How many Albemarles were cancelled?

Short answer

Of the Albemarle, 478 aircraft from the second production batch were cancelled, out of original orders for 1,080 planes. On top of that came the Soviet contract for 200 units signed in October 1942, whose deliveries Moscow suspended and eventually cancelled in favour of the Douglas C-47.

Published: November 2, 2026 · Updated: November 2, 2026 · Edited by Above Ten Thousand · Editorial policy

Albemarle towing a Horsa glider

An order for 1,080 aircraft

The original orders for the Albemarle covered 1,080 aircraft, but 478 from the second production batch were cancelled. The programme had started in October 1938, when 200 aircraft were ordered "off the drawing board," that is, directly from the design stage. Even at that late stage of development the design underwent several modifications, including an extensive redesign of the airframe structure carried out by Lloyd in Coventry. Production of the Albemarle was brought to an end in December 1944.

The 200 Soviet Albemarles

The Soviet Air Force signed a contract in October 1942 for the delivery of 200 Albemarles. The Soviet government suspended deliveries and eventually cancelled them in favour of the plentiful American Douglas C-47 Skytrains. From RAF stocks, ten Albemarles were eventually delivered to the Russian air force.