Photos of Sea Mosquito with torpedo fitted with MAT

GreatDaeld · Sep 18, 2025

Hello!

I am looking for pictures of a Sea Mosquito with torpedoes fitted with Monoplane Air Tail.

Most the photos i have been able to find all seem to be of inert torpedoes where the pistol is not fitted. As far as i know, the Sea Mosquito didnt see a lot of operational service, so it is possible that there are no such photos of it out there. But i figured this would be a good place to search!

Best regards

EwenS · Sep 18, 2025

Can't say I've ever seen a photo meeting your requirements. Main problem is lack of production & use of the type. Ignoring prototypes there were the following Sea Mosquitos produced:-
50 x TR.33 first flew Nov 1945
6 x TR.37 delivered from March to Aug 1948.

The only front line FAA squadron to use them was 811 between April 1946 (as replacements for FB.VI) and July 1947. Numbers on the squadron built to 12 before being reduced to just 6 at the end of 1946.

811 reformed at Ford on 15 Sept 1945, moved to Brawdy in Dec 1946 and then Eglinton NI in March 1947 where it disbanded in July 1947. It never went aboard a carrier in this period.

A variety of second line squadrons used then over time. All TR.33 unless noted.
703 TR.33 & 37 Naval Air-Sea Warfare Development Unit 1946-50
739 Photographic Development Unit 1947-50
751 Radio warfare unit 1952-53
762 Heavy Twin Conversion Unit 1947-49
771 both variants. FRU mostly providing aircraft for the RN Fighter Direction School at Yeovilton 1947-50
778 Service Trials Unit & Carrier Trials Unit 1946-1948
787 Air Support Development Section of the Naval Air Fighting Development Unit 1946
790 attached to Fighter Direction School to train Fighter Direction Officers. 1946-48

These second line squadrons were flying multiple aircraft types with Sea Mosquitos only forming part of their aircraft holdings.

GreatDaeld · Sep 18, 2025

EwenS said:
Can't say I've ever seen a photo meeting your requirements. Main problem is lack of production & use of the type. Ignoring prototypes there were the following Sea Mosquitos produced:-
50 x TR.33 first flew Nov 1945
6 x TR.37 delivered from March to Aug 1948.

The only front line FAA squadron to use them was 811 between April 1946 (as replacements for FB.VI) and July 1947. Numbers on the squadron built to 12 before being reduced to just 6 at the end of 1946.

811 reformed at Ford on 15 Sept 1945, moved to Brawdy in Dec 1946 and then Eglinton NI in March 1947 where it disbanded in July 1947. It never went aboard a carrier in this period.

A variety of second line squadrons used then over time. All TR.33 unless noted.
703 TR.33 & 37 Naval Air-Sea Warfare Development Unit 1946-50
739 Photographic Development Unit 1947-50
751 Radio warfare unit 1952-53
762 Heavy Twin Conversion Unit 1947-49
771 both variants. FRU mostly providing aircraft for the RN Fighter Direction School at Yeovilton 1947-50
778 Service Trials Unit & Carrier Trials Unit 1946-1948
787 Air Support Development Section of the Naval Air Fighting Development Unit 1946
790 attached to Fighter Direction School to train Fighter Direction Officers. 1946-48

These second line squadrons were flying multiple aircraft types with Sea Mosquitos only forming part of their aircraft holdings.

Yeah i figured there would be limited photographs of the aircraft due to its limited service. Thanks for the additional info regarding the squadrons operating the types!

Crimea_River · Sep 18, 2025

I have a fairly large collection of Mosquito books, articles and photos. The only photos showing a TR.33 carrying a torpedo that I have seen are those of the prototype LR387, which I'm sure you've seen as that torpedo does not carry the MAT.

PS. If anyone can find such photos it would be Ian Thirsk at the de Havilland Heritage Museum.

GreatDaeld · Sep 19, 2025

Crimea_River said:
I have a fairly large collection of Mosquito books, articles and photos. The only photos showing a TR.33 carrying a torpedo that I have seen are those of the prototype LR387, which I'm sure you've seen as that torpedo does not carry the MAT.

PS. If anyone can find such photos it would be Ian Thirsk at the de Havilland Heritage Museum.

Yeah i have seen some photos of the LR387 with a torpedo, and as you say it doesnt carry the MAT. Furthermore, it looks to me as if the torpedo is either a practice torpedo or inert, as it doesnt have any pistol fitted. I know the mk XII torpedo had a rather large pistol, and i believe the mk XV had a comparatively smaller one. I believe some italian torpedoes had pistols that emerged once the torpedo was submerged, so it could be a possibility the british used these as well.

Thank you for the tip, ill try to contact the Heritage Museum!

Photos of Sea Mosquito with torpedo fitted with MAT

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