Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Wishlist => Topic started by: SELECTOR on November 20, 2011, 11:12:44 AM
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just wish we had a broader carrier plane set.
I would love to see:
Fairey swordfish, fulmar, barracuda
Blackburn firebrand & even a sea hurricane.
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Fairey Firefly.
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Seafire Mk.III :aok
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I was going to ask how come we didn't have the SeaHurricane, here's some stats
Escort Carrier fighter
Engine: Rolls Royce Merlin III
Power: 1,030hp
Crew: 1
Wing span: 40ft
Length: 31ft 4in
Height: 12ft 11.5in
Normal Loaded Weight: 7,410lb
Max Speed: 317mph at 15,000ft
Cruising Speed:
Time to 20,000ft: 11 minutes
Service Ceiling: 34,200ft
Range: 505 miles
Armament: Eight 0.303in Browning machine guns
Bomb-load: none
Naval equipment: Naval radio set, A-frame arrestor hook, catapult spools
Nothing special about it, however quite a few kills were recorded from the Sea Hurricane, it would be a nice edition as would adding with the Hurricane Mk IIB (Hurricane IIA Series 2).
Hurri IIB comes equipted with 12 0.303in machine guns, and could carry either two 250lb or two 500lb bombs.
It would be nice to have both :)
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I was going to ask how come we didn't have the SeaHurricane, here's some stats
Escort Carrier fighter
Engine: Rolls Royce Merlin III
Power: 1,030hp
Crew: 1
Wing span: 40ft
Length: 31ft 4in
Height: 12ft 11.5in
Normal Loaded Weight: 7,410lb
Max Speed: 317mph at 15,000ft
Cruising Speed:
Time to 20,000ft: 11 minutes
Service Ceiling: 34,200ft
Range: 505 miles
Armament: Eight 0.303in Browning machine guns
Bomb-load: none
Naval equipment: Naval radio set, A-frame arrestor hook, catapult spools
Nothing special about it, however quite a few kills were recorded from the Sea Hurricane, it would be a nice edition as would adding with the Hurricane Mk IIB (Hurricane IIA Series 2).
Hurri IIB comes equipted with 12 0.303in machine guns, and could carry either two 250lb or two 500lb bombs.
It would be nice to have both :)
+1 :x
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Seafire Mk.III :aok
:aok :x (http://www.thedawgpound.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/drooling_smiley.gif)
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I would love to see a firefly or sea hurricane, +1
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fulmar with 2 .50s
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-1 to anything involving the spit/sea fire. We already have enough spits in-game.
+1 to to anything Hurricane.
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-1 to anything involving the spit/sea fire. We already have enough spits in-game.
we dont have enough spits ingame yet, because the Seafire Mk.III is missing :rolleyes:
edit: it would also be very simple add, just model the merlin 55M performance, tweak the existing Mk.II model and its done.
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we dont have enough spits ingame yet, because the Seafire Mk.III is missing :rolleyes:
edit: it would also be very simple add, just model the merlin 55M performance, tweak the existing Mk.II model and its done.
We already have a seafire in-game.
We dont have the sea hurricane.
Therefore, the sea hurricane should hold a higher priority then the seafire.
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We already have a seafire in-game.
We dont have the sea hurricane.
Therefore, the sea hurricane should hold a higher priority then the seafire.
So should updating the current hurricanes.
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How about the "clipped wing" version of the F4U flown by the Brits? :airplane:
Would it roll like the Spixteen? :joystick:
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Like dis?
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e0/Corsair_being_pushed_on_elevator_HMS_Glory_%28R62%29_1945.jpg)
:x
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:aok :x (http://www.thedawgpound.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/drooling_smiley.gif)
wow that dog the a flag boddy is creepy as hell
edit: O:!!!! it is gone!!
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even a sea hurricane.
Is there even such thing? lol
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Is there even such thing? lol
Yes.
Go look it up on google, you lazy bum.
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Yes.
Go look it up on google, you lazy bum.
