Seldom-seen WWII pix

On 8/8/2015 2:35 AM, Byker wrote:

Fairey Swordfish - A remarkable aircraft:

"Although Swordfish numbered no more than 27 aircraft, they sank an
average 50,000 tons (50,800 MT) of shipping every month. During one
month, they sank a record 98,000 tons (99,572 MT). Swordfish attacked
enemy convoys at night although they were not equipped with night
instrumentation. The risky night missions were necessary to avoid German
fighters which encircled the island of Malta by day. On June 30, 1940,
Swordfish completed a raid attacking oil installations at Augusta in
Sicily."

http://www.aviation-history.com/fairey/swordfish.html

Ri©ardo

--
Moving Things In Still Pictures

On 08/08/2015 12:15, Ri©ardo wrote:

"Although Swordfish numbered no more than 27 aircraft...................


This one was at Culdrose last month..

"Ri©ardo" wrote in message
...

Although Swordfish numbered no more than 27 aircraft

Maybe on one aircraft carrier, but according to Wikipedia 2,391 were built
(692 by Fairey and 1,699 by Blackburn) between 1936 and 1944:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairey_Swordfish

On 8/16/2015 1:02 AM, Byker wrote:
"Ri©ardo" wrote in message
...

Although Swordfish numbered no more than 27 aircraft

Maybe on one aircraft carrier, but according to Wikipedia 2,391 were built
(692 by Fairey and 1,699 by Blackburn) between 1936 and 1944:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairey_Swordfish

Yes, thanks for that - I should have lingered longer over that "27"
figure and investigated further. I agree that it is more than likely
that this was the complement of a single aircraft carrier.

Ri©ardo

--
Moving Things In Still Pictures

In article ,
"Byker" wrote:

"Ri©ardo" wrote in message
...

Although Swordfish numbered no more than 27 aircraft

Maybe on one aircraft carrier, but according to Wikipedia 2,391 were built
(692 by Fairey and 1,699 by Blackburn) between 1936 and 1944:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairey_Swordfish

I think the allusion to 27 Swordfish is about those based on Malta in
1940-1941

"Daniel GREGOIRE" wrote in message
...

I think the allusion to 27 Swordfish is about those based on Malta in
1940-1941

Mention "Malta" and the three Gloster Gladiators come to mind:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjh34Hq0Gpg

On 8/8/2015 2:04 PM, Charles Lindbergh wrote:
On Sat, 8 Aug 2015 12:15:23 +0100, Ri©ardo wrote:

On 8/8/2015 2:35 AM, Byker wrote:

Fairey Swordfish - A remarkable aircraft:

"Although Swordfish numbered no more than 27 aircraft, they sank an
average 50,000 tons (50,800 MT) of shipping every month. During one
month, they sank a record 98,000 tons (99,572 MT). Swordfish attacked
enemy convoys at night although they were not equipped with night
instrumentation. The risky night missions were necessary to avoid German
fighters which encircled the island of Malta by day. On June 30, 1940,
Swordfish completed a raid attacking oil installations at Augusta in
Sicily."

http://www.aviation-history.com/fairey/swordfish.html

Ri©ardo

Ricardo, I read the article you posted. I was shocked the Swordfish holds the record for sinking more tonnage
than any other allied aircraft during WWII.

I am guessing this had a lot to do with circumstance as opposed to any remarkable capabilities of the
aircraft, what is your perspective on this?


Well, one obvious thought must be that as the British had in excess of
two years of hostile action before any other major participants appeared
in the conflict on the Allied side, they bore the brunt of the onslaught
of the Axis powers. So, yes, circumstances and a frenzied fight to
survive meant that we had to fight with tooth and nail with every
available asset - even if some of those assets were completely outdated.

Those two fraught years were used to good advantage, however, with
substantial losses being inflicted on the French and Italian navies, as
well as Germany's fleet. As early as 1940 it was Swordfish aircraft that
crippled the Italian fleet at Taranto, where two thirds of their
battleships were lost, as well as many other vessels, at the cost of two
Swordfish. These aircraft were also used against the French fleet in
1940, following the fall of France, plus, in 1941, the Germans lost the
Bismark to the actions of these aircraft, which disabled her steering
mechanism.

That said, it seems that the Swordfish was a versatile and easy to fly
aircraft, and its slow speed capability made it ideally suited to
carrier operations. It's interesting to note, given other recent
postings on this NG, that the Swordfish also used rocket assisted
take-off gear. They were also used as artillery spotter platforms for
warships.

