Hawker Sea Fury
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- For the earlier biplane fighter, see Hawker Fury
| Sea Fury | |
|---|---|
 Hawker Sea Fury FB.11 VR930 with wings folded, at Kemble Airfield, Gloucestershire, England. Operated by the Royal Navy Historic Flight. |
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| Type | Naval fighter-bomber |
| Manufacturer | Hawker |
| Designed by | Sydney Camm |
| Maiden flight | 21 February 1945 |
| Introduced | October 1945 (FAA) 1947 (RCN) |
| Retired | 1955 (FAA) 1956 (RCN) |
| Primary users | Royal Navy Royal Australian Navy Royal Canadian Navy Pakistan Air Force |
| Produced | 1945–1960 |
| Number built | 860 |
| Developed from | Hawker Tempest |
The Sea Fury was a British fighter aircraft developed for the Royal Navy by Hawker during the Second World War. The last propeller-driven fighter to serve the Royal Navy, it was also one of the fastest production single piston-engined aircraft ever built, and the last ever propeller-driven fighter to shoot down a jet-powered fighter.
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[edit] Design and development
The Hawker Fury was an evolutionary successor to the successful Hawker Typhoon and Tempest fighters and fighter-bombers of the Second World War. The Fury was designed in 1942 by Sydney Camm, the famous Hawker designer, to meet the RAF’s requirement for a lightweight Tempest II replacement. Developed as the "Tempest Light Fighter", it used modified Tempest semi-elliptical outer wing panels, bolted and riveted together on the fuselage centerline. The fuselage itself was similar to the Tempest, but fully monocoque with a higher cockpit for better visibility.[1] The Air Ministry was sufficiently impressed by the design to write Specification F.2/43 around the concept.[2]
Six prototypes were ordered; two were to be powered by Rolls Royce Griffon engines, two with Centaurus XXIIs, one with a Centaurus XII and one as a test structure. The first Fury to fly, on 1 September 1944 was NX798 with a Centaurus XII with rigid engine mounts, powering a Rotol four-blade propeller. Second on 27 November 1944 was LA610, which had a Griffon 85 and Rotol six-blade contra-rotating propeller. By now development of the Fury and Sea Fury was closely interlinked so that the next prototype to fly was a Sea Fury, SR661, described under "Naval Conversion." NX802 (25 July 1945) was the last Fury prototype, powered by a Centaurus XV. With the ending of the Second World War in Europe, the RAF Fury contract was cancelled and development centred on the Sea Fury. LA610 was eventually fitted with a Napier Sabre VII, which was capable of developing 3,400 to 4,000 hp (2,535 to 2,983 kW). As a result it became the fastest piston engined Hawker aircraft, reaching a speed of around 485 mph (780 km/h). [3]
[edit] Naval conversion
In 1943, the design was modified to meet a Royal Navy request (N.7/43) for a carrier-based fighter. Boulton-Paul Aircraft were to make the conversion while Hawker continued work on the Air Force design. The first Sea Fury prototype, SR661, flew on 21 February 1945, powered by a Bristol Centaurus XII engine. This prototype had a "stinger"-type tailhook for arrested carrier landings, but lacked folding wings for storage.[2] SR666, the second prototype, which flew on 12 October 1945, was powered by a Centaurus XV turning a new, five-bladed Rotol propeller and was built with folding wings. Specification N.7/43 was modified to N.22/43, now representing an order for 200 aircraft. Of these, 100 were to be built at Boulton-Paul.
Both prototypes were undergoing carrier landing trials when the Japanese surrendered in 1945, ending development of the land-based Fury; work on the navalized Sea Fury continued. The original order to specification N.22/43 was reduced to 100 aircraft, and the Boulton-Paul agreement was cancelled. At the same time construction of what was intended to be a Boulton-Paul built Sea Fury prototype, VB857 was transferred to the Hawker factory at Kingston. This aircraft, built to the same standard as SR666, first flew on 31 January 1946. The first production model, the Sea Fury F.Mark X (Fighter, Mark X), flew in September 1946. Problems arose with damaged tailhooks during carrier landings; after modifications, the aircraft were approved for carrier landings in spring 1947.
