Fairey Albacore
| Fairey Albacore | |
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| Type: | Torpedo bombers |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: | |
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| Number of pieces: |
800 |
The Fairey Albacore ( English for " albacore ") was one of the British company Fairey Aviation 1939-1943 for the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy built single engine, carrier based torpedo bomber in biplane -design. The Albacore was also designed for use as an observation aircraft and reconnaissance aircraft, which is why the crew consisted of three men.
history
The Fairey Albacore , which in the UK with the nickname was given "Apple Core" (apple core), was actually as a substitute for the established since 1936, obsolete torpedo bomber Fairey Swordfish provided. In fact, both types of aircraft were then used in parallel and the Albacore was even decommissioned before the Swordfish in order to be replaced by the Fairey Barracuda .
The prototypes of the Albacore were created on the basis of the Air Ministry's specification p. 41/36 for a three-seater torpedo bomber / observation and reconnaissance aircraft for the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) of the Royal Navy . The first two prototypes started on December 12, 1938 and series production began in 1939. 98 aircraft were initially built. The first Albacores were equipped with the Bristol Taurus II engine, later the more powerful Taurus XII.
In March 1940, the No. 826 Squadron FAA . The first carrier-supported units began operations in 1941. After all, there were 15 FAA squadrons armed with albacores. They fought in the Mediterranean Sea , in the Battle of Cape Matapan , in 1942 in the Battle of El Alamein , in 1943 during the landing in Sicily and the landing near Salerno . Between September 1941 and the end of June 1943, No. 828 Squadron FAA from Hal-Far in Malta during heavy attacks during the siege of Malta by the Axis Powers, mainly against Italian ships and coastal targets in Sicily.
In 1943 the Albacores were exchanged for Fairey Barracudas. The last British Albacore Squadron was No. 841 Squadron FAA disbanded in late 1943. The Royal Canadian Air Force took over the aircraft and used them in the invasion of Normandy .
Countries of operation
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Technical specifications
| Parameter | Data |
|---|---|
| crew | 3 |
| length | 12.14 m |
| span | 15.24 m |
| height | 4.32 m |
| Wing area | |
| Wing extension | |
| Empty mass | |
| Takeoff mass | 4740 kg |
| Top speed | 259 km / h at 4,000 ft (1,219 m) altitude |
| Service ceiling | 6310 m |
| Range | 1497 km |
| Engines | a Bristol Taurus XII, 843 kW (1065 PS) |
| Armament | one ( 7.7 mm ) MG in the right wing and two Vickers-K MG in the rear cockpit; a 1670 lb (760 kg) torpedo or 2000 lb (900 kg) bombs |
Comparable types
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→ Allied code name : Kate |
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