Fairey Battle

The Fairey Battle was a light bomber of the Royal Air Force built by Fairey Aviation in the late 1930s. The Battle was powered by a single engine but laden with a three-man crew and bomb load, it was slow, vulnerable and limited in range. Fairey Battle light bomber. ... Fairey Battle light bomber. ... A light bomber is a military bomber aircraft which, when compared to other bombers, is relatively small and fast; such aircraft will probably not carry more than one ton of ordnance. ... The Royal Air Force (often abbreviated to RAF) is the air force branch of the British Armed Forces. ... Fairey Aviation Company logo The Fairey Aviation Company, Ltd was a British aircraft manufacturer of the first half of the 20th century, notable for a number of important planes, including the Fairey III family and the Fairey Swordfish. ... // Events and trends A public speech by Benito Mussolini, founder of the Fascist movement The 1930s were described as an abrupt shift to more radical lifestyles, as countries were struggling to find a solution to the global depression. ...

The original Battle was designed to Specification P.37/42 as a 2-seat day bomber to replace the Hawker Hart biplane. It first flew on 10 March, 1936. The first production order was for 155 Battles built to Specification P.23/35 and the first production aircraft was completed in June 1937. When the RAF embarked on the pre-war expansion programme, the Battle became a priority production target. In total 2185 Battles were built during its production life; 1156 by Fairey and 1029 by the Austin Motor Company. A further 18 were built in Belgium under licence for service with the Belgian Air Force. The first squadron to be equipped with the Battles was No. 63 Squadron in June, 1937. The Hawker Hart was a two-seater biplane light-bomber of the Royal Air Force (RAF), which had a prominent role during the RAFs inter-war period. ... Hs123 biplane. ... March 10 is the 69th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (70th in Leap years). ... This is a list of aviation-related events from 1936: Events February February 13 - Imperial Airways commences airmail services to West Africa March March 23 - Impreial Airways begins scheduled flights between Hong Kong and Malaysia. ... 1937 (MCMXXXVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Austin Motor Company was British manufacturer of automobiles that rose to be a major motorcar brand, the dominant partner after merger with Morris in the 50s but declining after absorption into British Leyland. ... Ensign of the Belgian Air Force // Early Years The Belgian Air Force was founded in 1909 as a branch of the Belgian Army. ... This is a list of aviation-related events from 1937: Events March March 5 - Imperial Airways opens a new flying boat base at Hythe, Hampshire. ...

The Battle's benign handling characteristics made it an ideal platform for testing engines and it was used in this role to test engines up to 2,000 hp. The production Battles were powered by the Rolls Royce Merlin I, II, III and V and took their Mark numbers based on their engine (ie., a Battle Mk. II was powered by a Merlin II). The Merlin is an aircraft engine built during World War II by Rolls-Royce. ...

The Battle's standard payload of four 250 lb (110 kg) bombs was carried in cells inside the wings. An additional 500lb of bombs could be carried in under-wing racks.

