Fairey Firefly

The Fairey Firefly was a British carrier-based fighter, which was used by the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm during World War II and the Korean War. Although it was not as fast as other naval fighter aircraft, such as the Japanese Mitsubishi A6M or the American Grumman F6F Hellcat, this British fighter was very maneuverable, with great low-speed handling, and it was fitted with excellent armament. It was also used as a reconnaissance and ground-attack aircraft.

The Fairey Firefly prototype first flew on December 22, 1941. After almost two years of test flights, it entered service in March 1943 as the F.Mk I, which was powered by a 730-HP, Rolls Royce Griffon IIB piston engine. The Firefly Mk II was the night fighter version, which was equipped with an AI.Mk X radar as it had an extended forward fuselage.

The Fairey Firefly first saw combat action in July 1944, when aircraft from Squadron No 1770, aboard HMS Indefatigable, attacked auxiliary vessels during raids on the German battleship Tirpitz. It also flew combat sorties to destroy German ammo depots in Norway.  In the Pacific Theater of Operations, the Firefly aircraft made raids on Japanese-occupied islands, attacking the Japanese oil refineries in Sumatra in January 1945.

Specifications

Type: two-seat, single-engine, low-wing fighter aircraft

Length: 11.46 m (37 feet, 7 inches)

Wing Span: 13.56 m (44 feet, 6 inches)

Wing Area: 30.47 m2 (328 square feet)

Height: 4.14 m (13 feet, 7 inches)

Powerplant: one 1,730-HP, Rolls Royce Griffon IIB, V-12 piston engine.

Maximum Speed: 509 km/h (316 mph)

Range: 2,092 km (1,300 miles)

Ceiling: 8,535 m (28,000 feet)

Armament: four 20-mm Hispano cannons in whings; eight 27-kg rockets; two 454-kg bombs.

Crew: 2

Below, the Fairey Firefly in flight over England.

The F.Mk I variant in late 1943.

Below, the underside of the Firefly as it banks, changing course.

The Mk I version in 1945.

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Daimler Armoured Car

The Daimler Armoured Car was a light combat vehicle used in reconnaissance missions by the British Army during World War II. It was also employed to provide close fire support to infantry units. Developed from the Scout Car, Daimler made slightly more than 2,600 armored cars in three versions; Mark I, Mark ICS, and Mark II. It entered service in June 1941 and saw combat action in North Africa and in the European Theater of operation.

Technical Characteristics

The Daimler Armoured Car was a 4×4, wheeled vehicle. It was powered by a Daimler, 6-cylinder, 4,095 cc gasoline engine, which was mounted at the rear and could deliver 95 horse power. It had no chassis as the engine, suspension, and transmission were all built into the lower part of the armored hull. The suspension was independent, consisting of vertical coil springs, with a pair to each wheel. This suspension system allowed the Armoured Car to perform vertical upwards movements of 16 in. of any one wheel independently of the others that remain in contact with the ground.

It was also fitted with a duplicate steering wheel plus hand throttle ignition for use by the commander when driving backwards in case of emergency. The turret of the Daimler Armoured Car was mounted on ball bearings on roof of fighting compartment and it was equipped with hand-operated traversing gear. The turret featured a 2-pdr (40-mm) gun and a 7.62mm Besa machine gun. The commander acted as the loader for the 2-pdr gun.

Specifications

Type: armored reconnaissance vehicle

Weight: 7.5 tons

Length: 13′ (4 m)

Width: 8′ (2.4 m)

Height: 7′ 4″ (2.2 m)

Armor: 16 mm at the front.

Below, the Daimler Armoured Car Mk II in 1942.

The Mk I in mid 1941

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M1 Combat Car

The M1 Combat Car was an American light tank, which was developed and produced in the 1930s. It would see limited combat action in the first two years of World War II. It was mostly deployed, as an infantry fire support armored vehicle, in the Pacific Theater of Operations. On Guadalcanal and New Guinea, it was fielded along the M2 light tank. Although it was part of the US Army cavalry units armament, it was employed to provide fire support to the infantry.

Below, the Combat Car M1 during military drills before the war.

