So you want to give up guns for rockets when you have many better rockets and guns rides....OK.
Hurricane Mk IV
The last major change to the Hurricane was the introduction of the "universal Wing", a single design able to mount two 250 lb or 500 lb (110 or 230 kg) bombs, two 40 mm (1.57 in) Vickers S guns, drop tanks or eight "60 pounder" RP-3 rockets. Two .303 in Brownings were fitted to aid aiming of the heavier armament.[102] The new design also incorporated the improved Merlin 24 or 27 engines of 1,620 hp (1,208 kW), equipped with dust filters for desert operations. The Merlin 27 had a redesigned oil system that was better suited to operations in the tropics, and which was rated at a slightly lower altitude in keeping with the Hurricane's new role as a close-support fighter. The radiator was deeper and armoured. Additional armour was also fitted around the engine.[103]
PRODUCTION AND WAR LOAD:
It can be hard to tell Hurricanes apart as Mk IV’s were built alongside Mk II’s using serial ranges KW, KZ, KY, LB and LD. Both types continued in production until September 1944, by which time 524 had been produced. All Mk IV’s used either an RR Merlin 24 or 27, which were uprated, tropicalised Merlin XX’s. Most also seem to have had a Volks filter under the nose, even when deployed in the UK for operations over occupied Europe. The armour apart from on the radiator was internal so unless you can see the radiator it’s very hard to tell a IV from a IIa or b, unless you can be sure it only has two wing MG’s, then it must be a IId or a IV.
Typical war loads were:
2x 40 mm guns, 1 x 40mm gun and 4 RP’s, 8 RP’s, 4 RP’s and one 44 gallon drop tank, 1 500 lb bomb, and 2 RP’s. Bombs and fuel tanks could also be carried. In combat the mixed RP and drop tank loads seem to have been most common in Italy/Balkans, with single armament loads most common in Burma and operations from the UK. The mixed loads could be placed on either wing.
OPERATIONS AND EXAMPLES:
The Mk IV was used by two squadrons in Italy, seven in the UK and two in Burma.
Burma operations were mainly with RP’s against light Japanese air opposition. Aircraft were painted in standard SEAC colours of green, Ocean grey, Medium Sea Grey with toned down blue/light blue national markings and white codes. Beaufighters were also much used and had the advantage of speed and 4 20mm cannon as well as the RP’s Two tough radial engines also helped compared to the Hurricanes vulnerable liquid cooled Merlin.
