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Description: Carrier based -spotter-reconnaissance. Manufacturer: FAIREY Aviation Co. Ltd./Blackkburn Aircraft Co. Ltd. Power Plant: One 690 h.p. Bristol Pegasus III M.3 or 750 H.P. Pegasus XXX. Dimensions: Wing Span 45 ft. 6 in. (17 ft. 3 in. Folded). Length 36 ft. 4 in. Height 12 ft. 10 in. Wing Area 607 sq. ft. Weights: Empty 5,200 lbs. Loaded 8,330 lbs. Performance: Maximum Speed 139 m.p.h. Cruising Speed 104-129 m.p.h. (90-112kts.) Range 350 N.M. Service Ceiling 15,000 ft. Armament: Defensive One fixed Browning and one Lewis or Vickers K Gun aft. Offensive One 18" 1,610 lb. torpedo between fixed undercarriage; or One 1,500 lb. mine below fuselage; or Three 500 lb. bombs; or Two 500 lb. and two 250 lb. bombs; or Three Mk. VII depth charges; or Eight 60 lb. . Despite being ungainly the SWORDFISH became the single most successful aircraft in WW II when measured by the tonnage of enemy shipping sunk. Although slow, it was well adapted for torpedo attacks against large ships. There were several reasons for this. First, the aircraft was remarkably stable and could be positioned at low level abeam large targets with relative ease. Many warships could not de- press their guns low enough to the surface of the water which often meant the SWORDFISH was flying underneath, and not into, a withering umbrella of gunfire. When used at night, as it was while based in , the aircraft was all but invulnerable to German convoys bound for North Africa Notes: In , a Swordfish strike from HMS Ark Royal was vital in damaging the German Bismarck, preventing it from escaping to France. The low speed of the attacking aircraft may have acted in their favour, as the planes were too slow for the fire-control predictors of the German gunners, whose shells exploded so far in front of the aircraft that the threat of shrapnel damage was greatly diminished. At least some of the Swordfish flew so low that most of the Bismarck's flak weapons were unable to de- press enough to hit them.[6] The Swordfish aircraft scored two hits; one did little dam- age, but the other jammed Bismarck's with 15° port helm on,[7] making the war- ship unmanueverable; it sank after intense Royal attack within 13 hours. The problems with the aircraft were starkly demonstrated in February 1942 when during the an attack on German by six Swordfish led by Lieutenant Commander resulted in the loss of all aircraft with no damage to the ships. Lack of fighter cover was a contributory factor; only ten of eighty-four promised fighters were available. Thirteen of the eighteen Swordfish crew were killed; Esmonde, who had also led an attack on Bismarck, was awarded the posthumously. The courage of the Swordfish crews was noted by the commanders on both sides: British Vice-Admiral later wrote "In my opinion the gallant sortie of these six Swordfish aircraft constitutes one of the finest exhibitions of self-sacrifice and devotion to duty the war had ever witnessed", and German Vice Admiral Otto Ciliax remarked on "...the mothball attack of a handful of ancient planes, piloted by men whose bravery sur- passes any other action by either side that day"

toriitours.com Detailed Article LS326/L2 Start Up & Take Off Instructional Film produced in August 1940, for officers & ratings concerned in the launching and recovery of aircraft in ships fitted with catapults FaireySwordfish MkII Images [email protected]

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