The M1 Combat Car was made of riveted steel plates. Its hull glacis (front part) had an inclination angle of about 35°, but the 2/3 (two third) back portion was raised, built about 40 cm higher. On top of the raised part of hull, there was the rotating turret, which featured a .50-caliber (12.7mm) Browning and a .30-caliber machine gun. A third machine gun was mounted on the hull front. The tank was powered by a Continental, 7-cylinder, 225-HP gasoline engine, which was mounted in the rear part of vehicle.

Below, the Combat Car M1 in the United States in 1939.

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Mikoyan MiG-31BM

The Mikoyan MiG-31BM is an interceptor and attack aircraft in service with the Russian Air Force from 2014. It is a modern, up-to-date variant of the MiG-31 Foxhound, which in turn is based on the MiG-25 Foxbat that had been designed and produced by the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Today, it is the fastest interceptor in the world, capable of flying at Mach 3+ at high altitude and at Mach 1.4 at low altitude.

Number Built and Capability

More than 130 MiG-31BM aircraft have already been delivered to the Russian Air Force. Although it has no been built with stealth technology materials, it is practically undetected when flying at low altitude at supersonic speeds. For ground-attack operations, the Mikoyan MiG-31BM carries either one Kh-47M2 Kinzhal hypersonic missile or six FAB-500 smart, glide bombs.

In the interceptor role, this Russian warplane is capable of tracking and engaging simultaneously up to 24 targets. This is thanks to the upgraded Zaslon M phased array radar and the new Baget 5506 computer. Its radar, which is set up in the aircraft nose, has a 1.4-m diameter and a detection range of 470 km. Thus, the MiG-31BM is the only aircraft which can intercept and destroy enemy cruise missile flying at extremely low altitude. Thanks to the its two Soloviev D-30F6 turbofan engines, it is the interceptor with the longest range, breaking the world record by flying seven hours and four minutes and covering the distance of 8,000 km.

Below, the Mikoyan MiG-31BM flying in the skies over Russian territory.

Specifications

Type: interceptor/attack aircraft

Length: 22.62 m (74 feet, 3 inches)

Wing Span: 13.46 m (44 feet, 2 inches)

Wing Area: 61.6 m2 (663 square feet)

Height: 6.45 m (21 feet, 2 inches)

Powerplant: two Soloviev D-30F6 afterburning turbofan engines.

Maximum Speed: 3,250 km/h (Mach 3+)

Combat Range: 3,100 km, with two drop tanks

Crew: two

Armament: one 23-mm GSh-6-23 cannon; ten R-74M air-to-air missiles; one Kh-47M2 Kinzhal air-to ground missile.

Below, the upgraded Foxhound at a military base.

The MiG-31BM during flight interception drills (video).

 

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Fairey Flycatcher

The Fairey Flycatcher was a British, carrier-based fighter aircraft in service with the Royal Navy during the interwar period. It was an extremely maneuverable and easy-to-fly aircraft, with good handling. Being compact, with a short fuselage, made the Flycatcher an excellent biplane to operate from the deck of an aircraft carrier. However, it was used during peace time and, as a result, only 196 units were made. It would be retired in 1935. Some of these biplanes were made in a twin float version, taking off from water.

Designed by F. Duncanson and manufactured by Fairey Aviation Company, the prototype of the Flycatcher (No 163) made its maiden flight on November 28, 1922. The test pilot was Lt. Col. Vincent Nicholl and it was powered by an Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar III engine that delivered 400 HP. After completion of flight and deck handling trials on HMS Argus, it was officially introduced on March 20, 1923, to become one of the most popular fighters ever in British service, superseding the Nieuport Nightjar. Its first assignment was No 402 Flight of Fleet's Air Arm.

Below, three of the last Flycatchers built from a batch that had been ordered in 1930.

The Fairey Flycatcher was built exclusively for the Fleet Air Arm as none was ever sold to a foreign country. After a long and ubiquitous career, the type was declared obsolete. It had served aboard HMS Argus (China Station), Eagle (Mediterranean Sea), Furious (Home Fleet), Courageous (Mediterranean Sea).

