Which bomber introduced the RAF's first enclosed, powered…

Which bomber introduced the RAF's first enclosed, powered nose turret?

Short answer

The Boulton Paul Overstrand: the first aircraft fitted with a fully enclosed, power-operated turret. A development of the Boulton Paul Sidestrand, which had first flown in 1928, it carried the turret in the nose, with three.303 in (7.7 mm) Lewis guns split between it and the dorsal and ventral positions.

Published: November 5, 2026 · Updated: November 5, 2026 · Edited by Above Ten Thousand · Editorial policy

Which bomber introduced the RAF's first enclosed, powered nose turret?

BP Overstrand

A bomber derived from the Sidestrand

The Overstrand was a development of the Boulton Paul Sidestrand, an aircraft that had made its first flight in 1928. Among the changes in the new machine was a noticeable sweep added to the outer wing sections, intended to compensate for the greater weight of the nose section. Power came from two nine-cylinder Bristol Pegasus IIM.3 radials, each rated at 580 hp (430 kW). With these, it reached a maximum speed of 148 mph (238 km/h, 129 kn) at 6,500 ft (2,000 m), and could carry a bomb load of up to 1,500 lb (680 kg).

The turret that made it unique

The Overstrand was the first aircraft fitted with a fully enclosed, power-operated turret. Its defensive armament consisted of three.303 in (7.7 mm) Lewis machine guns, distributed between the nose turret and the dorsal and ventral gun positions.

A single squadron

The RAF acquired a total of 24 Overstrands, a number that made it possible to fully replace the Sidestrands flown by No. 101 Squadron — the only squadron equipped with the type — in a process that began in January 1935.