[edit] Operational history
The Royal Navy’s earlier Supermarine Seafire had never been completely suitable for carrier use, having a poor view for landing and a narrow-track undercarriage that made landings and takeoffs "tricky". Consequently, the Sea Fury F X replaced it on most carriers.[4] Sea Furies were issued to Nos. 736, 738, 759 and 778 Squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm.
The F.X was followed by the Sea Fury FB.XI fighter-bomber variant, later known as the FB 11, which eventually reached a production total of 650 aircraft. The Sea Fury remained the Fleet Air Arm’s primary fighter-bomber until 1953 and the introduction of the Hawker Sea Hawk and Supermarine Attacker.
A total of 74 Sea Furies FB 11 (and one FB 10) served with the Royal Canadian Navy (R.C.N.) between 1948 and 1956. All flew from the aircraft carrier HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21) in 871 squadron.
[edit] Korean War
The FB 11 served throughout the Korean War as a ground-attack aircraft, flying from the Royal Navy light fleet carriers HMS Glory, HMS Ocean, HMS Theseus, and the Australian carrier HMAS Sydney.[5] On 8 August 1952, FAA pilot Lieutenant Peter "Hoagy" Carmichael Royal Navy downed a MiG-15 jet fighter in air-to-air combat, making the Sea Fury one of the few prop-driven fighter aircraft to shoot down a jet-powered fighter. [6] Indeed, some sources claim a second MiG was downed,[7] although most accounts do not mention this; either way, this is often cited as the only successful engagement by a British pilot in a British aircraft in the entire Korean War.[2] The engagement occurred when his mixed flight of Sea Furies and Fireflies was engaged by eight MiG-15s, during which one Firefly was badly damaged while the Sea Furies were able to escape unharmed. A similar encounter the next day led to the Sea Fury fighters using their superior manoeuvrability to escape another MiG-15 "bounce" although one Sea Fury had to limp home to HMS Ocean.
[edit] Later service
Sea Fury FB 11s entered service with the fighter squadrons of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve in August 1951. Units equipped were No. 1831, 1832, 1833, 1834, 1835 and 1836 squadrons, No. 1832 being last to relinquish the type in August 1955.
The Sea Fury F.50 export variant proved popular, being purchased by Australia, Germany, Iraq, Egypt, Burma, Pakistan and Cuba. The Netherlands bought 24 aircraft, then acquired a licence for production of 24 more F.50s at Fokker. Cuban Sea Furies saw action during the Bay of Pigs Invasion. The final production figures for all marks reached around 860 aircraft.
[edit] Variants
- Fury I
- Single-seat land-based fighter version for the Iraqi Air Force. Unofficially known as the Baghdad Fury, 55 built.
- Fury Trainer
- Two-seat training version for the Iraqi Air Force, five built.
- Sea Fury F10
- Single-seat fighter version for the Royal Navy.
- Sea Fury FB11
- Single-seat fighter-bomber for the Royal Navy, Royal Australian Navy and Royal Canadian Navy.
- Sea Fury T20
- Two-seat training version for the Royal Navy.
- Sea Fury F50
- Single-seat fighter version for the Royal Netherlands Navy.
- Sea Fury FB51
- Single-seat fighter-bomber version for the Royal Netherlands Navy.
- Sea Fury FB60
- Single-seat fighter-bomber version for the Pakistan Air Force.
- Sea Fury T61
- Two-seat training version for the Pakistan Air Force.
[edit] Operators
[edit] Survivors
Because production continued until well after the end of the Second World War and aircraft remained in Royal Navy service until 1955, dozens of airframes have survived in varying levels of condition. A number of Sea Furies are airworthy today, with around a dozen heavily modified and raced regularly at the Reno Air Races as of 2006. Most of these replace the original sleeve-valve Centaurus radial, because rotational speed and tuning potential are limited in contrast to more conventional engines such as the Rolls Royce Merlin. Most racing Sea Furies use the Pratt & Whitney Wasp Major.
Many additional airframes remain as static displays in museums worldwide.
