied to Pakistan by the USA.

The IAF learned the lessons from the 1965 war, and on the next round, the 1971 Indo-Pakistan War, IAF Canberras fared better, with B(I) machines proving very effective in the attack role they had been designed for, and PR machines providing reconnaissance support. A total of seven IAF Canberras was lost in the fighting. The Canberra served on with the IAF in a declining fashion into the 21st century, being finally retired in 2007.

[2.4] CANBERRA IN OTHER FOREIGN SERVICE

* Canberras also served in lesser quantities with a number of other nations:

• Argentina obtained ten ex-RAF B.2s and two ex-RAF T.4s in 1970:1971, for a total of 12. These refurbished machines were given the export designations of "B.62" and "T.64" respectively. The B.62s had some additional avionics and underwing pylons, fitted with a dual stores adapter capable of mounting twin rocket pods or other stores under each, for a total of four stores. It is unclear if the dual stores scheme was ever fitted to other Canberras. The Argentine machines were painted in a nice disruptive camouflage color scheme.
  
  The Argentines were supposed to obtain another refurbished B.2, designated "B.92", and a refurbished T.4, designated "T.94", a decade later, but these machines were not delivered because of the war between the UK and Argentina over the Falkland Islands in 1981. Argentine Canberras fought in the conflict, with one shot down by a Sea Harrier with a Sidewinder AAM, and another shot down by a SAM.
  
  
• Three ex-RAF PR.9s were transferred to Chile in 1982. The story behind these machines is murky: the Chileans and the Argentines weren't getting along well in that era, and it is believed that the Chileans very secretly provided assistance to the British during the Falklands conflict. The PR.9s may have been a reward for services granted -- there does seem to have been something of a conspiracy in the deal, but the details are foggy. Chile was the only foreign operator of the PR.9. The survivors were retired in 1998.
  
  
• Ecuador obtained six Canberra B.6s in 1955, all new-build machines manufactured directly to an Ecuadorian contract. They lingered in service into the 1980s.
  
  
• Ethiopia obtained four ex-RAF B.2s in 1968. It is believed they were all destroyed or otherwise out of service by the early 1980s.
  
  
• France obtained a total of six new-build Canberras in 1954 and 1955, all for trials use. The deliveries included three B.6s diverted from RAF contracts, plus one B.6s and two B(I).6s built directly to a French contract. One of the B.6s was later fitted with a B(I).8 front fuselage. They were used for missile, avionics, and engine tests and were phased out of service in the 1970s and 1980s.
  
  
• Rhodesia obtain 15 ex-RAF B.2s and three T.4s in 1959, for a total of 18 Canberras. When Rhodesia unilaterally declared independence in 1965, spares supply was cut off. Pyrotechnic starter cartridges for the Avon engines quickly became a problem, but the Rhodesians built carts hauling four compressed-air cylinders and used them for starting instead. In 1971, elements of three Rhodesian Canberras were used to build a dedicated PR Canberra with a sophisticated camera payload.
  
  When Rhodesia became Zimbabwe in 1980, only about half the original fleet of Canberras was still flying. Another B.2 and a T.4 were supplied in 1981.
  
  
• South Africa obtained six B(I).12s, like those sold to New Zealand, in the 1963:1964 timeframe. These were all new-build aircraft, and in fact the last of the batch was the last Canberra built in the UK. The South Africans also obtained three T.4s, all refurbished from RAF stocks, for a total of nine Canberras. They saw plenty of action in the 1970s and 1980, fighting SWAPO insurgents and performing large numbers of strikes in Angola. They were also used for reconnaissance and EW. One was shot down in 1979, the crew being killed. All the surviving aircraft were retired in 1990. Five B(I).12s and a T.4 were sold to Peru, as discussed above.
  
  
• Sweden obtained two ex-RAF B.2s in 1959 as avionics trials aircraft, with these aircraft fitted with T.11-type conical noses. These machines were given the local designation of "Tp.52". They may have also been used as ELINT platforms. They were retired in 1973 and put into local air museums.
  
  
• West Germany obtained three ex-RAF B.2s in 1965 for trials use. These were the only British combat jets to ever serve with the Luftwaffe, though the Hawker Sea Hawk had served with the Germany Navy. One of the roles of these Canberras appears to have been as a surveillance platform, flying along the border to keep an eye on the East Germans.