Fairey Battle
From Scramble - The Aviation Magazine
| Fairey Battle | ||
|---|---|---|
| ||
| Description | ||
| Role | light bomber | |
| Crew | 3 | |
| First Flight | March 1936 | |
| Entered Service | 1937 | |
| Number built | 2419 | |
| Manufacturer | Fairey | |
| Battle | ||
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | m | 52 ft 2 in |
| Wingspan | m | 54 ft in |
| Height | m | 15 ft 6 in |
| Wing area | m² | ft² |
| Weights | ||
| Empty | kg | lb |
| Loaded | kg | lb |
| Maximum takeoff weight | kg | 10792lb |
| Capacity | yourcapacity | |
| Powerplant | ||
| Engines | one Rolls-Royce Merlin | |
| Power | kW (each) | 1030 hp (each) |
| Performance | ||
| Maximum speed | km/h | mph |
| Operational range | km | miles |
| Service ceiling | m | ft |
| Rate of climb | ft/min | m/min |
| Armament | ||
| Armament |
| |
Contents |
History
The Battle was designed to meet the requirements of Air Ministry Specification P.27/32, issued in 1933. In its design Fairey incorporated some experience gained in the Fairey Long Range Monoplane, they had produced before. The prototype first flew in March 1936, and the first production Battles went into service in 1937 with Nos. 52 and 63 squadrons RAF. By 1938, fifteen squadrons were equipped with the type In total 2419 Battles were produced, its production ending in 1941. As the only non-Commonwealth airforce the Battle was used by the Belgian Air Force.
Unfortunately the Fairey Battle was already obsolescent when it came into service, but still it had to form the backbone of the British bomber force at the beginning of World War II. Battles were active during the initial fase of the war, as part of the British Advanced Air Striking Force in France, during the German advance. When the Germans invaded the Low Countries the first Victoria Crosses were (posthumously) gained by Fairey Battle crews, during their heroic attacks on the Maasbridges.
The vulnerability of the Battle could not have been more clearly illustrated than during the attack on German pontoon bridges at Sedan on 20 May 1940: from the 71 Battles that took part in the attack only 31 returned!
After their withdrawal from bomber squadrons Battles were diverted to secondary roles as training and target towing. Large numbers were sent to Canada for use in the Commonwealth Air Training Plan. Some Battles had two separate cockpits, unlike the original design.
Versions
Operators
Images
More information
Only a handful of Fairey Battles has survived, none of them airworthy. One example can be seen at the RAF Museum in Hendon, another in the Brussels Air Museum.
