Fairey Swordfish

Přehled verzí
Fairey Swordfish Mk.I / II / III / IV


Origin and development :


The history of the Swordfish began as early as 1934 when Fairey began work on a new torpedo-carrying, attack and reconnaissance aircraft that would meet the requirements of the Air Ministry as specified in the S.15/33 props.


As the basis for the new type, the company used its previous project, the TSR I, which was originally built as a backup to a very similar aircraft designated in company code as the Fairey S.9/30. Seven months later, however, it was destroyed in a test flight. Based on the knowledge and experience with this machine, Fairey prepared a new single-engine biplane.


Compared to its predecessor, the Fairey TSR II had a longer fuselage, modified SOP and VOP, changed upper wing geometry and was also equipped with a more powerful engine. A nine-cylinder Bristol Pegasus IIIM3 air-cooled radial engine was chosen to power the new machine. The TSR II, number K4190, piloted by Lieutenant Ch.S. Staniland, first took off on 17 April 1934. The behaviour of the machine was judged to be good and so the trials continued. At the end of 1934, K4190 was fitted with floats. Water takeoffs and landings were tested and even catapult takeoffs from battleship HMS Repulse were tried. Everything went well beyond expectations. The TSR II was then re-equipped with conventional landing gear and returned to the Aircraft and Armament Research Institute for testing. All the tests turned out well.


The new aircraft was designated Fairey Swordfish Mk.I. It was a single-engine, twin-engine torpedo-bomber and maritime reconnaissance aircraft with a fixed three-point stern-type landing gear and a simple vertical tailplane. The upper wing was carried by a total of ten simple inter-wing struts, additional struts were located between the fuselage and wing, and the complete system was braced and secured with wires. The first three pre-production machines and part of the Mk.I used a 690 hp Bristol Pegasus IIIM engine, while the rest of the Mk.I used a 750 hp Bristol Pegasus IIIM3 engine. With the former engine, the aircraft reached a top speed of 224 km/h at 1,450 m and 240 km/h at 1,500 m with the Pegasus IIIM3 engine. These were not staggering figures. What was surprising, however, was its payload capacity. Already during the tests it carried a Leigh Light searchlight under the left wing, a set of heavy batteries to power it and an 18-inch torpedo weighing 730 kg. This was supplemented by eight depth charges weighing 45.3 kg each, four of which were suspended under each half of the wing. The defensive armament consisted of one 7.7 mm Vickers K or Lewis mobile machine gun mounted in the rear cabin, for which a total of 600 rounds were carried.


Serial machines :


The Air Ministry ordered the production of three pre-production machines in April 1935. The first two were built in a basic version with fixed-wheel landing gear and the third was fitted with floats. Unlike the prototype, however, they were fitted with a metal propeller.


Series production of the Fairey Swordfish Mk.I began at Fairey's parent factory in Hayes in early 1936. In July of that year the first production machines were delivered to the Air Force. Subsequent deliveries proceeded without difficulty, so that by September 1939 thirteen squadrons had the type in service. By the end of 1940, however, Fairey was no longer able to meet the needs of the army. Production was therefore transferred to Blackburn Aircraft Ltd. The Swordfish was produced at a brand new factory in Sherburn-in-Elmet, West Yorkshire. A total of 992 of the Mk.I version were produced.


This was also the birthplace of a new version of the aircraft named the Fairey Swordfish Mk.II, which was delivered to the Air Force from 1943. It differed from the Mk.I version mainly by a new and more powerful powerplant and also by modifications to the lower wing. Suspension armament was also extended on this model. The Mk.II version was powered by the 820 hp Bristol Pegasus XXX engine. While this was 70 horsepower more than the Pegasus IIIM3 engine installed in the Mk.I version, it was still not enough. In fact, the Mk.II version increased the empty weight of the aircraft by about 230 kg. Therefore, the speed of the aircraft dropped slightly by 10 km/h. However, it was not a significant drop and was accepted. Far more important was that from the Mk.II version onwards, the Swordfish could carry and use unguided rockets. This significantly increased its offensive capabilities. It could carry a total of eight unguided missiles. However, their introduction into the Swordfish's offensive arsenal required modification of the lower wing. This part was no longer covered with canvas, but the wing skeleton was covered with metal panels. This allowed the safe launching of unguided missiles. 1,080 of the Mk.II were produced.


