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I'd guess that the Swordfish killed more submarines than any other aircraft. With the ability to operate in all weathers, to fly slowly to observe targets, and with a good bomb load it's ideal for the job.
Nearly half of all U-Boat losses are attributed to aircraft, U-boat Losses by cause - Fates - German U-boats of WWII - Kriegsmarine - uboat.net
-Weren't the Commencement Bay class about the same size? I realize that few of that class entered service before the end of the war but were their air groups going to contain SBDs or had the SBDs been withdrawn from service by that time?
-Unfortunately there just doesn't seem to be a lot available on CVEs. Most American photos show Wildcats and Avengers; I don't think I've ever seen a photo of an SBD on one of the Sangamon class ships.
-Did any of the CVEs carry F6F Hellcats? If so, and if they could launch carrying a decent bomb/rocket load, there probably wouldn't be a need for SBDs.
-Corsair on a CVE???
I'd guess that the Swordfish killed more submarines than any other aircraft. With the ability to operate in all weathers, to fly slowly to observe targets, and with a good bomb load it's ideal for the job.
Which 6 aircraft killed more U-boats?So far at least 6 aircraft killed more U-boats than the Swordfish.
Perhaps the Swordfish does better on kills per 100 planes deployed of kills per 1000 missions?
However some of the high scoring aircraft used weapons unavailable to the Swordfish, like homing torpedoes.
Which 6 aircraft killed more U-boats?
Going to guess Liberator, Sunderland, Catalina, Wellington, Hudson and Avenger.
With its rare twin torpedo armament, the Wellington could have been a good early war anti-.ship platformForgot about the Hudson and Wellington.
Liberator 72 sunk
With its rare twin torpedo armament, the Wellington could have been a good early war anti-.ship platform
Liberator is the stand out in the much higher number than the next below it, but not surprising when its thought about; long range, ASV radar, good performance...
Definitely. Interesting that both it, the Hampden and the Manchester, aside from their heavy bomber roles, were given land based torpedo carrier role within their original specification and could carry torpedoes internally. Both the Hampden and Welli were used in that role during the war, the Hampden TB variant got extensive RAF service, with examples also built in Canada. RAF RCAF, New Zealand and Australian squadrons operated the Hampden TB variant.
Some internal structural mods also were made to the rear of the bomb-bay. Easiest way to distinguish TB I from the bomber is the step at the end of the bomb-bay.
Yes Juha, right you are, but initially the HP.52 and HP.53 were, on the drawing board at least, pretty much the same aeroplane, but yes, the original spec B.9/32 doesn't stipulate a torpedo carrying requirement.
The last time I was at Cosford I took some close up images of the rear position and the mods for the fitting of the torpedo, of the RAF Museum's example. There has been some confusion over the modifications made to the TB variant over the years - the step has often been regarded as evidence of the doors being altered, but they weren't; the rear gunner's position was reduced in depth and a prominent 'vee' was built into its underside to accommodate the torpedo with stabilising fins.
This image shows the Hampden TB.1's rear cupola and window layout, what isn't evident is the change in size compared to the standard bomber variant, but the windows are different.
View attachment 597923Hampden TB cupola i
This image shows the prominent cutout in the underside of the cupola showing the cutout for the torpedo, giving it reduced depth.
View attachment 597924Hampden TB cupola ii
This profile drawing shows the bomber variant profile, note the cupola design is different.
http://img.wp.scn.ru/camms/ar/1271/pics/9_1.jpg
This common image of a 489 (New Zealand) Sqn Hampden shows the prominent step that you mention, which is caused by the reduced size of the cupola, not an increase in the door size at their rear end.
ADF-Serials Image Gallery :: Handley Page Hampden :: HAMPDEN_AN127_455SQN_XA_Y
Thanks a lot for the photos, very interesting ones!
I remembered that I have read from somewhere that they also modified the lower rear gun position, but could remember how and I could not find the source.
I meant to refer to carrier aircraft. My bad.Which 6 aircraft killed more U-boats?
from Characteristics of WW2 Air Launched torpedoes from different nationsASV II began to be introduced on the Swordfish in early 1941, but initially only on the basis of a few aircraft per squadron. 825 must have been one of the first to become fully radar equipped.
There were technical problems getting ASV II to work on the Albacore, so it was nearly the end of 1941 before it began to be fitted to that aircraft. It was one reason why Indomitable received 2 Swordfish to augment her Albacores in the IO in early 1942.
The last Albacore service was with the Royal Air Force with the Aden Communications flight who received 17 Albacores and operated them until August 1946. So they remained in service long after the Royal Navy had finished throwing Wildcats, Hellcats, Corsairs and Avengers over the side of their carriers.