Best Fleet Air Arm (Royal Navy) Aircraft of WW2

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I have no criticism of the Swordfish, which did a terrific job considering. However, the backbone of Carrier defence was the Seafire, and although it was secondary to the US aircraft used by FAA, it still did a good job as well, particuarly the Mk.XV, being Griffon-engined. Also, they were armed with cannon, whereas most other Carrier Fighters were armed with MG's.- Although mostly defensive, they did alot of offensive operations, bombing and strafing during the Pacific conflict, and as a testament to their adaption to the role of Carrier Fighter, it wasn't until post-1954 that Seafires were finally superceded by the Supermarine Attacker, the first FAA jet fighter...
 
The Seafire Mk. XV didn't enter service until May of '45. There were less than three months left in the war and only four squadrons were equipped with it during the war. According to the FAA's own website, the Royal Navy ended up using Corsairs and Hellcats as the primary fleet defense fighter.
 
it seems there are less and less regular posters now, we're a dying breed, however erich's araival has made things a bit better, if a bit longer.............
 
Yeah, you're quite right there LG...Bloody fine looking aircraft though ! - I'm a fan of the Corsair too, having recently read of a N.Z. Pilot who flew them, quite a viceless aircraft in the hands of an experienced pilot. I liked the fact that the Pratt Whitney engines were so reliable and durable, having a cylinder shot-out, and you could still fly home ! - Something y'can't do with inline V12's...- They used these R-2800 engines in so many different aircraft, a real testament to Radials, and American Engineering....
 
Depends on how much more power they give. On the basic R-2800 producing 2,000 hp it probably does cancel out. By the end of the war, an engine of the exact same size was producing 2,850hp which is a decided advantage.
 
Actually, radials required alot more work for the pilot, as in aerobatics the engines being air-cooled, required constant temperature-watching and resultant cowl-flap adjustment...I imagine they eventually got thermostats, like the Mustangs had, to control the constant air altitude change on the engine while in combat. - The Corsair was quickly passed onto the US Marines by their Navy, because of their vicious stall which made carrier operation alot trickier...choosing the Hellcat instead...Many were passed onto the FAA, but Corsairs were a much better land-based fighter and although more powerful than the earlier Seafires, the latter was used more for Carriers. - The RNZAF had 13 Corsair Sqn.'s during the Soloman's conflict, and they were used as land-based fighters. The FAA did continue to use them though, even off light fleet carriers, their pilots were indeed heroic chaps...Land-based Corsairs landed at up to 120 knots, the Carrier guys at 83 knots, five knots short of their very dangerous stall-speed....
 
Other reasons for not deploying the Corsair to carriers immediately included bounce on landing and horrid visibility over the nose.
 
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