The Battle was obsolete by the start of World War II but remained a front-line strike bomber of the RAF. During the Phony War phase, ten squadrons of Battles were deployed to France on 2 September 1939 as part of the Advanced Air Striking Force. The Battle was hopelessly outclassed by the Luftwaffe fighters. When the Battle of France began, the Battles were called upon to halt the advancing panzers. On 10 May 1940 two sorties were carried out; in the first 3 out of 8 Battles were lost, in the second 13 out of 32 were lost and the remainder suffered damage. Bombing from as low as 250 ft (76 m), their attacks had little impact on the German columns. The following day 15 Battles of the Belgian Air Force attacked bridges over the Albert Canal, losing 10 planes. In one RAF sortie on that day, only one Battle out of eight survived. On 12 May six Battles of the No. 12 Squadron RAF attacked the Albert Canal bridges; all the aircraft were destroyed. Combatants Allies: • Poland, • UK & Commonwealth, • France/Free France, • Soviet Union, • USA, • China, ...and others Axis: • Germany, • Italy, • Japan, ...and others Casualties Military dead: 17 million Civilian dead: 33 million Total: 50 million Full list Military dead: 8 million Civilian dead: 4 million Total: 12 million Full list World War II... British Ministry of Home Security Poster The Phony War, or in Winston Churchills words the Twilight War, was a phase in early World War II marked by few military operations in Continental Europe, in the months following the German invasion of Poland. ... A Squadron is a small unit or formation of cavalry, aircraft (including balloons), or naval vessels. ... September 2 is the 245th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (246th in leap years). ... 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... The RAF Advanced Air Striking Force was formed on 24 August 1939 from No. ... The Deutsche Luftwaffe or (help· info) (German: Air Arm, IPA: [luftvafÉ™]) is the commonly used term for the German air force. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards and make it easier to understand, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Combatants Allies (France, Britain, Canada, Poland, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg) Germany, Italy Commanders Maurice Gamelin, Maxime Weygand (French) Lord Gort (British Expeditionary Force) Gerd von Rundstedt (Army Group A) Fedor von Bock (Army Group B) Wilhelm von Leeb (Army Group C) H.R.H. Umberto di Savoia (Army Group West) Strength... PzKpfw V-D, a Panther tank   Panzer? is German for armour. ... May 10 is the 130th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (131st in leap years). ... 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1940 calendar). ... Sortie is a term for deployment of aircraft or ships for the purposes of a specific mission. ... May 12 is the 132nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (133rd in leap years). ... No. ...

The German Ju 87 Stuka also suffered horrendous losses when opposed by modern fighters—the light bomber concept was clearly obsolete. In effect their role passed to single seat fighter-bombers and ground attack aircraft. Junkers Ju 87 Dive-Bombers The Junkers Ju 87 or Stuka was the most famous Sturzkampfflugzeug (German dive bomber) in World War II, instantly recognisable by its inverted gull-wings and fixed undercarriage. ... Junkers Ju 87 Dive-Bombers The Junkers Ju 87 or Stuka was the most famous Sturzkampfflugzeug (German dive bomber) in World War II, instantly recognisable by its inverted gull-wings and fixed undercarriage. ... A ground attack aircraft is an aircraft that is designed to operate very close to the ground, supporting infantry and tanks directly in battle. ...

The Battle was quickly withdrawn from a combat role and was used for training and target towing duties. As a trainer it was also used by the RAAF, RCAF and South African Air Force. The Battle was withdrawn from RAF service in 1949. The RAAF Roundel is based on that of the British Royal Air Force, with the central circle replaced by a Kangaroo, a symbol of Australia. ... The RCAF Roundel is based on that of the British Royal Air Force with a maple leaf, a symbol of Canada in the centre. ... SAAF flag The South African Air Force (SAAF) is the Air Force of South Africa. ... 1949 (MCMXLIX) is a common year starting on Saturday. ...

Whilst there are no flying examples of this aircraft at least one static airframe is on public exhibition. The best known is that of L5343 displayed at the RAF Museum in Hendon. However, the markings are apparently incorrect. In July 1940 it was allocated to No. 98 Squadron then it and other Battles were flown to Iceland for anti-invasion operations in support of British forces which on 10 May 1940 had occupied the island. L5343 was the first RAF aircraft to land on Icelandic soil. After some time the aircraft crashed and in 1972 the RAF embarked on a successful recovery operation to salvage the wreck and returned it to the UK for restoration.

Another airframe is being stored at the Canada Aviation Museum and will eventually be restored to represent the contribution the aircraft made to the training of aircrew. From August 1939, 739 Battles served in Canada as trainers. Most were used for bombing and gunnery training, with a small number equipped as target tugs. Some aircraft had the rear cockpit replaced with a Bristol turret for turret-gunnery training. R7384 was manufactured as a pilot trainer in 1940, and taken on strength by the RCAF in 1941. Converted to a turret-gunnery trainer in 1942, it was used until 1943 when it entered storage. After moving among several storage locations, the aircraft was transferred to the Canada Aviation Museum in 1964.

Image File history File links Three-view of the Fairey Battle day bomber. ...