Many versions of it, wonder which one AH community would want......
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(http://www.luchtoorlog.be/img/hhur/mon51_60.jpg)
(http://www.luchtoorlog.be/img/hhur/mon51_59.jpg)
(http://www.luchtoorlog.be/img/hhur/mon54_67.jpg)
(http://www.luchtoorlog.be/img/hhur/mon54_63.jpg)
Give us a Mark IIb with the option of 8/12 303s or 4 20mms. 12 bbs for me! :x
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(http://www.luchtoorlog.be/img/hhur/mon51_60.jpg)
(http://www.luchtoorlog.be/img/hhur/mon51_59.jpg)
(http://www.luchtoorlog.be/img/hhur/mon54_67.jpg)
(http://www.luchtoorlog.be/img/hhur/mon54_63.jpg)
Give us a Mark IIb with the option of 8/12 303s or 4 20mms. 12 bbs for me! :x
Why do you want a dust filter?
That was the only thing that mk IIB had that mk IIA did not.
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Why do you want a dust filter?
That was the only thing that mk IIB had that mk IIA did not.
sorry ment IBs, these where Hurri Mrk 1s fitted for CV operation.
but I was a little wrong, the SeaHurri IC and IIC where the cannon armed birds. The IIC was heavier (radio equipment) but had more power.
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if only....
(http://en.valka.cz/files/seafire_47_rn_03_175.jpg)
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Seafang? :headscratch:
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seafire 47 with twin prop and quad hispano powered by griffon 85, post war as far as I knew though :cry
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seafire 47 with twin prop and quad hispano powered by griffon 85, post war as far as I knew though :cry
Very much post war. Even the Seafire Mk XV, the first Griffon Seafire with normal elliptical wings, entirely missed the war. The only Spitifre/Seafire with the revised wings to see any action in WWII was the Spitfire F.21.
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We already have a seafire in-game.
We dont have the sea hurricane.
Therefore, the sea hurricane should hold a higher priority then the seafire.
Um no as the Seafire III was the primary RN fighter til the end of the war. last kill of the war for the RN was by a Seafire III driver.
As you clearly have little knowledge of the Spitfire/Seafire family, you should remove yourself from the discussion. Just cause you don't like it, doesn't mean your argument makes any sense :aok
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If I recall correctly, the last dogfight of WWII was between Seafire Mk IIIs and A6M5s near or over Tokyo harbor.
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Um no as the Seafire III was the primary RN fighter til the end of the war. last kill of the war for the RN was by a Seafire III driver.
As you clearly have little knowledge of the Spitfire/Seafire family, you should remove yourself from the discussion. Just cause you don't like it, doesn't mean your argument makes any sense :aok
My point still stands, We already have a version of the Seafire in-game.
While we have no carrier-versions of the Hurricane in-game.
Are you saying a plane who already has a version in-game and is already updated should hold a higher priority over a plane we don't have in the game yet and who's other branch needs an update badly?
I don't need knowledge of the spitfire/seafire family to know that a plane that is not already in-game should hold priority over another plane who already has a version in-game.
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If I recall correctly, the last dogfight of WWII was between Seafire Mk IIIs and A6M5s near or over Tokyo harbor.
Think it the British pilot shot down was also the last Allied PoW to be executed during the war.
ack-ack
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a plane that is not already in-game should hold priority over another plane who already has a version in-game.
so presumably you think the Blackburn Skua should be a higher priority than a Sea Hurricane?
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so presumably you think the Blackburn Skua should be a higher priority than a Sea Hurricane?
Nether one is in game,
Therefore their priority would be broken down to which had a bigger impact on the war, and which is more needed within AH. (filling out a countries planelist, EW/MW/LW filling, etc)
To be honest, Ive never even heard of the blackburn skua tho.
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My point still stands, We already have a version of the Seafire in-game.
While we have no carrier-versions of the Hurricane in-game.
Are you saying a plane who already has a version in-game and is already updated should hold a higher priority over a plane we don't have in the game yet and who's other branch needs an update badly?
