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Britain's Fairey Albacore torpedo-bomber1
Fairey Albacore:
Fairey Albacore:
Fairey Albacore:
Fairey Albacore:
Design
The design of the Fairey Albacore was an improved Fairey Swordfish.1
Prototype
The Albacore prototype first flew in December 1938.1 It had a wheeled undercarriage.1 The second prototype had twin floats.1
Production
A total of 798 Albacores was produced.1
Variants
Usage
Entered service with the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm in 1940.1
First Action
The first action of the Albacores was an attack on Boulogne in September 1940.1
Battle of Cape Matapan
The HMS Formidable sent off Albacores during the Battle of Cape Matapan in March 1941.1
Battle of Alamein
Albacores took part in the Battle of Alamein in October 1942.1
| Fairey Albacore1 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Torpedo bomber1 |
| Crew | 31 |
| Engine (Type) | Bristol Taurus II piston1 |
| Cylinders | Radial1 |
| Cooling | |
| HP | 1,0651 |
| Propeller blades | |
| Dimensions | |
| Span | 50'1 15.24 m1 |
| Length | 39' 9.5"1 12.13 m1 |
| Height | 15' 3"1 4.65 m1 |
| Wing area | 623 ft2 1 57.88 m2 1 |
| Weight | |
| Empty | 7,200 lb1 3,266 kg1 |
| Loaded | 12,600 lb1 5,715 kg1 |
| Performance | |
| Speed @ 7,000' / 2,135 m |
161 mph1 259 kph1 |
| Climb to 6,000' / 1,830 m |
8 minutes1 |
| Service ceiling | 20,700'1 6,310 m1 |
| Range | 820 miles1 1,319 km1 |
| Armament | |
| Forward firing | 1: 7.7 mm Vickers MG1 |
| Rear cockpit | 2: 7.7 mm Vickers "K" MGs1 |
| Torpedo | 18"1 0.45 m1 |
| OR | |
| Bombs | 2,000 lb1 907 kg1 |
Sources:
- Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Editor: Karen Leverington, 1995
