Mark

Variant

Manufacture

Type 683

Prototypes developed from Type 679 Avro Manchester. Three prototypes built serial numbers BT308, DG595, DT810.

A.V. Roe (Newton Heath)

Mk. I

Standard production Lancaster fitted with Rolls-Royce Merlin 20, 22 or 24 - 12 cylinder 60 degree vee-type liquid cooled in line engines with two stage supercharger. Frazer-Nash Front, Mid Upper and Rear hydraulically operated gun turrets.

Metropolitan-Vickers (Trafford Park)
Armstrong Whitworth (Baginton, Bittesell)
A.V. Roe (Newton Heath)
A.V. Roe (Yeadon)
Vickers-Armstrong (Castle Bromwich)
Vickers (Chester)
Austin Motors (Longbridge)

Mk. I (Special)

Modified Lancaster Mk. I designed to carry bomb loads exceeding 12,000 lbws. (Grandslam bombs.) Front and Mid Upper turret often removed to reduce weight and improve center or gravity

A.V. Roe (Newton Heath)

Mk. I (FE)

Modified Lancaster Mk. I to Tropical standard for use in the Far East.

Various

PR. I

Modified Lancaster Mk. I for post-war photographic-reconnaissance use.

Various

Mk. I
(Western Union)

Lancaster Mk. I's supplied to the French Aeronvale under the post-war Western Union arrangements.

Various

Mk. I
(Egyptian)

Overhauled Lancaster Mk. I for the Egyptian Air Force (post-war).

Various

Mk. I
(Civilian)

Lancaster Mk. I converted for post-war civilian use.

Various

Mk. I
(engine test beds)

Lancaster Mk. I used by Rolls-Royce and Armstrong Siddeley for post war engine test bed use.

Various

Mk. II

Standard production Lancaster fitted with Bristol Hercules VI or XVI - 14 cylinder sleeve-valve, air cooled radial engines with two stage centrifugal superchargers. Frazer-Nash Front, Mid Upper and Rear hydraulically operated .303 calibre gun turrets.

Armstrong

Mk. III

Standard production Lancaster fitted with Packard built Merlin 28, 38 or 224 - 12 cylinder 60 degree vee-type liquid cooled in line engines with two stage supercharger. Frazer-Nash Front, Mid Upper and Rear hydraulically operated gun turrets.

A.V. Roe (Newton Heath)
A.V. Roe (Yeadon)
Metropilitan-Vickers (Trafford Park)
Armstrong Whitworth (Baginton, Bittesell)

Mk. III
(Type 464 provisioning)

Dambuster

Modified Lancaster Mk. III designed to carry bomb the "Upkeep" bouncing bomb for the Dam's Raid. Engines same as standard Mk. III. Frazer-Nash Front and Rear hydraulically operated .303 calibre gun turrets only. Mid Upper turret deleted.

A.V. Roe

ASR. 3

Modified Lancaster Mk. III designed for post-war Air-Sea Rescue duties.

Various

GR. 3

Modified Lancaster Mk. III designed for post-war maritime reconnaissance duties.

Various

Mk. IV

Became the Avro Lincoln Mk. I.

N/A

Mk. V

Became the Avro Lincoln Mk. II.

N/A

Mk. VI

Modified Lancaster Mk. III fitted with Rolls-Royce Merlin 85 or 87 engines. Ten existing Lancaster's converted from various Marks.

Various

Mk. VII

Standard production version fitted with Packard built Merlin 28, 38 or 224 - 12 cylinder 60 degree vee-type liquid cooled in line engines with two stage supercharger. Frazer-Nash Front and Rear hydraulically operated gun turrets. Martin CE-250 .50 calibre mid-upper turrets. Some aircraft also had Rose .50 Calibre Rear hydraulically operated turrets installed.

Austin Motors (Longbridge)

Mk. VII
(Western Union)

Lancaster Mk. VII's supplied to the French
Aeronvale under Western Union arrangements.

Austin Motors (Longbridge)

Mk. VIII

Mark number was reserved for future Lancaster development but never used.

N/A

Mk. IX

Mark number was reserved for future Lancaster development but never used.

N/A

Mk. X

Canadian production version fitted with Packard Merlin 224 - 12 cylinder 60 degree vee-type liquid cooled in line engines with two stage supercharger. Frazer-Nash Front and Rear hydraulically operated .303 calibre gun turrets. Martin CE-250 electrically driven .50 Calibre Mid Upper turret, this turret moved forward approximately 5 feet to improve center of gravity.

Victory Aircraft (Malton, Ontario, CDN

Mk. 10 AR

Specially adapted for Arctic reconnaissance, similar to the Mk.10P with extended nose and rear observation windows. Only three aircraft modified to this standard.

Victory Aircraft (Malton, Ontario, CDN)

Mk. 10 AS

Modified Lancaster Mk. X designed for post-war aerial reconnaissance duties.

Victory Aircraft (Malton, Ontario, CDN)

Mk. 10 ASR

Modified Lancaster Mk. X designed for post-war Air-Sea Rescue duties.

Victory Aircraft (Malton, Ontario, CDN)

Mk. 10 BR

Modified Lancaster Mk. X designed for bomber reconnaissance duties; with added fuel capacity, radar torpedoes and depth charges.

Victory Aircraft (Malton, Ontario, CDN)

Mk. 10 DC

Modified Lancaster Mk. X designed to carry two under-wing Ryan Firebee recoverable target drones. Only two aircraft modified to this standard.

Victory Aircraft (Malton, Ontario, CDN)

Mk. 10 MR

Mk. 10 MP

Modified Lancaster Mk. X designed for Maritime reconnaissance and patrol versions with nose and tail turrets, sonobuoy capacity, rear-facing F-24 camera, extra fuel tanks, depth charges, radio and radar navigation aids.

Victory Aircraft (Malton, Ontario, CDN)

Mk. 10 N

Modified Lancaster Mk. X designed for navigation trainer; five modified of which four were given “heavenly” names: Northern Cross, Polaris, Zenith, and Orion. All were unarmed.

Victory Aircraft (Malton, Ontario, CDN)

Mk. 10 O

Modified Lancaster Mk. X designed for engine test bed; one only, modified by removal of two outer Merlin engines and replacement with two Orenda jet engines.

Victory Aircraft (Malton, Ontario, CDN)

Mk. 10 P

Modified Lancaster Mk. X designed for photographic survey and reconnaissance, with no armament, multiple cameras, extra fuel, high- and low-level radio altimeters, and extensive navigational aids.

Victory Aircraft (Malton, Ontario, CDN)

Mk. 10 S

Postwar bomber with mid-upper turret removed.

Victory Aircraft (Malton, Ontario, CDN)

Mk. 10 U

Unmodified wartime bomber.

Victory Aircraft (Malton, Ontario, CDN)

Mk. 10

(Civilian)

Modified Lancaster Mk. X designed for civilian duties.

Victory Aircraft (Malton, Ontario, CDN)