Technical Characteristics

The Fairey Flycatcher was a single-seat, single-engine biplane. The aircraft wing upper plane was dihedral and it was set slightly forward in relation to the lower plane, and above and in front of the pilot. Both planes were joined by "И"-shaped struts. Construction: wings were made of wood, with fabric covering, while fuselage was made of both wood and metal. The center of fuselage structure consisted of steel tubes meeting in spool joints attached by bolts. Landing gear was fixed.

Specifications

Type: fighter

Length: 7 m (23 ft)

Wing Span: 8.8 m (29 ft)

Wing Area: 26.76 m2 (288 sq. ft)

Height: 3.66 m (12 ft)

Powerplant: one 400-HP, Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar III/IV

Maximum Speed: 214 km/h (133 mph)

Range: 423 km (263 miles)

Crew: one

Armament: two .303-cal. Vickers machine guns, synchronized to fire forward through the airscrew. Four 20-pound bombs.

Below, a Fairey Flycatcher from the HMS Hermes in 1929.

The prototype, No 163, on the ground of a military base in late 1922.

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Fairey Battle

The Fairey Battle was a three-seat, light bomber used by the Royal Air Force during the first two years of World War II. It was also employed by the Belgian Air Force in May 1940, during the Battle of France. Although it was already an obsolete aircraft by the time WWII broke out, this light bomber would remain in service as in this role until late 1941, when it was relegated to pilot school as a trainer. Despite it was rather obsolete, this aircraft was robust, reliable, and easy to fly.

The prototype of the Fairey Battle, K4303, first flew on March 10, 1936. It had been designed by Marcel Lobelle and made at Hayes. It was powered by a 1,030-HP, Rolls Royce Merlin I engine, driving a three-bladed propeller. It entered service in June 1937 after more than a year of test flights. The first 136 aircraft that rolled out of the Fairey factory were equipped with the Merlin I engine. However, this machine would soon be replaced with a Merlin II, and later with a Merlin III, which generated 1,250 HP. A total of 2,201 light bombers were produced.

Technical Characteristics

The Fairey Battle was a single-engine, low-wing monoplane. The slim, oval section fuselage was built in two portions. The part forward of the pilot's cockpit was made up entirely of steel tubes, which were bolted and riveted together, while the rear portion was a metal monocoque that consisted of hoop frames, stamped out in one piece and Z-section stringers, and core jigs. The wings were cantilever and of two-spar construction. Landing gear was retractable.

Specifications (Mk. III)

Type: light bomber

Length: 12.90 m (42 feet, 4 inches)

Wing Span: 16.46 m (54 feet)

Wing Area: 39.2 m2 (422 square feet)

Height: 4.72 m (15 feet, 6 inches)

Powerplant: one 1,250-HP, Rolls Royce Merlin III, 12-cylinder, 'V'-shaped piston engine.

Maximum Speed: 414 km/h (257 mph)

Range: 1,600 km (1,000 miles)

Rate of Climb: 4.70 m/s (925 feet/minute)

Armament: two 7.7mm machine guns, with one firing forward, and the other firing backward on flexible mount in rear fuselage. Four 110-kg bombs internally, or 650-kg of bombs externally.

Below, the Fairey Battle swooping down out of the sky.

Below, the Fairey Battle in 1939 flying over the English channel.

Below, view of underside of aircraft as it climbs up steeply during tests.

Below, the prototype K4303 in 1936.

Three Fairey Battles in the skies over France in 1940

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Fairey Barracuda

The Fairey Barracuda was the first carrier-based, monoplane torpedo-bomber in service with the British Royal Navy. It was developed by Fairey Aviation as a replacement for the Albacore, which was a slow biplane aircraft. The two main wartime versions were the Barracuda Mk II (1,635 aircraft built) and the Mk III (912 produced). Being introduced in 1943, it flew extensive combat sorties in the Mediterranean, North Sea, as well as in the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean during World War II. From 1946 onwards, it would be used as a trainer, until it was phased out in 1955.