Another model of this very useful "fighter" was designed for easier and faster search of vessels of all kinds.


At the beginning of 1943, serial production of a new version of the Swordfish was started, which was designated Mk.III. It was equipped with universal armament suspension points (for bomb racks or unguided missile racks) and an ASV Mk.X on-board radar. Its antenna was located under the fuselage between the landing gear struts and was protected by a plastic overlay. The device itself then took the place of the radar observer, formerly the third crew member, in the crew cabin. One man was sufficient to operate the radar. Since the pilot was flying the aircraft, the second crew member became a "man of four faces". He was at the same time a radar operator, radio operator, observer and gunner.


The great advantage of this version was that Mk.III it could search for surface ships and submarines even at night. This was particularly advantageous in anti-submarine warfare. This was because submarines surfaced at night to recharge their batteries and ventilate their interiors. A surfaced submarine (floating on the surface) had far less chance of escaping an anti-submarine aircraft than when it was at periscope depth. Therefore, submarine crews usually performed these tasks at night, when almost no one threatened them. Anti-submarine planes equipped with radar were designed to prevent this. The Swordfish Mk.III was to be, and was, one of them. A total of 320 Mk.III were produced.


A special chapter is the version of this aircraft designated as the Swordfish Mk.IV. This model was operated by the RCAF in Canada. These were Mk.II aircraft which were modified and repainted before delivery to the operator. Due to local climatic conditions, these aircraft had a fully covered cockpit. During 1943, a total of 110 machines were modified and delivered to Canada.


The last Fairey Swordfish aircraft left the factory gates in August 1944. A total of 2,392 Swordfish aircraft were produced, including 992 Mk.I, 1,080 Mk.II and 320 Mk.III versions. The so-called "Canadian model" Mk.IV was rebuilt from the Mk.II type with 110 units. Of the total Swordfish aircraft, 692 were produced by Fairey Aviation Co. Ltd. and the remaining 1,700 were produced under licence by Blackburn Aircraft Ltd.


Combat deployment :


As early as the beginning of World War II, the Swordfish were given their first mission. They were to protect British warships, merchant ships and shipping lanes. Twelve squadrons of these aircraft were already taking off from the decks of five British carriers at that time. In order to give an idea of the beginning and progress of the service of this aircraft, we must mention three actions which were exceptional for this type.


The Norwegian campaign


Their first major combat appearance was their participation in the "Norwegian Campaign". On 11 April 1940 at Trondheim, they attacked the enemy for the first time. They hit a German destroyer. But their participation in this operation was far from over. They patrolled over the sea and were also used to lay mines.


Operation Judgement


The first major action in which Swordfish played a major role, and for which they actually became famous, was the air assault on Tarent. This daring operation, in which even luck was on the side of the Allies, was the first air attack on an enemy naval base in which aircraft took off from the deck of an aircraft carrier. With this action, the British attempted to reduce the combat capability of the Italian fleet at anchor in Tarentum harbour. In addition to escort vessels, the operation involved the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious, whose Swordfish deck planes were to attack the enemy. Two waves of Swordfish were launched successively to raid the harbour. The crews and their machines did a great job. Despite the very small force that was used for the attacks, the attackers managed to damage and put out of commission for an extended period several heavy vessels and a few lighter units. The battleship Littorio was directly hit, the battleship Andrea Doria had its hull plating damaged, and the battleship Caio Duilio was also hit. The worst hit was the battleship Conte di Cavour, which filled with water after being hit by a torpedo and sank to the bottom of the berth. Considering the size of the force that the British deployed, this was a great victory. It was crowned, moreover, by the fact that the fleet left the "dangerous" Tarentum and moved on to Naples.


[Sinking of the battleship Bismarck


Another action in which Swordfish became famous was the sinking of the German battleship Bismarck. As this was a very important event, we will describe it in some detail.


