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?
Ad: This forum contains affiliate links to products on Amazon and eBay. More information in Terms and rules
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?After the BoB, how much role did the Hurricane play in the ETO?
After the BoB, how much role did the Hurricane play in the ETO?
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.After the BoB, how much role did the Hurricane play in the ETO?
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!Hurricanes also operated in the CBI, like India and Burma.
If Swordfish successfully mounted rockets, I don't see how you can claim that a Hurricane is too slow to do so.It was two slow to be used as a rocketeer.
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).If Swordfish successfully mounted rockets, I don't see how you can claim that a Hurricane is too slow to do so.
The Swordfish were attacking U-Boats, the Hurricanes were attacking targets on the European mainland where anti-aircraft defences were fiercer.If Swordfish successfully mounted rockets, I don't see how you can claim that a Hurricane is too slow to do so.
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.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?)
The Swordfish were attacking U-Boats, the Hurricanes were attacking targets on the European mainland where anti-aircraft defences were fiercer.
The Bismarck says hello...
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!!!!
Goodbye Bismarck, you should have tested your guns and radar thoroughly before you set sail.