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Britain's Fairey Swordfish torpedo-bomber1
Fairey Swordfish:
Fairey Swordfish:
Fairey Swordfish:
Fairey Swordfish:
Fairey Swordfish dropping a depth charge:
Fairey Swordfish Mk I:
Fairey Swordfish Mk II cockpit:
Design
The bi-plane had an open cockpit.1 The frame was fabric covered and was very resilient to damage.1 The pilot used "Gosport tubes" to communicate to the other crew.1
The 7.7 mm Vickers in the front was synchronized to fire through the propeller.1
Prototype
The prototype, known as the T.S.R. II, was flown on April 17, 1934.1,2
Production
Between 1934 and August 18, 19442 2,3911 / 2,3962 Swordfish were produced.1 Blackburn constructed 1,699 Swordfish.1
Variants
- Swordfish Mk I: Slight swept back top wing.2
- Swordfish Mk II: Stronger lower wing to allow for the mounting of rockets.2
- Swordfish Mk III: Had a radar scanner between the mainwheels.1,2
- Swordfish Mk IV: Was the conversion of a Mk II to have a enclosed cabin.2
- Floatplane: Had floatplanes, but the drag and weight reduced its speed a lot.1
Usage
Entered service with the Fleet Air Arm in 1936 and was known as the "Stringbag."1
At the start of the war there were 13 squadrons in the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm.1 A total of 689 Swordfishes had been delivered.2
The first U-Boat sunk by the Fleet Air Arm was made by the Swordfish on April 13, 1940.1
Swordfish sank more ships than all the Royal Navy's battleships combined.1
Taranto
Twenty one Swordfish were used in the attack against the Italian fleet at Taranto on November 11, 1940.1,2 They took off from the HMS Illustrious.1 Two battleships, a cruiser, and a destroyer were sunk.1
Bismarck
Swordfishes were key in slowing down the Bismarck in its last battle.2
Channel Dash
Swordfishes were used in the near suicidal attack on the Scharnhorst, Gneisenau, and Prinz Eugen during their escape through the English Channel in February 1942.2
The End
On May 21, 1945 the last Swordfish squadron was disbanded.1
| Fairey Swordfish Mk II1,2 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Torpedo-bomber1,2 Reconnaissance1 Anti submarine2 |
| Crew | 2-31, 32 Pilot, radio operator/gunner1 |
| Engine (Type) | Bristol Pegasus XXX1,2 piston1 |
| Cylinders | Radial2, Radial-91 |
| Cooling | |
| HP | 7501,2 |
| Propeller blades | 31 |
| Dimensions | |
| Span | 45'1, 45' 6"2 12.87 m2, 13.87 m1 |
| Length | 35' 8"2, 36'1 10.87 m1,2 |
| Height | 12'1, 12' 4"2 3.76 m1,2 |
| Wing area | 607 ft2 1,2 56.39 m2 1,2 |
| Weight | |
| Empty | 4,690 lb1, 4,700 lb2 2,132 kg1,2 |
| Loaded | 7,493 lb1, 7,510 lb2 3,406 kg1, 3,407 kg2 |
| Performance | |
| Speed | 138 mph1 222 kph1 |
| Speed at sea level |
138 mph2 222 kph2 |
| Climb | 1,220'/minute2 372 m/minute2 |
| Service ceiling | 10,690'1, 19,250'2 3,260 m1, 5,865 m2 |
| Range | 546 miles2, 1,028 miles1 879 km2, 1,658 km1 |
| Armament | |
| Fuselage | 1: 7.7 mm Vickers MG1 |
| Forward firing | 1: 7.7 mm MG2 |
| Rear cockpit | 1: 7.7 mm Lewis or Vickers K MG1 1: 7.7 mm MG2 |
| Torpedo | 1: 1,600 lb1 1: 18"2 1: 730 kg1 1: 0.457 m2 |
| OR | |
| Bombs | 1,500 lb1 680 kg1 |
| OR | |
| Rockets | 81 8: 60 lb2 8: 27.2 kg2 |
Sources:
- Aircraft of WWII, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
- Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Editor: Karen Leverington, 1995
