'Swordfish' An Ocean Predator!

In the spring of 1933, a prototype three seat biplane sporting the initials 'TSR' for 'Torpedo, Spotter, Reconnaissance' took off from a quiet grass airfield to the west of London called 'Heathrow'. Somewhat different to today's busy airport of the same name, indeed now one of the busiest airports in Europe! The aircraft was piloted by Fairey's Chief Test Pilot Flight Lieutenant Christopher Staniland (not just a test pilot but a very successful racing driver too!). 

The British Air Ministry considered and soon recognised the potential for the aircraft and requested a revised specification to include a number of multi-role options, which included what would be seen as its most iconic dress code; a huge 1,600 lb torpedo! The behemoth fabric covered biplane also included the all-important (to the aircraft carrier deck parking manager!); fold back wings! 

About a year later, Staniland took prototype number 2 into the air. Now sporting a more powerful version of the original Bristol Pegasus 9 cylinder air cooled radial, the imposing and now upgraded biplane was now pulling some 645 hp through the propellor. The aircraft quickly progressed through a series of challenging trials including aircraft catapult tests, and an order by the British for three production aircraft followed for further evaluation (two with wheels and one with floats), the first example of which found air beneath its wings on New Year’s Eve, 1935. With success quickly proven, a bigger order for some 70 aircraft was just around the corner and the aircraft was now commonly known by the name 'Swordfish'. 

The British Fleet Air Arm would be the organisation most closely associated with this new ocean-going predator with a crew of three; pilot, observer and bomb aimer, and radio operator/gunner. The central crew station wasn't just a seat, but as bomb aimer, the operator could move down and almost lay on the floor peering out a window in the belly of the aircraft to site their target. 

The Swordfish would become known as a dive bomber, a torpedo launch platform, an anti-submarine aircraft, a reconnaissance and spotter aircraft, and as a battleship destroyer! It was the Swiss Army Knife of aircraft with seemingly an ability to switch from one role to the next. And it wasn't just bound to the decks of a military aircraft carrier, it could also be launched from a modified merchant ship – but these had much shorter launch decks, some with just 130 meters available. Not to mention, they were very narrow. Most were only a few meters wider than the wingspan of the Swordfish itself, and on some ships the breathing room was even less, often passing the deck's island (aka makeshift tower) with a clearance of less than a meter! – but thanks to the aircraft’s short field approach speed of around 65 mph, and the option to fit a rocket assisted take-off system to help get them aloft, it was a smart resource to expand the Navy's presence at sea, even if its pilots did have more grey hair than their carrier colleagues. And such was the aircraft's ability to carry just about anything you could fit in it (or attach to it) it was soon nicknamed the 'stringbag' to those who knew it best (akin to the almost bottomless shopping bag of the time). 

The Swordfish seemed to do everything, except fly fast! It's 115 mph cruise speed (less with the mammoth torpedo fitted) was definitely a weakness the pilots felt vulnerable to. Indeed, there was a common insult shared between its crews regarding their aircraft's forward speed (or lack thereof); 'if the enemy wanted to it hit it, they could simply aim their gunsights at the tail' (rather than need any lead angle such as was required to strike a fighter). And delivery of the torpedo could promote growth of a few new grey hairs too; the technique was to position out at 5,000 ft then ‘dive, dive, dive’, usually against oncoming flak from the target, until pulling out the dive to flatten off for the release of the torpedo at around 20ft. Any higher the torpedo could explode on impact into the water, any lower could result in either the plane being unable to pull out the dive (or hitting the top of the rising swell) or becoming reacquainted with the torpedo once more as it bounced off the surface and returned to greet the preying swordfish!

Of historic significance there are two headlines that most commonly find their way to the top of the page; the Battle of Taranto and the sinking of the Bismarck! 

Located at the southern end of Italy, the port of Taranto was home to the battle fleet of the 'Regia Marina' aka the Royal Italian Navy. Six impressive battle ships rested at anchor, not to mention a spread of more than 20 other ships consisting of cruisers and destroyers. As tensions were high surrounding the security of respective Mediterranean supply routes, HMS Illustrious took on board additional Swordfish aircraft and moved to deploy 21 planes on a surprise night attack on 11th November 1940. It is said that following the attack, which proved a devastating blow to the ships at anchor there, a certain overseas visitor reported back on the aftermath to their superiors, who then went on to be the strategic planners of Pearl Harbour that followed just over a year later. 

 “ It was the Swiss Army Knife of aircraft with seemingly an ability to switch from one role to the next. ”

Around six months later, in the spring of 1941, the Swordfish was making waves yet again, this time launching from HMS Victorias and HMS Ark Royal; both hunting the Bismarck. The Victorias launched a Swordfish which whilst only caused minor damage it did slow the mighty battleship down somewhat. That helped the chasing ships close in. Ark Royal then launched their Swordfish; two of which dropped torpedo's that struck the ship, one of which struck the Bismarck's rudder, disabling the ship and leaving it stuck in a fixed turn! And it was this move, that was the turning point (quite literally), that led to its destruction 13 hours later. 

The Swordfish was a formidable predator at sea and was responsible for sinking over 50,000 tons of enemy ships and submarines... ‘a month’! the highest of any allied aircraft of the time. The underbelly mounted Torpedo is today the most common livery to see when reflecting back on the aircraft, but it could also carry a 1,500 lb mine for anti-submarine missions and others could carry wing mounted rocket projectiles too. Later versions of the aircraft included an ASV radar ('Air to Surface Vessel') and the last of the production series finally included…. a roof!

It might have looked more like something of the WWI era as its slow biplane shadow cut across the waves and the pilots sporting googles from its open cockpit, but indeed it proved itself as one of the key aerial platforms of its time and was steadfast from beginning to end, of WWII. Production ceased in the Summer of 1944 with just under 2,400 aircraft having been built, most of which not by Fairey in fact but by the Blackburn Aircraft Company (sometimes these aircraft were nicknamed the "Blackfish" to denote its different birthplace), but operational squadrons continued to work the aircraft through 1945 with a few even extending its use further into 1946 as a training aircraft. 

Whilst its speed was low, its readiness and ability to be versatile – was quite the opposite! As such, it was an aircraft that was used throughout the entirety of WWII, something not many other aircraft could claim. And considering it was technically almost out of date (design wise) at the beginning of the conflict and was sharing the skies with jet fighters at the end, it's proven use and longevity was testament to Fairey's forward thinking design of the early 1930's! A remarkable aircraft!

Fairey Swordfish

Wingspan: 13.9 m (5.3 m folded)
MGW: 3,438 kg
Powerplant: Bristol Pegasus, 690 hp
VNE: 143 mph
Cruise speed: 115 mph
Service ceiling: 16,500 ft F