Fairey Swordfish

In Memoriam

Klaas Willem Jonker
(Wilko)
† April 30, 2018

On Monday, April 30, 2018, Wilko Jonker passed away after a long illness at the age of 58. He leaves behind a wife and two children. The Dutch military aviation and plastic model building were his hobby and on this website he has shared all the knowledge he has gathered about it over the many years. His hobby was able to distract him from the raging disease in his body until the last week of his life. The contacts with other hobbyists were a major support for him.

Details: Written by: K.W. Jonker; Published: 29 June 2011; Created: 29 June 2011; Last Updated: 13 December 2017; Hits: 20045

Article Index

History

The Fairey Swordfish was a development of the Fairey PV, a design based on requirements of the Greek Navy. This aircraft made its first flight in March 1933.
The British Navy had a requirement specified in S.9/30 for an unarmed scout. The PV largely satisfied these requirements, apart from the engine.
The PV was modified by Fairey and equipped with a Bristol Pegasus IIM radial engine and was designated TSR 1 (Torpedo - Spotter - Reconnaissance 1). This aircraft made its first flight in July 1933 but crashed in September of that year.
The design team continued with the TSR-1 and came with a modified version with wings in light arrow position and a longer fuselage. This aircraft was designated TSR-II.
The TSR II met the now issued S.15/33 requirements for a three seat scout explorer and two-seat torpedo-bomber.
The TSR II made its first flight on April 17, 1934.
Fairey received a first production order in April 1935 and the first aircraft entered service early 1936.
In 1942 the Navy started replacing the Swordfish by the Fairey Albacore, Fairey Barracuda and Grumman Avenger in the role of torpedo-bomber.
The Swordfish was still kept in use for anti-submarine warfare. Meanwhile the production had been transferred to Blackburn.
in the anti-submarine role the Swordfish was equipped with depth charges or eight RP-3 rockets and therefore the lower wing has been made entirely of metal and a more powerful Pegasus 30 engine was installed. This model was designated Swordfish Mk. II.
Later a version equipped with ASV Mk.XI radar in a radome under the fuselage was released under the designation Swordfish Mk.III.
The ASV Mk. XI radar had a range of about 40 km and was used to detect surface ships and, if weather conditions were good enough, snorkeling submarines could also be detected
The Sword Fishes were (as anti-submarine aircraft) used from so-called MAC ships (Merchant Aircraft Carrier) and from escort carriers.
MAC ships were converted tankers or grain ships equipped with a flight deck.
The last Swordfish was delivered in August 1944.
Eventually, there were nearly 2400 examples built, 989 Mk.Is, 1080 Mk.IIs and 327 Mk.IIIs.

Versions.

Swordfish I:: The first production version, of which nearly 1000 were built.
Swordfish II:: Version with metal under wing and a more powerful engine.
Swordfish III:: As mk. II and equipped with ASV radar.
Swordfish IV:: implementation of the Swordfish II with a closed, heated cockpit; 110 examples modified.

Technical information Fairey Swordfish Mk. I
Dimensions:
Length:	10,87 m	Wingspan:	13,87 m
Height:	3,76 m	Wing area:	56,4 m²
Weights:
Empty weight:	1,900 kg kg	Max. start weight:	3450 kg
Performances:
Max. speed:	257 km/hr	Climbing speed:	4.42 m/s at sea level
Cruising speed:	218 km/hr
Range:	880 km	Service ceiling:	5030 m
Miscellaneous:
Engine type:	One Bristol Pegasus IIIM.3 radial engine, 690 hp (510 kW)
Crew:	Three: one pilot, one observer and a radio operator/rear gunner
Armament:	One fixed, forward-firing .303 in (7.7 mm) Vickers machine gun in engine cowling; one .303 in (7.7 mm) Lewis or Vickers K machine gun in rear cockpit; One × 1,670 lb (760 kg) torpedo or 1,500 lb (700 kg) mine under fuselage or 1,500 lb bombs under fuselage and wings.

Technical information Fairey Swordfish Mk.II
Dimensions:
Length:	11,12 m	Wingspan:	13,92 m
Height:	3,93 m	Wing area:	56,4 m²
Weights:
Empty weight:	2359 kg	Max. start weight:	4196 kg
Performances:
Max. speed:	224 km/hr	Climbing speed:	- m/min
Cruising speed:	167 km/hr
Range:	1658 km (with torpedo: 885 km)	Service ceiling:	3260 m
Miscellaneous:
Engine type:	One Bristol Pegasus XXX rated 750 hp
Crew:	Three: one pilot, one observer and a radio operator/rear gunner
Armament:	One fixed, forward-firing .303 in (7.7 mm) Vickers machine gun in engine cowling; one .303 in (7.7 mm) Lewis or Vickers K machine gun in rear cockpit; Eight × "60 lb" RP-3 rocket projectiles; One × 1,670 lb (760 kg) torpedo or 1,500 lb (700 kg) mine under fuselage or 1,500 lb bombs under fuselage and wings.

Squadron 860 was formed at Donibristle in June 1943 and equipped with six Fairey Swordfish Is, used for training purposes.
In November 1943 the squadron moved to Maydown with twelve Swordfishes and became part of the MAC-ship Wing of 836 squadron.

It operated from two MAC ships MV Acavus and MV Gadila, In June 1944 the flight operating from the MV Acavus moved to MV Macoma.
After VE-Day the squadron Flights were disbanded and in June 1945 squadron 860 was re-equipped with twelve Fairey Barracuda IIIs originating from 822 squadron in June 1945.

Fairey Swordfish Mk.II of the Royal Naval Historical Flight photographed during an Open Day RNlAF, June 1992 at airbase Gilze-Rijen.
Theorange triangle was applied on the tail, because the 75th anniversary of the RNLAS.

Fairey Swordfish Mk.II of the Royal Naval Historical Flight photographed during an Open Day RNlAF, June 1992 at airbase Gilze-Rijen.

Fairey Swordfish anti submarine aircraft FAA/ MLDSQ 860.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]

A formation Fairey Swordfish anti submarine aircraft on their way to a carrier ('O"- flight off to the ship).
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]

Gelande Swordfish at one of the Dutch MAC ships(Gadila ).
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]

A 'heavy landing' of a Fairey Swordfish anti submarine aircraft at a MAC ship.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]

Landing of a Fairey Swordfish anti submarine aircraft on the flight deck of a MAC ship.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]

Dayly inspection of a Fairey Swordfish at a MAC ship. left the tail of Swordfish LS157 is visible.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]

Fairey Swordfish FAA/ MLDSQ 860 (1943-1945) aboard MAC MV "Gadila".
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]

Fairey Swordfish anti submarine aircraft FAA/ MLDSQ 860 (1943-1945), serial LS437, being boarded from MAC MV "Gadila" at Halifax, Canada.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]

Fairey Swordfish FAA/ MLDSQ 860 (1943-1945) aboard MV "Gadila".
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]