I don't need knowledge of the spitfire/seafire family to know that a plane that is not already in-game should hold priority over another plane who already has a version in-game.
Not when the plane is one that was a lash up vs the primary RN fighter in service during the war. Weren't you the same guy saying we shouldn't get the Beaufighter, people could fly Mossies instead? Seafire III would get far more use in both scenarios and the MA.
Using your logic from the Beau thread.
"The beau (Sea Hurricane) would likely go down the same route. be popular for a week, then be hangered for the mossie (Seafire).
Sure, it would be good for scenarios, but the past couple of planes (a6m3,p39,b25,p40's,Betty) have been put in for scenario reasons.
Isent it time the MA gets a new bird(Seafire III) for the soul purpose of MA fun? Wink"
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Nether one is in game,
Therefore their priority would be broken down to which had a bigger impact on the war, and which is more needed within AH. (filling out a countries planelist, EW/MW/LW filling, etc)
To be honest, Ive never even heard of the blackburn skua tho.
Seems to me you ought to be on the Beaufighter bandwagon then with this logic. Not in game. Huge use in scenarios and a real purpose in the MA :aok
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Not when the plane is one that was a lash up vs the primary RN fighter in service during the war. Weren't you the same guy saying we shouldn't get the Beaufighter, people could fly Mossies instead? Seafire III would get far more use in both scenarios and the MA.
Using your logic from the Beau thread.
"The beau (Sea Hurricane) would likely go down the same route. be popular for a week, then be hangered for the mossie (Seafire).
Sure, it would be good for scenarios, but the past couple of planes (a6m3,p39,b25,p40's,Betty) have been put in for scenario reasons.
Isent it time the MA gets a new bird(Seafire III) for the soul purpose of MA fun? Wink"
I would have to see the performance charts of the sea Hurricane vs the Seafire.
The Hurricane in EW/MW have defining qualities that warranted taking it over a spitfire. (Turning radios, Firepower, Ordnance)
From what ive read with others, People were saying the beau is just a slower version of a Mossie with a torpedo. Which is why the Beau would be hangered for the mossie. the torpedo is the only defining factor between the two that i know of, and in AH thats not a very big defining factor.
If im wrong tho, please show me how, and i will admit to it.
Seems to me you ought to be on the Beaufighter bandwagon then with this logic. Not in game. Huge use in scenarios and a real purpose in the MA :aok
let me say that im not a Beau hater, i don't despise the aircraft like i do the spitfires. I didn't think it deserved to win the poll tho. The reason i thought this was because it didn't bring as much new stuff to the AH table as its competitors would have.
Im all for it being added eventually, even tho the majority will hanger it, Just, it didn't deserve to be added over the other planes on the list.
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The Hurricane in EW/MW have defining qualities that warranted taking it over a spitfire. (Turning radios, Firepower, Ordnance)
Did the Sea Hurricane have cannons?
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Did the Sea Hurricane have cannons?
Yes. 4 20mm or 8 .303's
Later Sea Hurricanes were equipped with 20mm cannon as opposed to the traditional eight .303 machine guns
http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/sea_hurricane.htm
The Hawker Sea Hurricane Mk IC was similar to the Mk IB, but was armed with four 20mm cannon in place of the eight .303in machine guns of the earlier aircraft
http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_hawker_sea_hurricane_IC.html
:salute
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iirc the sea hurris didnt have hooks, catapult lugs or other carrier based structural changes, they were pretty much the same as the standard versions - hence the same designations. unlike the seafires which had enough changes to have different marque numbering.
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iirc the sea hurris didnt have hooks, catapult lugs or other carrier based structural changes, they were pretty much the same as the standard versions - hence the same designations. unlike the seafires which had enough changes to have different marque numbering.
