the lancaster kicks ass
Major General
- 19,931
- Dec 20, 2003
go on, name from memory some of the firefly's more memorable acivements................
Best Fleet Air Arm (Royal Navy) Aircraft of WW2
- Thread starter bronzewhaler82
- Start date
cheddar cheese
Major General
do i look like i know? 
the lancaster kicks ass
Major General
- 19,931
- Dec 20, 2003
no, but that's cos it has no memorable achivements, unlike the swordfish................
nutter
Airman
the only memorablie thing the firefly did was fly a few strafing runs against the tripitz it also did some armed reconisance of the tripitz.
how can anyone say this is the best fleet air arm plane when it was only a two-seat reconnaissance fighter?
how can anyone say this is the best fleet air arm plane when it was only a two-seat reconnaissance fighter?
Gemhorse
Senior Airman
I always thought it was a 3 seater...but anyway, SEAFIRES ruled...
Lightning Guy
Master Sergeant
- 2,511
- Apr 29, 2004
Performance is fine to talk about but I always like to look at impact. So I'm selecting the Fairy Swordfish, the veritable Stringbag. Yes it was a bi-plane, and yes it was slower than just about anything else in the air, but look at what it did. Disabled the Italian fleet at Taranto. Prevented Bismarck from reaching France by disabling its rudder. Was a menance to U-boats throughout the Atlantic. It even outlasted it's successor (the Albecore)! Pretty impressive performance out of such an old machine.
the lancaster kicks ass
Major General
- 19,931
- Dec 20, 2003
i like the swordfish too, it was easily had the most impact out of all the navy's planes...........
Lightning Guy
Master Sergeant
- 2,511
- Apr 29, 2004
I think you also have to admit that there was something very romantic about flying a plane that was obviously obsolete.
Gemhorse
Senior Airman
Aircraft-carrier defence became a priority through the Pacific engagements, the Japanese using Kamikaze tactics in the finish, rather than torpedos. Also, the age of Rocketry was emerging, the Japs had their 'Okha', the Germans their Fritz-X, and the Allies mostly developing and using the 60lb jobs...Mosquitos got most proficent with these, [the Banff Wing], having the rails harmonised to hit not just superstructure, but to go for the waterline/engine-room...- As much as I cherish the Swordfish, Seafires and Sea Mosquitos were developments into Defensive Offensive Naval Warfare, in the light of new advancing Weaponry...
the lancaster kicks ass
Major General
- 19,931
- Dec 20, 2003
but a sea-fire had no chance of doing some of the things swordfish's did, and while seafires and sea mosquitos were for carrier defence, swordfish offered some offensive power...............
the lancaster kicks ass
Major General
- 19,931
- Dec 20, 2003
in terms of achievements, i'm gonna go for the swordfish still.............
Lightning Guy
Master Sergeant
- 2,511
- Apr 29, 2004
Was the Sea Mosquito ever used in service during WWII? I was under the impression it was a post-war aircraft but I may be wrong. I'm not especially impressed with the Seafire as a carrier aircraft. It wasn't nearly as sturdy as purposed built naval plains and it's range really limited its usefulness. I also think it's telling, that whenever possibly, the FAA prefered to use Corsairs or Hellcats to the homegrown Seafires. So I'm still sticking with the Stringbag.
the lancaster kicks ass
Major General
- 19,931
- Dec 20, 2003
a sea mossie would be a bit big for brittish carriers wouldn't it? after all, the brittish carriers were famed for their low decks............
Lightning Guy
Master Sergeant
- 2,511
- Apr 29, 2004
The Brits did trial landings with a Sea Mosquito onboard HMS Ideftaigable in 1944, but I'm not sure any of them actually saw service during the war.
the lancaster kicks ass
Major General
- 19,931
- Dec 20, 2003
i don't think they did, but i would be very ineterested if anyone has any pics of one...............
Gemhorse
Senior Airman
The Sea Mosquito didn't actually arrive in force until September 1945, [50 of 'em] the testing starting with the HMS. Indefatigable, as stated.- They were basically a FB.Mk.VI, and with folding wings, arrestor hook and even rockets to assist take-off, and were known as TR.Mk33's...and capable of carrying an 18in. torpedo - But their armament capabilities have been equated to a ' Crusier broadside ', so they were Offensively-capable. - My current reading of Corsairs at the moment, states that the Americans preferred the Hellcats to Corsairs on Carriers, due to their shorter nose being easier to land...the Seafires, besides their narrow-track undercart would've had a long nose to land around too, but they did do good service, although the Corsairs were built with a dive-bomber capabilty- lowering their under-carriage acted very-well as dive-brakes - they carried-off some good results at this task...
Lightning Guy
Master Sergeant
- 2,511
- Apr 29, 2004
And since the Sea Mosquito arrived after the VJ Day, it can hardly be the best FAA aircraft of the war. I've never heard it's firepower compared to a cruiser broadside though I've often heard a barrage of rockets likened to a destroyer broadside (which seems more reasonable). The Corsair may have been the best aircraft opperated by the FAA, but it wasn't homegrown. Does it still qualify for this discussion?
Lightning Guy
Master Sergeant
- 2,511
- Apr 29, 2004
You could argue that the USMC made the Corsair what it was. The Seafire was a fine interceptor but that's all it was. Suppose a British carrier equipped with Seafires wanted to launch a strike against a target 250-300 miles away. What's going to fly escort? A Seafire would be hard-pressed to meet that kinda range even if everything went exactly right.
