Author Topic: Name This...(956) (Read 584 times)

Jester · « **Reply #1 on:** December 03, 2004, 08:10:15 PM »

Fairey Swordfish equiped with floats for catapult use.

The Battleship HMS Warspite used one of these for awhile I believe.

Leatherneck · « **Reply #2 on:** December 03, 2004, 08:14:49 PM »

Fairey Swordfish (As a Floatplane in a captapulted)

From HMS Warspite (Sometime in May 1940?)

gear · « **Reply #3 on:** December 03, 2004, 09:41:42 PM »

actualy it's a Fairey Swordfish Mk. II.The Mk II model was introduced in 1943, and featured strengthened and metal-skinned lower wings to allow the firing of rockets from underneath. Fairey Swordfish II: Improved version of Mk I with Pegasus IIIM3 or 775 hp Pegasus 30 engine, introduced 1943, with metal covered undersurfaces of lower wings to permit carriage and launching of eight 60-lb (27-kg) rocket projectiles. 1,080 built by Blackburn, of which 99 to Canada (some post-war) for RCAF and RCN. First successful operational use of RPs from Fairey Swordfish on May 23, 1943, by No 819 Sqn, sinking a U-boat. Also used by two RAF squadrons until May 1945.

brady · « **Reply #4 on:** December 04, 2004, 10:41:42 PM »

It is, Swordfish MK I floatplane.

...........

" Several British Battleships and cruser embarked Swordfish as spotter and reconnaissance aircraft early in WW 2. A Swordfish MK I floatplane (V4367) of No. 701 Catapult Flight is lowered over the side of HMS Malaya at scapa Flow during 1940."

gear · « **Reply #5 on:** December 04, 2004, 10:44:00 PM »

The MK.I didnot have the racks on the lower wing. The one in your photo does.

brady · « **Reply #6 on:** December 04, 2004, 10:55:39 PM »

Well, one of our referance sources is in error then, I am tempted at face value to go with mine off hand since it is referancing the build number with the unit and the time frame, and the ship it was on, thus making it almost certainly a MK I.

DieAz · « **Reply #7 on:** December 05, 2004, 07:27:05 AM »

is there a film of the swordfish being catapult off a ship, anywhere?

I would like to see it.

Jester · « **Reply #8 on:** December 06, 2004, 03:24:45 PM »

Have to argue with you also Gear. While the Mk.I didn't have rocket rails it did have racks for small bombs and flares.

Take a close look at the pic - the inner racks have curved releases to hold small bombs. The racks toward the wingtips are to hold flares. Most of the rocket types used off the Swordfish had fixed rails that projected past the forward edge of the wing, similar to the early Typhoon.

Good reference is the Tamiya Model Kit of the Swordfish Mk. I which has these items.

MiloMorai · « **Reply #9 on:** December 06, 2004, 03:48:27 PM »

Considering that the serial number is V4367(I think), would have to go with a Mk I.

This number is in batch of 300 Swordfish Mk I ordered from Blackburn Aircraft Limited under contract No B31192/39 (V4288-V4719) built at Sherburn-in-Elmet.

Jester · « **Reply #10 on:** December 06, 2004, 04:19:18 PM »

Although the vin number is the best indication - another would be the type of "Roundel" on the side of the fuselage. That is a early war type and didn't make it much past 41 or 42 I think.