The first prototype of the Barracuda performed its maiden flight on December 7, 1940. During the first tests, the aircraft showed problems with the low-set tailplane. There was tail buffeting and vibration at negative angles and high speeds, respectively. As a result, they redesigned the tail, with a taller and stronger fin and the tailplane strut-braced higher. Fitted with the new tail, the second prototype would fly on June 29, 1941. This one was the Mk I version.

Strengthening of the airframe and additional equipment, which was not part of the original specifications, made the Barracuda a too heavy aircraft to take off and climb, especially from a carrier deck. Thus, the engineers decided to replace the 1,300-HP Merlin 30 engine with a more powerful one; a 1,640-HP, Rolls Royce Merlin 32. Thus, they got a new variant, the Mk II. The Mk III emerged when they replaced the ASV Mk UN radar with the new ASV Mk X anti-submarine radar, which included a blister radome beneath the rear portion of fuselage.

Below, the Mk II variant performs a 40-degree dive, with torpedo. It was also used as a dive-bomber.

The Fairey Barracuda saw only limited service in home waters. However, the high point of its career was a successful strike, which took place on April 4, 1944, in the North Sea, off the coast of Norway. 40 Barracudas, armed with torpedoes and bombs attacked the German Battleship Tirpitz in Operation Tungsten, seriously damaging it, forcing the German capital ship to dock at port for repairs. But it would be in the Pacific Theater of Operations where the Barracuda would become one of the most important carrier-based aircraft, flying sorties alongside American naval bombers.

Technical Characteristics

The Fairey Barracuda was a three-seat, single-engine monplane, which was built with an all-metal fuselage. It was fitted with straight cantilever shoulder-wing, with large trailing edge flaps. The aircraft was distinguished by the prominent radiator air intake located below the engine under the cowling. It had retractable landing gear, whose wheels folded up upwardly and into the sides of fuselage.

Specifications (Mk II)

Type: torpedo-bomber/dive-bomber

Length: 12.12 m (39 ft, 9 in)

Wing Span:  14.99 m (49 ft, 2 in)

Wing Area: 38.46 m2 (414 sq. ft)

Height: 4.60 m (15 ft, 1 in)

Powerplant: one 1,640-HP, Merlin 32 radial engine.

Maximum Speed: 386 km/h (240 mph)

Range: 1,851 km (1,150 miles)

Crew: 3

Armament: one 735-kg torpedo, or four 204-kg bombs. Two 7.7mm Vickers 'K' machine guns set up in rear cockpit.

Below, the Barracuda Mk II carrying a torpedo in the Pacific.

A close up view of underside of the Mk II during trials.

Below, five Barracudas during exercises over England.

The 815 Squadron on the deck of HMS Illustrous

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Fairey Albacore

The Fairey Albacore was a British torpedo-bomber which was used by the Royal Navy during World War II. It entered service in 1940 and saw combat action both in the Atlantic and the Pacific Theater of the war. Although it had been designed to replace the Swordfish, it did not have the success of its predecessor, which was more maneuverable, with better handling. Production of this biplane amounted to a total of 798 aircraft, plus two prototypes.

The Fairey Albacore made its maiden flight on December 12, 1938, taking off from Fairey's Great West Aerodrome. Then the prototype would spend two years making test flights. Aside from its fixed landing gear, it was also tested on floats. At the beginning the test pilots and engineers encountered several technical troubles; ailerons and elevators were too heavy, the stall with the slots free was uncomfortable, and the rear cockpit was cold and drafty. However, it would be accepted into mass production, because it had three combat qualities; it was steady and reliable during dives, it had a smooth recovery after dropping the torpedo, and the pilot had an excellent view of the target down ahead.

Although the Fairey Albacore had been designed for carrier operations, about half of them would take off from land bases. Nevertheless, the moment of glory arrived when the Albacores from the carrier HMS Formidable attacked and severely damaged the Italian battleship Vittorio Veneto during the Battle of Cape Matapan in March 1941. It would also carry out ground-attack missions against Italian troops in North Africa during the Western Desert Campaign, attacking during the night to avoid the German fighters.