The most common way for assisting a take-off from an aircraft carrier was via rocket-fired catapult. The Sea Hurricanes were placed on expendable carriers (that once the launch had taken place simply fell into the sea) and a solid fuel rocket would launch the fighter into the air. The power of the rockets was such that parts of a carrier that were exposed to the heat had to be specially protected. The launch procedure placed the pilot under a great deal of stress – physical and emotional. Not only did he have to get the Hurricane to full throttle, he had to brace himself against the 3.5 g-force his body was put through as the launch took place. While this was happening, a pilot would have been very conscious of the Hurricane’s tendency to pull to one side on take-off and would have needed to be in full control of his rudder and flaps to counterbalance this. Any failure would have resulted in a stall and the aircraft would have fallen into the sea. Few could have doubted that take-off was a very hazardous process.
I wonder if we'd get a rocket-fired catapult to launch them off of :D
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Sea Hurricane Mk IB was equipped with catapult spools and an arrester hook. They also operated from HMS Furious in 1941 and later on off MAC ships. Later Sea Hurricane marks were also equipped with catapult spools and an arrester hook.
ack-ack
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what do you mean by catapult spools akak?
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I would have to see the performance charts of the sea Hurricane vs the Seafire.
The Hurricane in EW/MW have defining qualities that warranted taking it over a spitfire. (Turning radios, Firepower, Ordnance)
From what ive read with others, People were saying the beau is just a slower version of a Mossie with a torpedo. Which is why the Beau would be hangered for the mossie. the torpedo is the only defining factor between the two that i know of, and in AH thats not a very big defining factor.
If im wrong tho, please show me how, and i will admit to it.
let me say that im not a Beau hater, i don't despise the aircraft like i do the spitfires. I didn't think it deserved to win the poll tho. The reason i thought this was because it didn't bring as much new stuff to the AH table as its competitors would have.
Im all for it being added eventually, even tho the majority will hanger it, Just, it didn't deserve to be added over the other planes on the list.
Basically what I'm seeing the bottom line to be is a desire to have a 4 cannon Hurri that can come off the carrier.
There were roughly 600+ Sea Hurricane's operated by the RN with the majority being 8 MG Hurricane 1B. They didn't lug bombs or rockets that I can find outside of a few Sea Hurricane IIcs that had rocket rails fitted, but to do so they had their cannon deleted like the Hurricane IV.
There were 1100+ Seafire III. They were able to carry single 500 pounders, 2 x 250 pounders or a loadout of rockets.
If the need is Ord, then the Seafire III is a far better choice. In terms of the regular arenas the Seafire III is as well as it will compete in LW
In terms of scenario use, it goes without say. Any PTO scenario using RN carriers would need Seafire IIIs. Operation Torch is the only one where Sea Hurri's could be used and those were MG versions.
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Question: I remember reading somewhere about those single-catapult shot sea hurri's that even the plane was kinda a one time use deal. Since it was launch via that rail catapult off the bow, and with the ship not having a deck, the pilot ditched the plane near the ship after it had completed it's intercept/mission if there wasn't a friendly field or cv in the area.
Basically, is this true or faux???? :headscratch:
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if only....
(http://en.valka.cz/files/seafire_47_rn_03_175.jpg)
It's even sadder that the Supermarine Spiteful was post war. :cry
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Question: I remember reading somewhere about those single-catapult shot sea hurri's that even the plane was kinda a one time use deal. Since it was launch via that rail catapult off the bow, and with the ship not having a deck, the pilot ditched the plane near the ship after it had completed it's intercept/mission if there wasn't a friendly field or cv in the area.
Basically, is this true or faux???? :headscratch:
True. Sea Hurricane Mk IA were launched of rails mounted on merchant ships and used the launch method described earlier.
(http://www.wwiivehicles.com/unitedkingdom/aircraft/fighter/hawker-hurricane-fighter/hawker-sea-hurricane-fighter-01.png)
(http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT2T2RK_VW_Do3U1bBMbtRWvQjNvBJq2Hu3wmmBu7EC8NdbN0MT-sjMXsY_Ag)
what do you mean by catapult spools akak?
