Swordfish

On April 17th, the British carrier-borne torpedo bomber Swordfish turned 90 years old. On that day in 1934, the prototype TSR II took off from the London airport of Harmondsworth (which is now part of Heathrow Airport). It was created by the Fairey Aviation company in accordance with the requirements of the British Ministry of Aviation. Despite the onset of the 'monoplane era,' the aircraft was designed according to a conservative biplane scheme. The main consideration here was ensuring the aircraft's compatibility with the Royal Navy's aircraft carriers of the time.

Serial production of the Swordfish began in 1936. It was quickly considered outdated, yet production continued until 1944. A total of 2,391 units were built in five main variants. The aircraft had a metal frame with predominantly fabric covering. Its wings folded for storage in the relatively cramped hangars of aircraft carriers. The crew consisted of a pilot, navigator-observer, and radio gunner, with their cabins arranged one behind the other.

The production Swordfish I was equipped with a 9-cylinder radial air-cooled Bristol Pegasus IIIM.3 engine with a power of 690 hp. The aircraft had a length of 10.87 meters, a wingspan of 13.87 meters, a maximum takeoff weight of 4,140 kg, a maximum speed with a torpedo attached of 230 km/h, and a practical range of 840 km. Its main armament was one torpedo weighing 760 kg or three 227 kg bombs. Additionally, other ordnance could be carried. The aircraft also featured two 7.7mm machine guns: one forward-firing and one for rear defense.

Until the start of World War II, military theorists remained skeptical about aircraft carriers, favoring battle-proven battleships and heavy cruisers. However, reality quickly changed their views. Already on the night of November 11-12, 1940, the British conducted a brilliant operation against the Italian fleet in the Mediterranean Sea. From the state-of-the-art carrier Illustrious, 21 Swordfish took off in two waves to attack the enemy ships in the harbor of Taranto. As a result, one battleship was beyond repair, and two others were incapacitated for a long time. The Italians managed to shoot down only 2 aircraft.

Another glorious chapter in the Swordfish's history was its involvement in the sinking of the German battleship Bismarck. On the evening of May 26, 1941, aircraft from the carrier Ark Royal struck the enemy ship with two torpedoes, causing it to lose control. Finishing it off was no longer a problem for the Royal Navy's battleships.

Although replacements for the Swordfish began to arrive, they remained in service until the end of World War II, with some aircraft even serving longer. Reliable biplanes were used in various theaters of war—from the Arctic to the tropical waters of the Indian Ocean. They fought not only at sea but also over land as part of the Air Forces. They served not only under the flag of Great Britain but also Canada, Australia, and the Netherlands. Towards the end of their careers, they were transferred to auxiliary and training units.

To this day, 11 Swordfish examples have been preserved and are displayed in museums in Britain, Canada, Malta, and the USA.