Technical Characteristics

The Fairey Albacore as a three-seat, single-engine biplane. Its airframe was all-metal, made of welded steel tubes, and covered with plywood and hardened fabrics. The upper plane of wing had a slight upward inclination (dihedral), while the lower plane was straight. The cockpit was comfortable and enclosed, with heating. The pilot seat was located forward and ahead of wing planes, allowing him to have an excellent view of ground/target. Landing gear was fixed.

Specifications

Type: naval torpedo-bomber

Length: 12.13 m (39 feet, 9 inches)

Wing Span: 15.24 m (50 feet)

Wing Area: 57.88 m2 (623 square feet)

Height: 4.65 m (15 feet, 3 inches)

Powerplant: one 1,130-HP, Bristol Taurus XII, radial piston engine.

Maximum Speed: 259 km/h (161 mph)

Range: 1,497 km (930 miles)

Ceiling: 6,310 m (20,700 feet)

Armament: one 730-kg (1,610 pounds) torpedo, or up to 901 kg of bombs. For defense, it had three 7.7mm (.303-cal.) machine guns.

Below, the Fairey Albacore flying over the Mediterranean in 1942.

Three torpedo-bomber biplanes in the skies over Sicily.

The Albacore flying a reconnaissance sortie over North Africa.

 

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Douglas TBD Devastator

The Douglas TBD Devastator was a three-seat, torpedo-bomber used by the US Navy during the first years of the Pacific Theater of WW2. The prototype, the XTBD-1, had first flown on April 15, 1935. After a long period of test flights, competing with other firms' prototypes, it was finally accepted for production in May 1937. It was formally introduced into service on August 3, 1937, as the TBD-1. Another variant would be produced, the TBD-1A, which was fitted with twin floats.

In 1937, when it entered service with the VT-3 Squadron aboard the USS Saratoga, the TBD Devastator was the most modern, carrier-based torpedo-bomber in the world, as it had replaced the Great Lakes TG-2 biplane. However, by December 7, 1941, when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, it had already become a slow and obsolete aircraft. The Nakajima B5N and the Aichi D3A, which would be introduced in 1938 and 1939 respectively, were faster and more maneuverable.

During the Battle of the Coral Sea, on May 7, 1942, Douglas TBD-1s, along with SBD Dauntless dive-bombers, sank the IJN carrier Shoho. On June 4, 1942, during the Battle of Midway, 41 Devastators attacked the Japanese fleet, but only five of them were able to return as the rest had been wiped out of the sky by Mitsubishi A6M Zeke fighters. Thus, the following year, this torpedo-bomber would be phased out and replaced by the Grumman TBF Avenger.

Technical Characteristics

The Douglas TBD Devastator was a three-seat, single-engine monoplane, with a semi-monocoque, all-metal, two-spar fuselage. Its control movable surfaces were fabric-covered. The aircraft was fitted low wing, whose outer panel could hydraulically be folded up over cockpit for storage aboard carriers. The inner wing panel trailing edge had large split flaps, which allowed for a slower approach and landing speed. The cockpit was large enough for a crew of three and it was covered by a greenhouse type canopy. The retractable landing gear wheels folded backwards into root of wing. Since it was a carrier-borne warplane, it featured a deck-arrester hook under rear segment of fuselage.

Specifications

Type: three-seat torpedo-bomber

Length: 10.67 m (35 feet)

Wing Span: 15.24 m (50 feet)

Wing Area: 39.20 m2 (422 square feet)

Height: 4.60 m (15 feet)

Powerplant: one 900-HP, Pratt & Whitney R-1830-64 twin Wasp, radial piston engine.

Maximum Speed: 332 km/h (205 mph)

Range: 700 km (434.9 miles)

Armament: one 7.62mm (.30-caliber) forward firing machine gun; one 7.62mm backward-firing machine gun mounted in rear portion of cockpit. One Bliss-Leavitt Mk XIII aerial torpedo, or up to three 500-pound bombs.

Crew: three (pilot, navigator, gunner).

Below, three TBD-1s flying over San Diego in 1939.

A Devastator in flight over Hawaii in 1940.

A Douglas TBD dropping a Mk XIII torpedo into sea waters during drills.

Below, Devastators of VT-3 Squadron on flight deck of USS Saratoga.

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