You can barely see them in this photo but they appear to be where the catapult system would connect to.
(http://photos.kitmaker.net/data/12103/MPM_Fulmar_Spools.jpg)
ack-ack
ack-ack
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Sea Hurricane Mk IB was equipped with catapult spools and an arrester hook. They also operated from HMS Furious in 1941 and later on off MAC ships. Later Sea Hurricane marks were also equipped with catapult spools and an arrester hook.
ack-ack
I stand corrected :)
(http://ww2warbirds.net/ww2pics/ww2hawkhurri-1.jpg)
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Basically what I'm seeing the bottom line to be is a desire to have a 4 cannon Hurri that can come off the carrier.
There were roughly 600+ Sea Hurricane's operated by the RN with the majority being 8 MG Hurricane 1B. They didn't lug bombs or rockets that I can find outside of a few Sea Hurricane IIcs that had rocket rails fitted, but to do so they had their cannon deleted like the Hurricane IV.
There were 1100+ Seafire III. They were able to carry single 500 pounders, 2 x 250 pounders or a loadout of rockets.
If the need is Ord, then the Seafire III is a far better choice. In terms of the regular arenas the Seafire III is as well as it will compete in LW
In terms of scenario use, it goes without say. Any PTO scenario using RN carriers would need Seafire IIIs. Operation Torch is the only one where Sea Hurri's could be used and those were MG versions.
Sea hurricanes were able to carry 2 250,2 500lbers, or 44 gal drop tanks.
Combined with its 4 Hispano cannons, that makes the sea hurricane a far better choice than the SeaFire ord-wise.
From what im reading, The sea Hurricane would be considered EW. If thats correct than that sets its priority miles ahead of the Seafire.EW's planeset is severely lacking. And should start filling its planelist out before LW is even touched again.
http://www.fleetairarmarchive.net/aircraft/seahurricane.htm good site.
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Sea hurricanes were able to carry 2 250,2 500lbers, or 44 gal drop tanks.
Combined with its 4 Hispano cannons, that makes the sea hurricane a far better choice than the SeaFire ord-wise.
From what im reading, The sea Hurricane would be considered EW. If thats correct than that sets its priority miles ahead of the Seafire.EW's planeset is severely lacking. And should start filling its planelist out before LW is even touched again.
http://www.fleetairarmarchive.net/aircraft/seahurricane.htm good site.
You might want to make sure to name the right version, Sea Hurricane IIa/b had 8x 303s while Sea Hurricane IIc had the 4 Hispanos.
I suspect if HTC was going to add the Sea Hurri then they would probably add the variation of models.
However, I do believe the Hurricane was switched to Martin II (Wildcat) then FM-2 later in the war, followed by possible Hellcat and Corsair.
I did make a suggestion for the Fairey Fulmar at one point, I even had an interest in it - however its only good qualities were long range and 8x303s, otherwise it topped out at something like 270 mph at alt which makes it almost a CAC Boomerang for any arena or scenario.
I did try very hard to find reasons not to want the Fulmar, and basically my conclusion is other then "scenarios" at 270mph the plane wouldn't be worth adding compared to the Sea Hurricane and its variation models that I would like to see.
Also - Great catch on the "Early War" this is one of my biggest goals right now to find information on, believe me the Sea Hurricane was a total pain in the rear end to find full technical data on (as for most Early War which even in real life has less meaning then late war)
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Sea hurricanes were able to carry 2 250,2 500lbers, or 44 gal drop tanks.
Combined with its 4 Hispano cannons, that makes the sea hurricane a far better choice than the SeaFire ord-wise.
From what im reading, The sea Hurricane would be considered EW. If thats correct than that sets its priority miles ahead of the Seafire.EW's planeset is severely lacking. And should start filling its planelist out before LW is even touched again.
http://www.fleetairarmarchive.net/aircraft/seahurricane.htm good site.
This info comes from where? I'd very much like to see a photo of an operational Sea Hurri configured this way.
