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Using sensible modifications and nothing that requires Unobtanium or a time machine what can the navy do to produce a good carrier fighter for service in early 1940.
1: What Merlin can be fitted that will give better power at lower altitudes
2: What propellor, 3 or 4 blades
3: Armament I would like cannon but that seems unlikely how about 12 x .303 Brownings or 6 x (insert name here) heavy machine guns. Make some of the guns easily demountable for extra range/altitude
4: Folding wings obviously needs to be the metal wings but is there any reason the Hurricane wing design cant be modified to fold and fit the Armoured Carrier lifts
5: Navigation can the Radio Navigation beacon be minaturised and made pilot operable
6: Bomb racks for at a minimum 250lb bombs plus plumbed for fuel tanks but probably not droppable I think thats a bit early. Modify flaps to act as dive brakes or drop the U/C to act as dive brakes
7: Can the wing roots be sealed off to make the plane better at floating with the by product of preventing burning fuel tanks venting into the cockpit and toasting the pilot.
8: Add lightness and simplificate. How heavy is a Sea Hurricane likely to be and how will the performance be degraded.
9: Which factory will do the Naval mods
From Wiki but I have read it elsewhereI've not really heard that the radiator was a big issue in ditching. The worst thing about the Hurricane ditching I've read about many times is the fact that it sank like a stone.
As in, by the time you've got your straps off - you're a few feet underwater already.
Simplificate?
From Wiki but I have read it elsewhere
Ditching the Hurricane in the sea called for skill as the radiator housing acted as a water brake, pitching the nose of the fighter downwards when it hit the water, while also acting as a very efficient scoop, helping to flood the Hurricane so that a quick exit was necessary before the aircraft sank.[145]
As you say, the pilot had a matter of seconds to get out.
I am thinking of writing an alternate history timeline and need to ask for some information and ideas.
Its 1938 and the Admiralty belatedly realises Heavy AA guns will not protect its new carriers and decides it needs a high performance fighter to defend the fleet.
Using sensible modifications and nothing that requires Unobtanium or a time machine what can the navy do to produce a good carrier fighter for service in early 1940.
As Tomo has stated the MK VIII is your best bet.1: What Merlin can be fitted that will give better power at lower altitudes
Here things get tricky, the 4 blade is out of the question and the main question is if you can even get constant speed propellers vs 2 speed propellers. The earlier you want the fighters the more difficult to get the constant speed propellers. Please Note that the Sea Gladiators used fixed pitch (not even 2 speed) 3 blade metal propellers.2: What propellor, 3 or 4 blades
3: Armament I would like cannon but that seems unlikely how about 12 x .303 Brownings or 6 x (insert name here) heavy machine guns. Make some of the guns easily demountable for extra range/altitude
actually they could fit the forward lift. They just had to be turned sideways, wings in line with the hull, a major pain in the butt.4: Folding wings obviously needs to be the metal wings but is there any reason the Hurricane wing design cant be modified to fold and fit the Armoured Carrier lifts
5: Navigation can the Radio Navigation beacon be minaturised and made pilot operable
6: Bomb racks for at a minimum 250lb bombs plus plumbed for fuel tanks but probably not droppable I think thats a bit early. Modify flaps to act as dive brakes or drop the U/C to act as dive brakes
8: Add lightness and simplificate. How heavy is a Sea Hurricane likely to be and how will the performance be degraded.
The Roc was made by Boulton Paul as Blackburns were fully committed to other production so had no spare capacity.Yay! Long time no what-if here
9. If we can kill the Roc, that was produced by Blackburn, then Blackburn can do it.