The Hamilcar was a massive wooden glider some 33.5 m long, with a wing span of 20.7 m and could carry a load of 7.9 tonnes. It was designed to carry armoured vehicles, guns and other heavy equipment and had to be tugged by powerful Halifax bombers. The Hamilcar had a hinged nose and was designed to use the weight of the cargo to tip the aircraft forward on landing so that there was no need for a ramp when unloading. The crews of the cargo vehicles remained in them throughout the trip and when nearing the ground would start their engines for a fast get-away.
An RAF reconnaissance photograph of DZ N showing discarded parachutes and Horsa gliders. Many of the gliders’ tails have been detached for rapid unloading. A Hamilcar glider (a slightly different shape from the Horsa when seen from above) is near the bottom right hand corner of the photo.