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This info comes from where? I'd very much like to see a photo of an operational Sea Hurri configured this way.
Far as I am concerned, Sea Hurricanes were not armed with Bombs or Drop Tanks, however I have seen the 4x20mm Sea Hurricane IIc (although not sure what is being asked here?)
The Main reason that bombs/drop tanks were not added to the Hurricanes, that there were so limited number of fighters on carrier, they were strictly used for CAP and escort, as a British carrier (carrying albacore or swordfish) were unable to carry more then 30 aircraft due to non-folding wings (another words a CVL or Light Carrier).
The prototype was drawn up after 43, however after seeing 400 documents on the Sea Hurricanes, I did not see a single photo of one with bomb racks.
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I'm not questioning that there were a small number of 4 cannon Sea Hurricanes. I'm questioning the actual carrying of rockets, bombs, DTs. I would like to see some evidence of this.
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I'm not questioning that there were a small number of 4 cannon Sea Hurricanes. I'm questioning the actual carrying of rockets, bombs, DTs. I would like to see some evidence of this.
This is a picture from the book "Escort Carrier - HMS Vindex at War" by Kenneth Poolman."
In the book it talks about a SeaHurri Rocket attack on a Uboat, that had been attacking russain convoys. The serials of the AC that took part where H/NF732, Q/JS272 and F/DX126.
(http://i28.tinypic.com/2mdmn1v.jpg)
(http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o223/johnnyboy_041/9_101.jpg)
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nice photo :aok
unusual to see the 25lb solid shot APs too, most RP-3 photos are of the 60lb SAP.
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doh go figure, i'm looking for bomb racks and totally ignored the rocket rails.
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just my $0.02
we totally need this....
+1 :aok
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This is a picture from the book "Escort Carrier - HMS Vindex at War" by Kenneth Poolman."
In the book it talks about a SeaHurri Rocket attack on a Uboat, that had been attacking russain convoys. The serials of the AC that took part where H/NF732, Q/JS272 and F/DX126.
(http://i28.tinypic.com/2mdmn1v.jpg)
(http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o223/johnnyboy_041/9_101.jpg)
Thanks Fish. Interesting the profile shows the cannon removed. Any take off or in flight photos of the 4 cannon and rockets? Since they removed the cannon on the rocket firing Hurri for the RAF I'm assuming it was performance and weight issues.
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Let's get the Canadian-made Hurri, with the floats and 12 .50 cals :D
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Let's get the Canadian-made Hurri, with the floats and 12 .50 cals :D
12 .50????? :O
I don't believe you....
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they removed the cannon on the rocket firing Hurri for the RAF
I'll bet that went down like a mug of cold sick with the pilots :uhoh
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Question:
If the Sea Hurricane could carry rockets, why did that ability never migrate over to land-based hurri's?
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Thanks Fish. Interesting the profile shows the cannon removed. Any take off or in flight photos of the 4 cannon and rockets? Since they removed the cannon on the rocket firing Hurri for the RAF I'm assuming it was performance and weight issues.
From what I can recall, the cannons where not removed on some planes and on others the 2 outboard 20mms where removed. I think this might have been a pilots preferance.
Some more information, I just found (will try to verify)
Sea Hurricane Mk.Is fell into three classes
Mk.Ia - catapult spools but no arrester hooks. These were used on the CAM ships.
Mk.Ib - catapult spools and arrester hooks. These were used on the fleet carriers such as Indomitable, Eagle and Victorious.
Mk.Ic - no catapult spools but with arrester hooks. These were for use on escort carriers. This last information comes from a BAe source, and I've not found supporting evidence of any such airfames. There have been statements that the designation was used for Mk.Is with four cannon, but despite claims that 100 of these were built and some used on Operation Pedestal, it seems that only one or two prototype examples were tested, and these reverted to standard armament because of the weight of the weaponry.