Specifications (Mk.II)

General characteristics

• Crew: Three
• Length: 42 ft 2 in (12.85 m)
• Wingspan: 54 ft 0 in (16.46 m)
• Height: 15 ft 6 in (4.72 m)
• Wing area: m² (ft²)
• Empty weight: 6,647 lb (3,015 kg)
• Loaded weight: 10,792 lb (4,895 kg)
• Maximum gross takeoff weight: lb (kg)
• Powerplant: 1× Rolls-Royce Merlin II liquid-cooled V-12, 1,030 hp (770 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 257 mph at 15,000 ft (414 km/h at 4,570 m)
• Range: 1,000 mi (1,609 km)
• Service ceiling: 25,000 ft (7,600 m)
• Climb rate: 920 ft/min (4.7 m/s)
• Wing loading: lb/ft² (kg/m²)
• Power/mass: hp/lb (kW/kg)

Armament

• 1x .303 in (7.7 mm) Browning machine gun in starboard wing
• 1x .303 in (7.7 mm) Vickers K machine gun in rear cabin
• 4x 250 lb (110 kg) bombs internally
• 500 lb (227 kg) of bombs externally

The wingspan (or just span) of an airplane is the distance from the left wingtip to the right wingtip. ... In aviation, the Maximum Take-Off Weight (or MTOW) is the maximum weight with which an aircraft can achieve flight. ... The Merlin was a 12 cylinder, 60° V, 27 litre, liquid cooled piston aircraft engine built during World War II by Rolls-Royce. ... VNO of an aircraft is the V speed which refers to the velocity of normal operation. ... Service Ceiling—The maximum density altitude where the best rate-of climb airspeed will produce a 100 feet-per-minute climb at maximum weight while in a clean configuration with maximum continuous power. ... This page is a candidate to be moved to Wiktionary. ... In aerodynamics, wing loading is the loaded weight of the aircraft divided by the area of the wing. ... Power-to-weight ratio is a measure commonly used when comparing various vehicles (or engines), including automobiles, motorcycles and aircraft. ... .303 cartridge The . ... A machine gun is a fully-automatic firearm that is capable of firing bullets in rapid succession. ... The Vickers K gun known as the Vickers Gas Operated (VGO) in British service, was a rapid firing machine gun developed for use by observers in aircraft. ...

Operators

• Australia, Belgium, Canada, Eire (Ireland), Greece, Poland, South Africa, Turkey, United Kingdom.

Related content

Related development

Fairey Fulmar The Fulmar was a carrier-borne fighter aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm built by Fairey Aviation during 1940. ...

Comparable aircraft

Sukhoi Su-2 - Kawasaki Ki-32 - Mitsubishi Ki-30 - Westland Lysander - Junkers Ju87 Stuka - Douglas Dauntless - Hawker Henley - The Sukhoi Su-2 was a single engined attack bomber used in the early stages of World War II. It was the first plane designed by Pavel Sukhoi. ... The Westland Lysander was a British army co-operation and liaison aircraft of World War II. It achieved fame through its ability to operate from short stretches of unprepared airstrip and its clandestine missions to plant or retrieve agents behind enemy lines, particularly in Nazi-occupied France. ... Junkers Ju 87 Dive-Bombers The Junkers Ju 87 or Stuka was the most famous Sturzkampfflugzeug (German dive bomber) in World War II, instantly recognisable by its inverted gull-wings and fixed undercarriage. ... The Douglas SBD Dauntless was the U.S. Navys main scout bomber and dive bomber from mid-1940 until 1943, when it was replaced by the SB2C Helldiver. ... Despite its resemblance to the Hurricane, the Henley was designed as a light bomber The Hawker Henley was a two-seat target tug operated by the RAF during World War Two. ...

Designation sequence

Swordfish - Battle - Seafox - Fulmar - Albacore The Fairey Swordfish was a torpedo bomber used by the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy during World War II. Affectionately known as the Stringbag by its crews, it was outdated by 1939, but achieved some spectacular successes during the war. ... The Fairey Seafox was a Second World War reconnaissance floatplane of the Fleet Air Arm designed to be catapulted from the deck of a warship. ... The Fulmar was a carrier-borne fighter aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm built by Fairey Aviation during 1940. ... The Fairey Albacore was a single-engine carrier-borne biplane torpedo bomber built by Fairey Aviation between 1939 and 1943 for the Fleet Air Arm. ...