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Eric Brown's comparison of the Swordfish versus the TBF or Kate is baloney just like much of his writing comparing combat aircraft. If the Swordfish had equipped the American VT squadrons at Midway and Coral Sea with the American torpedoes, they would probably been even less successful than they were. The Swordfish could not even get into the battle compared to the Kate and the Avenger because of its low speed and lack of range. It was a disgrace that the RN, with it's tradition and experience, sent it's CVs to sea with the British designed shipboard AC that they had. And it is a tribute to the RN personnel that they accomplished what they did with such shoddy equipment.
British Torpedoes of World War II
IMO the only good thing about the Stringbag was the reliable 18" Mark XII aerial torpedo it carried. Design the USN TBF torpedo bomber to carry the British torpedo and you'd have a war winning weapons system.
Interestingly, in his comments on the new
aircraft composition, Captain Short (of USS Bogue) suggested that four
slower type aircraft, such as the Swordfish, be
substituted for three 'TBF-is: "The Swordfish, for
instance, can be operated in weather which precludes
the landing and take-off (except by catapult) of the
TBF. They could be used for night operations and
rough water work when the employment of the heavy
and faster TBF would be unduly hazardous in this class
of vessel. Further, a slow aircraft at night would prove
more effective in spotting submarines than a fast
one''(76) The suggestion was not followed.
Eric Brown's comparison of the Swordfish versus the TBF or Kate is baloney just like much of his writing comparing combat aircraft. If the Swordfish had equipped the American VT squadrons at Midway and Coral Sea with the American torpedoes, they would probably been even less successful than they were. The Swordfish could not even get into the battle compared to the Kate and the Avenger because of its low speed and lack of range. It was a disgrace that the RN, with it's tradition and experience, sent it's CVs to sea with the British designed shipboard AC that they had. And it is a tribute to the RN personnel that they accomplished what they did with such shoddy equipment.
Can you be specific? Back in WW2 instrument flying was based on an artificial horizon, gyro compass, turn and bank indicator, Vertical speed indicator, a clock with a second hand and possibly an ADF. Later in the war some aircraft were fitted with a localizer that worked off of LF tones, so tell me what makes the Swordfish any better of an IMC aircraft than the TBF if equipped with the same or similar equipment????The Swordfish could operate in weather that would ground the TBF
Can you be specific? Back in WW2 instrument flying was based on an artificial horizon, gyro compass, turn and bank indicator, Vertical speed indicator, a clock with a second hand and possibly an ADF. Later in the war some aircraft were fitted with a localizer that worked off of LF tones, so tell me what makes the Swordfish any better of an IMC aircraft than the TBF if equipped with the same or similar equipment????
Interestingly, in his comments on the new
aircraft composition, Captain Short (of USS Bogue) suggested that four
slower type aircraft, such as the Swordfish, be
substituted for three 'TBF-is: "The Swordfish, for
instance, can be operated in weather which precludes
the landing and take-off (except by catapult) of the
TBF. They could be used for night operations and
rough water work when the employment of the heavy
and faster TBF would be unduly hazardous in this class
of vessel. Further, a slow aircraft at night would prove
more effective in spotting submarines than a fast
one''(76) The suggestion was not followed.
Eric Brown's comparison of the Swordfish versus the TBF or Kate is baloney just like much of his writing comparing combat aircraft. If the Swordfish had equipped the American VT squadrons at Midway and Coral Sea with the American torpedoes, they would probably been even less successful than they were. The Swordfish could not even get into the battle compared to the Kate and the Avenger because of its low speed and lack of range. It was a disgrace that the RN, with it's tradition and experience, sent it's CVs to sea with the British designed shipboard AC that they had. And it is a tribute to the RN personnel that they accomplished what they did with such shoddy equipment.
IMO that hardly qualifies as a mass production aircraft. If not for Devastator participation in the Battles of Coral Sea and Midway it would be no more then a footnote in aviation history. Like the Me-109T which was produced in even smaller numbers and never fought a battle from an aircraft carrier flight deck.
British Torpedoes of World War II
IMO the only good thing about the Stringbag was the reliable 18" Mark XII aerial torpedo it carried. Design the USN TBF torpedo bomber to carry the British torpedo and you'd have a war winning weapons system.
The suggestion was not followed because it made no sense. Saying the Stringbag was superior to the Avenger because it was slower is tantamount to saying the US Model 1808 Musket was superior to the US Model 1961 Springfield Rifle Musket during The War of Northern Aggression because it was a smoothbore and faster to load. The TBD was around 68 MPH faster than the Swordfish and the crew did not get wet when it rained. I call those significant advantages.
In some cases the Swordfish was like a baseball pitcher throwing a knuckleball or a change up...
How can anyone think that a slow torpedo plane was more effective than a fast torpedo plane?
.The TBD had to go in slow because the US torpedos could not be dropped if the plane was going fast
They also could not be dropped from very high off the water. The Japanese torpedo could be dropped both from higher off the water and at higher speeds.
The TBDs were slow while carrying a torpedo because of drag but so was the Stringbag. The Kate and later the Avenger were much faster which helped them get into position to launch when the targets were maneuvering to avoid them. The longer it took for the VT to get into position to drop the torpedo, the longer the VT was exposed to AA and fighter interference.
The Japanese reported that the flak at PH was surprisingly heavy and started up very fast. The Taranto raid does not compare to the Japanese torpedo attacks in the Pacific.