ThomasP
Senior Master Sergeant
There were 2 primary reasons for the design and purchase of the Albacore.
1. There was no acceptable 1938 monoplane Torpedo-Dive Bomber design that showed any advantage over the Albacore (in expected operations) that did not also have disadvantages that limited any reason to buy the monoplane. The primary reason for this was no available engine of the power needed to allow the monoplane designs to operate off of carriers as well as the biplane designs could. This engine problem is the same one that limited the capability of the Skua (hence its 500 lb maximum bomb size, where the competitive biplane designs for the Skua type could carry a 1000 lb maximum bomb size). I would also say that the engine problem is what delayed the Barracuda's service entry, which was the first RN/FAA carrier capable monoplane that could lift the same ordnance load as the Albacore.
2. Around 1930 the RN/FAA considered the limit for carrier flight operations to be Beaufort 6 (winds of 22- 27 knots, waves of 9-13 ft), a decision based on the light weight aircraft of the time being blown around. Around 1935 the RN/FAA began to train for night operations, with the intent of being able to attack shore targets (and ships if they were locatable) day or night in any weather in which the carrier aircraft would operate. By the time (1937-1938) the RN/FAA decided they needed a more capable TB or TSR then the Swordfish, they were already well versed in night and all-weather operations.
Due to reasons 1 & 2 the Albacore was designed to carry a maximum weapons load of around 2000 lbs, operate day or night and in any practical weather - practical as defined by the RN/FAA. During one war-time launch in Beaufort 8 conditions (winds of 34-40 knots, waves 18-25 ft) they had to spot each plane individually to the fore of the island (the TO runs were only 1.5-2 aircraft lengths) and time the TO runs to the rise and fall of the bow.
Somewhere on the internet there is a video of Albacores launching in very heavy seas. It is hard to see due to the film being shot from the front quarter, but you can tell that the Albacore is not even reaching the bow of the carrier before it is already 30-40 ft above the flight deck and turning to port in order to avoid getting blown back into the island. I used to have a download of the video but it went away when my last laptop crapped out.
1. There was no acceptable 1938 monoplane Torpedo-Dive Bomber design that showed any advantage over the Albacore (in expected operations) that did not also have disadvantages that limited any reason to buy the monoplane. The primary reason for this was no available engine of the power needed to allow the monoplane designs to operate off of carriers as well as the biplane designs could. This engine problem is the same one that limited the capability of the Skua (hence its 500 lb maximum bomb size, where the competitive biplane designs for the Skua type could carry a 1000 lb maximum bomb size). I would also say that the engine problem is what delayed the Barracuda's service entry, which was the first RN/FAA carrier capable monoplane that could lift the same ordnance load as the Albacore.
2. Around 1930 the RN/FAA considered the limit for carrier flight operations to be Beaufort 6 (winds of 22- 27 knots, waves of 9-13 ft), a decision based on the light weight aircraft of the time being blown around. Around 1935 the RN/FAA began to train for night operations, with the intent of being able to attack shore targets (and ships if they were locatable) day or night in any weather in which the carrier aircraft would operate. By the time (1937-1938) the RN/FAA decided they needed a more capable TB or TSR then the Swordfish, they were already well versed in night and all-weather operations.
Due to reasons 1 & 2 the Albacore was designed to carry a maximum weapons load of around 2000 lbs, operate day or night and in any practical weather - practical as defined by the RN/FAA. During one war-time launch in Beaufort 8 conditions (winds of 34-40 knots, waves 18-25 ft) they had to spot each plane individually to the fore of the island (the TO runs were only 1.5-2 aircraft lengths) and time the TO runs to the rise and fall of the bow.
Somewhere on the internet there is a video of Albacores launching in very heavy seas. It is hard to see due to the film being shot from the front quarter, but you can tell that the Albacore is not even reaching the bow of the carrier before it is already 30-40 ft above the flight deck and turning to port in order to avoid getting blown back into the island. I used to have a download of the video but it went away when my last laptop crapped out.
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