There were two classes of Sea Hurricane Mk.II - the Mk.IIb (including Mk.XIIb) with 12 303s and the Mk.IIc which had four cannon. This reflects RAF terminology. However, these aircraft were only used from escort carriers without accelerators. It is quite possible that they did not possess spools, but certainly looking at a Mk.Ib will not be of any assistance.
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Question:
If the Sea Hurricane could carry rockets, why did that ability never migrate over to land-based hurri's?
The russians where using them also it looks like they modified some to have a rear gunner :huh
(http://www.wunderwaffe.narod.ru/Magazine/AirWar/74/Pictures/08.jpg)
(http://i646.photobucket.com/albums/uu181/hurricanebuild/HuricanesVVSwinterschemejpg.jpg)
(http://forum.keypublishing.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=190657&d=1291561964)
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looks like 2x .303s for aiming maybe?
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From http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Hawker_Hurricane
Sea Hurricane Mk IA
The Sea Hurricane Mk IA was a Hurricane Mk I modified by General Aircraft LimitedGeneral Aircraft LimitedGeneral Aircraft Limited was a British aircraft manufacturer from its formation in 1931 to amalgamation with Blackburn Aircraft in 1949 to become Blackburn and General...
. These conversions numbered approximately 250 aircraft. They were modified to be carried by CAM shipCAM shipCAM ships were World War II-era British merchant ships used in convoys as an emergency stop-gap until sufficient escort carriers became available. "CAM" was an acronym for "Catapult Aircraft Merchantman". A CAM ship was equipped with a rocket-propelled catapult launching a single Hawker Sea...
s (catapultAircraft catapultAn aircraft catapult is a device used to launch aircraft from ships—in particular aircraft carriers—as a form of assisted take off. It consists of a track built into the flight deck, below which is a large piston or shuttle that is attached through the track to the nose gear of the aircraft, or in...
armed merchantmanCargo shipA cargo ship or freighter is any sort of ship or vessel that carries cargo, goods, and materials from one port to another. Thousands of cargo carriers ply the world's seas and oceans each year; they handle the bulk of international trade...
), whose crews were entirely civilians and whose Hurricanes were crewed and serviced by RAF personnel, or Fighter Catapult Ships, which were Naval Auxiliary Vessels crewed by Naval personnel whose aircraft were operate by the Fleet Air Arm. These were cargo ships equipped with a catapult for launching an aircraft, but without facilities to recover them. Thus, if the aircraft were not in range of a land base, pilots were forced to bail out or to ditch.
Both of these options had their problems - there was always a chance of striking part of the fuselage when bailing out and a number of pilots had been killed in this way. On the other hand, ditching the Hurricane was problematic too. The radiator housing acted as a water brake, pitching the nose of the fighter downwards when it hit the water, while also acting as very efficient scoop, helping to flood the inside of the Hurricane so that a quick exit was advisable before the plane sank. Then the pilot had to be picked up by the ship. In all, more than eighty modifications were needed to convert a Hurricane into a Sea Hurricane, including new radios to conform with those used by the Fleet Air Arm and new instrumentation to read in knots rather than miles per hour. They were informally known as "Hurricats".
The majority of the aircraft modified had suffered wear-and-tear from serving with front line squadrons, so much so that at least one example used during trials broke up under the stress of a catapult launching. A total of 50 aircraft were converted from Hurricane Mk Is. CAM launched Hurricanes were used on 8 operational sorties and the Hurricanes shot down 6 enemy aircraft, for the loss of only one Hurricane pilot killed. The first Sea Hurricane IA kill was an FW 200C CondorFocke-Wulf Fw 200The Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor was a German all-metal four-engine monoplane that entered service as an airliner. Later versions for the Luftwaffe were used as long-range reconnaissance and anti-shipping/maritime patrol bomber aircraft as well as transport planes for troops and VIPs.-Design and...
, shot down on 2 August 1941.