On May 21, 1941, the British Admiralty received word of two large battleships moving through the channel into northern waters. Since then, the entire Metropolitan fleet has been on its feet. When it became apparent that one of them was the new German battleship Bismarck, the Admiralty set in motion a huge force with one mission... to stop Bismarck! That this was no simple matter was soon confirmed. The first to come to Bismarck's rescue was a battle group made up of the brand new HMS Prince of Wales class battleship King George V. and the pride of the British fleet, the battlecruiser HMS Hood. Two minutes later, Bismarck's guns replied to the British ships. After a few more minutes and several artillery salvos, the battlecruiser Hood was no more, and the damaged Prince of Wales sailed away from the scene of the engagement under cover of a smoke screen. The shocked British Admiralty received a laconic message : "Hood blew up 64°15`N 28°5`W." From that moment on, the sinking of the Bismarck became not only a matter of strategy but, more importantly, a matter of prestige. The Admiralty raised to action almost all the ships that were available. It could be said without exaggeration that everything that had a propeller set out to prosecute the German giant.
The first part of the operation was over. Hereafter we shall deal only with the moments in which the Swordfish aircraft we have described played a leading part. We will describe what the Swordfish achieved and why they were so important in the end.


The first attack on the German privateer was made by aircraft from the carrier HMS Victorious. Nine Swordfish and two Fulmars took off for the attack. They were led by an experienced pilot - Corvette Captain Esmonde. As soon as he had formed the group after the start, he set off for Bismarck. He hoped that he would be able to surprise the German armoured carrier, but it didn't happen. The Bismarck spotted the planes and prepared to defend. When Esmond's group reached the enemy ship moments later, they were greeted by heavy anti-aircraft fire. Nevertheless, the British pilots carried out the attack with great courage, and all the aircraft launched torpedoes. It seemed to them that one torpedo hit the target. It did indeed. The Bismarck was hit about halfway down its massive hull. However, it was designed to withstand heavy 533 mm torpedoes, so a 457 mm aerial torpedo could not substantially damage it in that area.


The second air attack on Bismarck was carried out by Swordfish from the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal. At 19:19 minutes, fifteen torpedo-carrying aircraft lifted off from the runway of HMS Ark Royal and headed into battle. Their target at the time was the much-maligned Bismarck. When the planes reached the enemy battleship, they came under heavy defensive anti-aircraft fire. But the biplane crews were undeterred and took the Bismarck into battle. They came at him from all sides and finally launched all the torpedoes they could carry against the armoured ship. When all looked hopeless, one torpedo hit the Bismarck's stern. This was just the hit everyone had been hoping for. The mighty Bismarck began to veer off her original course to port, and the ship slowly described a great curve. The Bismarck had a crippled rudder. The German armoured ship could no longer escape. Thus, an aerial attack by Swordfish and one lucky torpedo hit finally allowed the British heavy ships to Bismarck destroy her. Without the Swordfish, it certainly would not have been possible and Bismarck would have escaped.


A tireless campaigner and fighter...


The Swordfish aircraft had a total of twenty-three squadrons serving in the so-called First Line, nineteen squadrons of the so-called Second Line, four training squadrons, two Coastal Command squadrons, and also four squadrons operating from the decks of various warships during the war.


Despite the fact that it was a biplane with a relatively low speed, its utility value was very high. It acted as a torpedo-carrying aircraft, was used for reconnaissance and search duty, performed training duties, and even fought against submarines. Throughout its combat career, this aircraft performed a variety of tasks, and in all of its assigned roles, it stood up with honor. In armament and active service, the Swordfish lasted until the end of the war. In the end, therefore, it was the older Swordfish that remained in service longer than their more modern successors, the Albacore.



Sources :
I. Pejčoch, Z. Novák, T, Hájek, Warships 4, Naše vojsko, Prague 1993, ISBN 80-206-0357-3
V. Němeček, Vojenská letadla 3, Naše vojsko, Praha 1977, 28-063-77, 05/112
M. Hubáček, The Sea in Flames, Orbis, Prague 1977, 11-087-77, 13/33
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairey_Swordfish
http://www.airwar.ru/enc/sww2/swordf.html
URL : https://www.valka.cz/Fairey-Swordfish-t54206#281931 Version : 0
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