Fairey Swordfish
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| Fairey Swordfish | ||
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| Description | ||
| Role | Carrier-borne biplane torpedo bomber | |
| Crew | 3 | |
| First flight | April 17, 1934 | |
| Entered service | July 1936 | |
| Manufacturer | Fairey, Blackburn | |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 35 ft 8 in | 10.87 m |
| Wingspan | 45 ft 6 in | 13.87 m |
| Height | 12 ft 4 in | 3.76 m |
| Wing area | 542 ft² | 50.4 m² |
| Weights | ||
| Empty | 4,195 lb | 1,900 kg |
| Loaded | 7,720 lb | 3,500 kg |
| Maximum takeoff | lb | kg |
| Powerplant | ||
| Engines | 1 x Bristol Pegasus IIIM.3 or XXX radial | |
| Power | 690 hp (IIIM.3) 750 hp (XXX) | 510 kW 560 kW |
| Performance | ||
| Maximum speed | 138 mph at 5,000 ft | 222 km/h at 1,500 m |
| Combat range | 546 miles | 879 km |
| Ferry range | 1,025 miles | 1,650 km |
| Service ceiling | 19,250 ft | 5,870 m |
| Rate of climb | 1,220 ft/min | 370 m/min |
| Armament | ||
| Guns | 0.303 in Vickers machine gun in engine cowling 0.303 in Lewis or Vickers machine gun in rear cockpit | 7.7 mm Vickers 7.7 mm Lewis gun |
| Bombs | 1,670 lb torpedo or 1,500 lb mine | 760 kg torpedo or 700 kg mine |
| Rockets | 8 x 60 lb (30 kg) rocket projectiles (Mk.II and later) | |
The Fairey Swordfish was a torpedo bomber used by the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy during World War II. Affectionately known as the Stringbag by its crews, it was outdated by 1939, but achieved some spectacular successes during the war. It was operated as a primary attack aircraft into 1942, and not retired until 1945.
The Swordfish was based on the Fairey PV and was offered to the Royal Navy to fulfill a reconnaissance and torpedo attack role. The prototype TSR II first flew on April 17, 1934. It was a large biplane with a metal frame covered in fabric, with folding wings for carrier use. An order was placed in 1935 and the aircraft entered service in 1936. By 1939 the Royal Navy had thirteen squadrons equipped with the Swordfish.
The primary weapon was the torpedo, but the low speed of the biplane and the need for a long straight approach made it difficult to deliver against well defended targets. However, Swordfish flying from HMS Illustrious made a very significant strike, on November 11, 1940, against the Italian navy at Taranto, Italy and in May 1941 a Swordfish strike was vital in damaging the German battleship Bismarck. This successful attack may have given inspiration or confidence to the Japanese who would later attack Pearl Harbor. Swordfish also flew anti-shipping sorties from Malta.
The problems with the aircraft were starkly demonstrated in February 1942 when a strike on German cruisers in the English Channel resulted in the loss of all attacking aircraft. With the development of new torpedo attack aircraft the Swordfish was soon redeployed in an anti-submarine role, equipped with depth-charges or ten 27 kg rockets and flying from the smaller escort carriers or even Merchant Aircraft Carriers with RATO. The Swordfish was meant to be replaced by the Fairey Albacore, also a biplane, but actually outlived its intended successor. It was, however, succeeded by the Fairey Barracuda monoplane torpedo bomber.
The Mark II and Mark III variants were both introduced in 1943. The Mark II had metal lower wings to allow the use of rockets and the Mark III added a large centrimetric radar unit. Production ended in 1944 with the Mark IV, which had an enclosed cabin for use by the RCAF, and the aircraft was withdrawn from active service on May 21, 1945. Almost 2,400 had been built, 692 by Fairey and 1,699 in Sherburn by the Blackburn Aircraft Company, which were sometimes dubbed the "Blackfish". The most built version was the Mark II, of which 1,080 were made.
Specifications (variant described)
General characteristics
- Crew: ?
- Capacity:
- Length: ?m (?ft)
- Wingspan: ?m (?ft)
- Height: ?m (?ft)
- Wing area: ?m² (?ft²)
- Weight empty: ?kg (?lb)
- Weight loaded: ?kg (?lb)
- Maximum takeoff: ?kg (?lb)
- Powerplant: Engine type(s), ?kN (?lbf) thrust or
- Powerplant: Engine type(s), ?kW (?hp)
Performance
- Maximum speed: km/h ( mph)
- Range: km ( miles)
- Service ceiling: m ( ft)
- Rate of climb: m/min ( ft/min)
- Wing loading: kg/m² ( lb/ft²)
- Thrust/weight: or
- Power/mass:
| Related content | |
|---|---|
| Related development | None |
| Similar aircraft | Fairey Albacore |
| Designation series | Swordfish - Battle - Seafox - Fulmar - Albacore |
| Related lists | List of aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm |
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