Sea Hurricane Mk IB
Hurricane Mk I version equipped with catapult spools plus an arrester hook. From July 1941 they operated from HMS FuriousHMS Furious (47)HMS Furious was a modified cruiser built for the Royal Navy during the First World War. Designed to support the Baltic Project championed by the First Sea Lord of the Admiralty, Lord John Fisher, they were very lightly armoured and armed with only a few heavy guns. Furious was modified while under...
and from October 1941, they were used on Merchant aircraft carrierMerchant aircraft carrierMerchant aircraft carriers were bulk cargo ships with minimal aircraft handling facilities, used during World War II by Britain and the Netherlands as an interim measure to supplement British and United States-built escort carriers in providing an anti-submarine function for convoys...
(MAC ships), which were large cargo vessels with a flight deck enabling aircraft to be launched and recovered. A total of 340 aircraft were converted. The first Sea Hurricane IB kill occurred on July 31, 1941, when Sea Hurricanes of 880 squadron, operating from HMS Furious shot down a Do 18 flying-boat.
Sea Hurricane Mk IC
Hurricane Mk I version equipped with catapult spools, an arrester hook and the four-cannon wing. From February 1942, 400 aircraft were converted. The Sea Hurricane IC used during Operation PedestalOperation PedestalOperation Pedestal was a British operation to get desperately needed supplies to the island of Malta in August 1942, during the Second World War. Malta was the base from which surface ships, submarines and aircraft attacked Axis convoys carrying essential supplies to the Italian and German armies...
had their Merlin III engines modified to accept 16 lb boost, and could generate more than 1400 hp at low altitude. Lt. R. J. Cork was credited with 5 kills while flying a Sea Hurricane IC during Operation Pedestal.
Sea Hurricane Mk IIC
Hurricane Mk IIC version equipped with naval radio gear; 400 aircraft were converted and used on fleet carriers. The Merlin XX engine on the Sea Hurricane generated 1460 hp at 6,250 ft and 1435 hp at 11,000 ft. Top speed was 322 mph at 13,500ft and 342 mph at 22,000 ft.
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http://www.historicaircraftcollection.ltd.uk/hurricane/ (http://www.historicaircraftcollection.ltd.uk/hurricane/)
This is being restored; I also have a reference book that has never been proven wrong:
A Hurricane XII of the Royal Canadian (that's me!!) Air Force, made by Canadian Car and Foundry, with US-supplied Hamilton propellor-- without spinner-- driven by a Merlin 29. Armament was 12 machine guns
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And just to keep up with the 'times', here's another quote/website
Hurricane Mk XII
Canadian-built variant. Single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber. Powered by a 1,300 hp (969 kW) Packard Merlin 29. Initially armed with 12 0.303 in (7.7 mm) machine guns, but this was later changed to four 20 mm (.79 in) cannon.
From...http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawker_Hurricane (http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawker_Hurricane)
:D
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Question:
If the Sea Hurricane could carry rockets, why did that ability never migrate over to land-based hurri's?
The Mk IV did, but with cannon removed. That's where the photo of the CVE based Sea Hurri has me wondering. Performance was an issue with that much weight. As it was being used as a sub hunter there wasn't a threat from German fighters so performance would be less of a concern. The Hurri IVs with rockets used in the Balkans still faced the possibility of air opposition.
I'd love to know more about that CVE bird.
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12 .50????? :O
I don't believe you....
12 .303s not 50s.
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12 .303s not 50s.
I thought the .303 was the British equivalent of the .50 cal...?
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I thought the .303 was the British equivalent of the .50 cal...?
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.... .50 is a much bigger and harder hitting round.
I think the british .303 round is more equivalent to the American .30 cal round.
12 .50 cals would be some serious firepower on just one platform.
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12 .303s not 50s.
Ok, just making sure. I had figured that it's was 12 .303's, but hey Canadians are crazy. :x
You just never know..... :noid
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I thought the .303 was the British equivalent of the .50 cal...?
(http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/attachments/weapons-systems-tech/32487d1299767475t-lancaster-turret-12.7_mm_browning_rimless___7.7_mm_browning_rimmed_rounds.jpg)