The Bristol Buccaneer was a torpedo bomber derivative of the Beaufighter developed by Bristol from May 1942. Using a new fuselage bringing the crew together in the cockpit area, the design was originally intended to use the unchanged wings and Hercules engine of the Beaufighter allowing comparatively rapid development and considerable production efficiencies, however concern grew late in the year that the design was running out of growth margin, in particular weight increases meant that the span had to be increased, meaning a new wing design and a decision was made to switch to the Centaurus-engined wing of the Buckingham, a decision which ultimately led to the design entering service as the Brigand TF.I, but only after VJ Day.
If the limited growth margins had been accepted and the weight kept down to allow the continued use of the Beaufighter wing, then the Buccaneer might have entered service rather earlier than the Brigand, early enough to see useful service. The initial anticipated first flight for the Buccaneer was November 1943, which would have given entry into operational service sometime in the late summer of 1944.
