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Britain's Blackburn Skua dive bomber1
Blackburn Skua:
Design
The Blackburn Skua was initially designed to be a Royal Navy dive bomber from a specification given in 1934.1,2
Prototype
The Skua prototype first flew on February 9, 1937.1,2
Production
The initial order for Skuas was for 190.1 154 of these were completed by the start of World War II.1
- Total: 1922
Variants
- Skua Mk I: The prototype and one additional aircraft.1 Used Bristol Mercury IX (840 HP) radial engine.1,2
- Skua Mk II: Production model.1
Usage
At the start of World War II the Nos. 800, 801, 803, and 806 Squadrons were equipped with the Skua.1
First German shot down
Lieutenant B. S. McEwen shot down a Dornier Do 18 on September 25, 1939, over the North Sea, to be the first German aircraft shot down by a British aircraft.1 He was a member of the No. 803 Squadron from the HMS Ark Royal.1
Norwegian Battles
On April 10, 1940, flying from Hatston to Bergen, Skuas of the Nos. 800 and 803 Squadrons sank the German cruiser Konigsberg.1,2
Dunkirk
No. 801 Squadron was used at the defense of Dunkirk.1,2
Oran
Skuas from the HMS Ark Royal were used in the attack on the French fleet at Oran harbor in September 1940.1
Withdrawn from service
In August 1941 the Skuas were with drawn from service and were replaced by Fulmars and Sea Hurricanes.1
| Blackburn Skua Mk II1 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Carrier dive bomber1,2 Carrier fighter1 |
| Crew | 21,2 |
| Engine (Type) | Bristol Perseus XII piston1,2 |
| Cylinders | 92 |
| Cooling | |
| HP | 8901, 9052 |
| Propeller blades | 32 |
| Dimensions | |
| Span | 46' 2"1,2 14.07 m1,2 |
| Length | 35' 7"1,2 10.84 m1, 10.85 m2 |
| Height | 12' 6"1,2 3.81 m1,2 |
| Wing area | 319 ft2 1 29.64 m2 1 |
| Weight | |
| Empty | 5,496 lb1,2 2,493 kg1,2 |
| Loaded | 8,228 lb1,2 3,732 kg1,2 |
| Performance | |
| Speed @ 6,500' / 1,980 m |
225 mph1, 229 mph2 362 kph1, 368 kph2 |
| Climb | 1,580'/minute1,2 480 m/minute2, 482 m/minute1 |
| Service ceiling | 20,200'1,2 6,155 m1, 6,157 m2 |
| Range | 435 miles1, 800 miles2 700 km1, 1,287 km2 |
| Armament | |
| Wings | 4: 7.7 mm MG1 4: 0.303" MG2 |
| Rear cockpit | 1: 7.7 mm MG1 1: 0.303" MG2 |
| Bomb | 1: 500 lb1,2 1: 227 kg1,2 |
Sources:
- Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Editor: Karen Leverington, 1995
- Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
