Bristol 164 Brigand RH742
The Brigand was
developed as a replacement for the Beaufighter. Initially
developed as a
torpedo bomber,
production machines were only delivered after hostilities had
ceased. Des-
spite several
technical difficulties (problems with the 20 mm cannon operation, dive
brake
failures et al) the
aircraft was used with success in Malaya in 1949 in the fight against
the CTs
(Communist
Terrorists). Incidentally, Malaya (or Malaysia, as it now
is) was the only theater
of operations in which
Communism, having started its encroachment, was defeated. Much of
this success is
attributable to the close cooperation performed in those days between
the RAF
strike
forces and the ground troops. The Brigand was
eventually replaced by the Canberra.