Confuses me as a Brit, they were still in Malta and N Africa and many took part in Dieppe. But Malta and N Africa aren't ETO I believe?
Most innovative aircraft of WW2 ?
- Thread starter Readie
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fastmongrel
1st Sergeant
By mid 41 Home Hurricane squadrons had mostly changed to attack roles.
Kevin J
Banned
It was the RAF's most numerous night fighter without radar (IIa/b) until replaced by the Defiant and Beaufighter; as a fighter bomber (IIb); as an intruder (IIc). So you're looking at it being used up until 1943 when it is replaced by the Typhoon. It was two slow to be used as a rocketeer. The Spitfire replaced it completely in the day fighter role by the end of 1941 but they were still claiming victories in that year. The Spitfire was the glamour girl that the French got to see and the Germans got to shoot at over the channel coasts of England and France.
GrauGeist
Generalfeldmarschall zur Luftschiff Abteilung
Hurricanes also operated in the CBI, like India and Burma.
Kevin J
Banned
Last but not least, the Sea Hurricane which was a standard Hurricane with naval radio, arrestor hook, catapult spools, individual exhausts per cylinder so that you achieved the same speed on a Sea Hurricane IIc without catapult spools as you would with a Hurricane IIa. So just imagine, a Hurricane IIa with the same mods would have done 355 mph!
KiwiBiggles
Senior Airman
If Swordfish successfully mounted rockets, I don't see how you can claim that a Hurricane is too slow to do so.
GrauGeist
Generalfeldmarschall zur Luftschiff Abteilung
Even the Stringbag carried 8 RP-3 rockets and had a blistering top speed of about 150 mph (even less with a Mk.XII torpedo).
yulzari
Staff Sergeant
The RAF in Cyprus was still using Hurricanes in 1946 and transitioned straight to Vampires.
swampyankee
Chief Master Sergeant
- 4,004
- Jun 25, 2013
During the Battle of Britain, Hurricanes had a greater availability than Spitfires, as the latter took longer to repair.
Kevin J
Banned
The Swordfish were attacking U-Boats, the Hurricanes were attacking targets on the European mainland where anti-aircraft defences were fiercer.
Shortround6
Major General
I believe there were only 2-3 Hurricane squadrons in England being employed on cross channel attacks?
One reason for the longevity of the Whirlwind. It "doubled" the number of fighter bomber squadrons at the time (up to four?)
One reason for the longevity of the Whirlwind. It "doubled" the number of fighter bomber squadrons at the time (up to four?)
Kevin J
Banned
Longevity may have more to do with weather conditions. The Whirlwinds operated mainly over Brittany, where get two months of really clear summer weather each year. May and June is sun and showers, the rest of the year is crap weather. The Whirlwind was a day fighter-bomber so given operations from 1940 to 1943, you get 6 months of operations per squadron, and since you need 50 aircraft for 6 months of operations that gives you two squadrons of aircraft. The Beaufighter is an all weather fighter, it has a navigator, so its much more usable around all of the UK, where believe me, the weather is much much more variable.
buffnut453
Captain
The Bismarck says hello...
Yeah...and there was that harbour raided by Swordfish that resulted in a lot of ships being lost. What was that now? Tortuga? No, that's not right. Toronto? Hmmm...sounds right but not 100%.
Oh yeah...it was Taranto! Silly me!!!!
GrauGeist
Generalfeldmarschall zur Luftschiff Abteilung
To be honest, speed really has nothing to do with it - a Stringbag mortally wounded the Bismark with an attack speed of roughly 143mph, yet Devastators (206mph) and Avengers (over 250mph) didn't sink any Japanese ships at Midway.
Kevin J
Banned
Goodbye Bismarck, you should have tested your guns and radar thoroughly before you set sail.The Bismarck says hello...
Yeah...and there was that harbour raided by Swordfish that resulted in a lot of ships being lost. What was that now? Tortuga? No, that's not right. Toronto? Hmmm...sounds right but not 100%.
Oh yeah...it was Taranto! Silly me!!!!
Actually I completely forgot about that one. Thanks!
Still doesn't change the fact that it was a fierce concentrated air defense...
GrauGeist
Generalfeldmarschall zur Luftschiff Abteilung
If the Bismark had a solid screen of Destroyers and/or Cruisers, the Stringbags would have been ripped to shreds.
As it happened, however, the Bismark's AA couldn't train on the incoming aircraft, as the Swordfish's attack/release altitude was 18' above the water. Literally, the ONLY thing that could have saved the Bismark, is if they had enough warning of the incoming aircraft and launched their Ar196s to intercept.
As it happened, however, the Bismark's AA couldn't train on the incoming aircraft, as the Swordfish's attack/release altitude was 18' above the water. Literally, the ONLY thing that could have saved the Bismark, is if they had enough warning of the incoming aircraft and launched their Ar196s to intercept.