[edit] Specifications (FB11)
Data from The Flightline[8]
General characteristics
- Crew: One
- Length: 34 ft 8 in (10.6 m)
- Wingspan: 38 ft 4¾ in (11.7 m)
- Height: 16 ft 1 in (4.9 m)
- Wing area: 280 ft² (26 m²)
- Empty weight: 9,240 lb (4,190 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 12,500 lb (5,670 kg)
- Powerplant: 1× Bristol Centaurus XVIIC 18-cylinder twin-row radial engine, 2,480 hp (1,850 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 460 mph (740 km/h) at 18,000 ft (5,500 m)
- Cruise speed: 390 mph (625 km/h)
- Range: 700 mi (1,127 km) with internal fuel; 1,040 mi (1,675 km) with two drop tanks
- Service ceiling 35,800 ft (10,900 m)
- Rate of climb: 30,000 ft (9,200 m) in 10.8 minutes
- Wing loading: 44.6 lb/ft² (161.2 kg/m²)
- Power/mass: 0.198 hp/lb (441 W/kg)
Armament
- Guns: 4× 20 mm Hispano Mk V cannon
- Rockets: 12× 3 in (76 mm) rockets or
- Bombs: 2,000 lb (908 kg) of bombs
[edit] See also
Related development
Comparable aircraft
- CAC Kangaroo
- Vought F4U Corsair
- Focke-Wulf Fw 190
- F8F Bearcat
- Lavochkin La-9
- Martin-Baker MB 5
- Republic P-47 Thunderbolt
- Supermarine Seafang
Related lists
[edit] References
[edit] Notes
- ^ Jane 1946, p. 127.
- ^ a b c Goebel, Greg. "The Hawker Typhoon, Tempest, & Sea Fury". Air Vectors. Hawker Typhoon, Tempest, & Sea Fury Access date: 7 April 2006.
- ^ Mason 1991, p. 342–347.
- ^ "Hawker Sea Fury aircraft profile." Aircraft Database of the Fleet Air Arm Archive 1939-1945. Retrieved: 23 March 2006.
- ^ "Sea Fury History". Unlimited Air Racing. [1] Access date: 9 March 2007.
- ^ An A-1 Skyraider shot down a MiG-17 in Vietnam on 20 June 1965, but the Skyraider is classified as an attack bomber.
- ^ "UN Air-to-Air Victories during the Korean War, 1950–1953". Air Combat Information Group Journal. Retrieved: 9 March 2007.
- ^ "Hawker Sea Fury." The Flightline - Military Aviation Archives. Retrieved: 23 March 2006.
[edit] Bibliography
- Darling, Kev. Hawker Sea Fury (Warbird Tech Vol. 37). North Branch, Minnesota: Voyageur Press, 2002. ISBN 1-58007-063-9.
- Geldhof, Nico and Boerman, Luuk. Hawker Sea Fury: History, Camouflage and Markings - Hawker Sea Fury F.(B)Mk.50/60/51 Koninklijke Marine Luchtvaartdienst/Royal Netherlands Naval Air Services (Dutch Profile 3) (bilingual Dutch/English). Zwammerdam, the Netherlands: Dutch Decal, 2005. No ISBN.
- Jane, Fred T. "The Hawker Fury and Sea Fury." Jane’s Fighting Aircraft of World War II. London: Studio, 1946. ISBN 1-85170-493-0.
- Mackay, Ron. Hawker Sea Fury in action. Carrollton, Texas: Squadron/Signal Publications, 1991. ISBN 0-89747-267-5.
- Mason, Francis K. Hawker Aircraft Since 1920 (3rd revised edition). London, UK: Putnam, 1991. ISBN 0-85177-839-9
- Sturtivant, Ray and Ballance, Theo. The Squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm. London: Air-Britain, 1994. ISBN 0-85130-223-8.
- Thetford, Owen. British Naval Aircraft since 1912. London: Putnam, 1977. ISBN 0-370-30021-1.
- Sea Fury at War (IWM Footage)Retrieved 3 April 2008
[edit] External links
- Two photographs of the Griffon-engined Hawker Fury I, LA610 - for the second picture click on the Another view link.
- Photographs of the same Hawker Fury I, LA610, re-engined with Centaurus & Sabre
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