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