Fairey Swordfish

Fairey Swordfish torpedo carrier biplane of the Royal Navy.
History, development, service, specifications, pictures and 3D model.

Swordfish Torpedo Biplane

Fairey Swordfish
Type: Torpedo carrier of the Royal Navy.

The Fairey Swordfish was a British torpedo bomber and reconnaissance biplane aircraft that played a significant role in World War II.

Overview

Design and Introduction: Designed in the 1930s and entered service with the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm in 1936. A biplane configuration with fabric-covered metal frame.

Nickname: Often called the ‘Stringbag’ due to its ability to carry a wide variety of loads.

Performance: Slow (maximum speed around 140 mph) but highly maneuverable. Known for its ruggedness and ability to operate in harsh conditions.

Armament: Could carry a torpedo, depth charges, mines, or bombs. Equipped with forward-firing machine guns and a rear gunner position.

Notable Operations:
– Played a crucial role in the sinking of the German battleship Bismarck in 1941.
– Participated in the attack on the Italian fleet at Taranto in 1940.
– Used effectively in anti-submarine warfare.

Longevity: Remained in front-line service throughout World War II, despite being obsolete by modern standards. Last retired from active service in 1945.

Legacy: Regarded as one of the most successful torpedo bombers of the war. Demonstrated the continuing effectiveness of torpedo attacks against capital ships.

Despite its outdated appearance, the Fairey Swordfish proved to be a versatile and effective aircraft, contributing significantly to several important naval engagements during World War II.

History

Even when it was new, the Fairey Swordfish looked quite ancient. But it outperformed all the aircraft it was to replace and served successfully from start to finish in the Second World War.

It was developed from an older prototype that went into uncontrolled spin. The revised TSR II had a longer, spin-proof fuselage. Therefore, the upper wings had to be slightly swept backwards. The pre-war models, all-metal skeleton covered, were often seaplanes as three-seater reconnaissance aircraft. However, most of them were equipped with the 13 land-based torpedo squadrons of the Navy Air Force, of which another 13 were deployed during the Second World War.

The stories about this popular aircraft are legends. One flew 12 minelaying missions in 24 hours. Another torpedoed an enemy ship during a 10-hour round trip. The few Fairy Swordfish stationed on Malta sank 50,000 tons of enemy ships every month in 1941 to 1943, most of which had a lot of anti-aircraft guns on board.

A highlight was certainly the attack on the Italian naval base Taranto on 10-11 November 1940, where two Swordfish were shot down, but three battleships, a cruiser, two destroyers and other warships were destroyed or damaged.

In addition, the torpedo of a Fairey Swordfish damaged the German Battleship Bismarck at the steering gear in May 1941, rendering it unable to maneuver and allowing it to be sunk by the British battleships HMS King George V and HMS Rodney.

The Fairey Swordfish Mk II was fitted with metal-plated underwings, the Mk III with radar and the Mk IV with a closed cockpit.
Since 1940, production and development were carried out by the Blackburn company, which built 1,699 of the 2,391 Fairey Swordfish.

Users: Great Britain (Royal Navy).

Pictures Fairey Swordfish

Probably taken in early 1942, this picture shows Fairey Swordfish huddled on the constricted deck of an escort carrier.

Swordfish aircraft fly over the carrier HMS ‘Furious’.

Aircraft carrier Ark Royal pictured from an launched Swordfish plane.

The British aircraft carrier ‘Illustrious’ surrounded by launching Swordfish torpedo aircraft.

The inside port ‘Mar Piccolo’ of Taranto after the raid by Swordfish torpedo bombers from carrier Illustrious. From the two damaged cruisers on the left petrol is running out.

The Italian heavy cruiser Bolzano under attack from Swordfish torpedo planes.

A Swordfish biplane behind a ‘Sea Hawk’ Navy jet fighter (first flight in 1947) at a flight show in southern England.

3D model Fairey Swordfish.

Specifications Fairey Swordfish Mk II

Specifications:

Armament:

Service statistics:

Animated 3D model Fairey Swordfish

References and literature

Combat Aircraft of World War II (Bill Gunston)
Technik und Einsatz der Kampfflugzeuge vom 1. Weltkrieg bis heute (Ian Parsons)
Das große Buch der Luftkämpfe (Ian Parsons)
Luftkrieg (Piekalkiewicz)
Flugzeuge des 2. Weltkrieges (Andrew Kershaw)