Its success can probably be defined by four factors:

The first, as you surmised, being circumstances; second would be the
capabilities and sheer ruggedness of the aircraft; third would be the
rigorous training of the flight crews and, finally, the planning and
reconnaissance involved with the operations against major multiple targets.

Of course, I could be wrong...

;-)

I'm surprised to see that we actually exported Swordfish to five other
nations!

--
Moving Things In Still Pictures

On 8/9/2015 2:31 PM, Charles Lindbergh wrote:
On Sat, 8 Aug 2015 15:52:40 +0100, Ri©ardo
wrote:

On 8/8/2015 2:04 PM, Charles Lindbergh wrote:
On Sat, 8 Aug 2015 12:15:23 +0100, Ri©ardo wrote:

On 8/8/2015 2:35 AM, Byker wrote:

Fairey Swordfish - A remarkable aircraft:

"Although Swordfish numbered no more than 27 aircraft, they sank an
average 50,000 tons (50,800 MT) of shipping every month. During one
month, they sank a record 98,000 tons (99,572 MT). Swordfish attacked
enemy convoys at night although they were not equipped with night
instrumentation. The risky night missions were necessary to avoid German
fighters which encircled the island of Malta by day. On June 30, 1940,
Swordfish completed a raid attacking oil installations at Augusta in
Sicily."

http://www.aviation-history.com/fairey/swordfish.html

Ri©ardo

Ricardo, I read the article you posted. I was shocked the Swordfish holds the record for sinking more tonnage
than any other allied aircraft during WWII.

I am guessing this had a lot to do with circumstance as opposed to any remarkable capabilities of the
aircraft, what is your perspective on this?


Well, one obvious thought must be that as the British had in excess of
two years of hostile action before any other major participants appeared
in the conflict on the Allied side, they bore the brunt of the onslaught
of the Axis powers. So, yes, circumstances and a frenzied fight to
survive meant that we had to fight with tooth and nail with every
available asset - even if some of those assets were completely outdated.

Those two fraught years were used to good advantage, however, with
substantial losses being inflicted on the French and Italian navies, as
well as Germany's fleet. As early as 1940 it was Swordfish aircraft that
crippled the Italian fleet at Taranto, where two thirds of their
battleships were lost, as well as many other vessels, at the cost of two
Swordfish. These aircraft were also used against the French fleet in
1940, following the fall of France, plus, in 1941, the Germans lost the
Bismark to the actions of these aircraft, which disabled her steering
mechanism.

That said, it seems that the Swordfish was a versatile and easy to fly
aircraft, and its slow speed capability made it ideally suited to
carrier operations. It's interesting to note, given other recent
postings on this NG, that the Swordfish also used rocket assisted
take-off gear. They were also used as artillery spotter platforms for
warships.

Its success can probably be defined by four factors:

The first, as you surmised, being circumstances; second would be the
capabilities and sheer ruggedness of the aircraft; third would be the
rigorous training of the flight crews and, finally, the planning and
reconnaissance involved with the operations against major multiple targets.

Of course, I could be wrong...

;-)

I'm surprised to see that we actually exported Swordfish to five other
nations!

You provided an interesting analysis, thanks for taking the time to do
that!


Thank you Charles, it was my pleasure. It reminds me, however, that I
very rarely do any analytical thinking these days!

Ri©ardo

--
Moving Things In Still Pictures

On Sat, 08 Aug 2015 13:04:52 +0000, Charles Lindbergh
wrote:

On Sat, 8 Aug 2015 12:15:23 +0100, Ri©ardo wrote:

On 8/8/2015 2:35 AM, Byker wrote:

Fairey Swordfish - A remarkable aircraft:

"Although Swordfish numbered no more than 27 aircraft, they sank an
average 50,000 tons (50,800 MT) of shipping every month. During one
month, they sank a record 98,000 tons (99,572 MT). Swordfish attacked
enemy convoys at night although they were not equipped with night
instrumentation. The risky night missions were necessary to avoid German
fighters which encircled the island of Malta by day. On June 30, 1940,
Swordfish completed a raid attacking oil installations at Augusta in
Sicily."

http://www.aviation-history.com/fairey/swordfish.html

Ri©ardo

Ricardo, I read the article you posted. I was shocked the Swordfish holds the record for sinking more tonnage
than any other allied aircraft during WWII.

I am guessing this had a lot to do with circumstance as opposed to any remarkable capabilities of the
aircraft, what is your perspective on this?

I would suggest the remarkable capabilities of the crews.