Fairey Swordfish
From Scramble - The Aviation Magazine
| Fairey Swordfish | ||
|---|---|---|
| ||
| Description | ||
| Role | Torpedo Bomber | |
| Crew | 3 | |
| First Flight | 17 April 1934 | |
| Entered Service | 1936 | |
| Number built | 2392 | |
| Manufacturer | Fairey Aviation Company | |
| Swordfish | ||
| Dimensions | ||
| Length (tail up) | 11.07 m | 36 ft 4 in |
| Wingspan | 13.87 m | 45 ft 6 in |
| Height | 4.11 m | 13 ft 6 in |
| Wing area | 56.4 m² | 607 ft² |
| Weights | ||
| Empty | 2132 kg | 4700 lb |
| Loaded | 3407 kg | 7510 lb |
| Maximum takeoff weight | 3946 kg | 8700 lb |
| Capacity | yourcapacity | |
| Powerplant | ||
| Engines | one Rolls Royce Pegasus IIIM | |
| Power | 577.75 kW | 775 hp |
| Performance | ||
| Maximum speed | 224 km/h | 139 mph |
| Operational range | 879 km | 546 miles |
| Maximum range | 1658 km | 1030 miles |
| Service ceiling | 3780 m | 12400 ft |
| Rate of climb | 5,000 ft/10 min 30 sec | |
| Avionics | ||
| Avionics | youravio | |
| Armament | ||
| Armament | 2 0.303in Machine guns 750 Kgs Bomb load | |
Contents |
History
The Swordfish is a Torpedo bomber built by the Fairey Aviation Company. During its service with the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy in WW2 it became known as the “Stringbag”, a loving nickname from its crews.
The Swordfish was in fact an obsolete aircraft in 1939, but during WW2 it got some successes, like the destruction of a Italian Cruiser in the Gulf of Taranto and the role it played in the sinking of the Bismarck. The Royal Navy initially used the aircraft in an attacking role, but during the war that changed into submarine hunter and training aircraft. It remained in service throughout the war.
The aircraft is based on the Fairey Private Venture, which started out as a reconnaissance aircraft, but was adapted for submarine hunting. The first prototype flew 17 April 1934. The aircraft had a metal frame and its wings were able to fold, for use on aircraft carriers. The first orders were placed in 1935, and the aircraft was first in service in 1936, as a replacement for the Fairey Seal. In 1939, the Royal Navy operated the Swordfish Mk.1 in 13 squadrons. The final Swordfish, the 2392nd, was delivered in August 1944.
Stringbag
The Swordfish received the Stringbag nickname not because of its construction but because of the seemingly endless variety of stores and equipment that the aircraft was cleared to carry. Crews likened the aircraft to a housewife's string shopping bag which was common at the time and, which due to its having no fixed shape, could adjust to hold any shape or number of packages. Like the shopping bag, the crews thought the Swordfish could carry anything.
Versions
Swordfish Mk I
First production model. Number built: 992
Swordfish Mk II
Equal to the Swordfish Mk. I, but with a strengthened lower wing, with metal-skinned undersurfaces. Number built: 1080
Swordfish Mk III
Equal to the Swordfish Mk II, but fitted with a ASV.Mk X Air-to-Surface search radar. Other differences were details such as a higher empty weight of 4,700 lb (2.132 kg), typical weight of 6,750 lb (3.062 kg), and max take-off weight of 9,250 lb (4.196 kg). Number built: 320
Swordfish Mk IV
Conversions of Mk II's, with an enclosed cockpit for colder areas (eastern coast of Canada). Number converted: unknown
Operators
- Canada
- Netherlands
- United Kingdom
Images
 Swordfish Mk II LS326/L2 (L flight 836 Squadron) rolling on the platform of De Kooy |
More information
Worldwide only three Swordfishes are potentially airworthy, but only one of them actually flies. Two of them, with serials W5856 and LS326, are owned by the Royal Navy Historic Flight. LS326 has recently been completely overhauled by engineers of Bae Brough and flies again since June 2008. The third, potentially airworthy, Swordfish is HS554 registered as C-GEVS to Vintage Wings of Canada. HS554 is expected to fly in the autumn of 2008
