Swordfish Mk II

This page is about the gift British bomber Swordfish Mk II. For the regular version, see Swordfish Mk I.

Swordfish Mk II

Swordfish Mk II

Britain

I Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
1.0	1.0	1.0

Class:

PREMIUM

Bomber

Naval aircraft

Torpedo bomber

Purchase:Bundle or Gift

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Description

The Swordfish Mk.II is the successor of the Swordfish Mk.I, the primary carrier-based torpedo bomber of the Royal Air Force. Despite being extremely obsolete by the outbreak of the Second World war, the Swordfish remained a crucial asset to the Fleet Air Arm. The Swordfish Mk II was developed as the second iteration of the Swordfish and was first introduced in 1943. It was fitted with a new, metal lower wing section, allowing it to carry rockets on underwing racks. The Swordfish Mk II saw extensive service as a convoy escort, in the Atlantic and in the Arctic. During the course of the Second World War, the Swordfish distinguished itself as a highly reliable reconnaissance and torpedo bomber aircraft. It managed to sink several German submarines and was used to harass Axis convoys.

It was introduced during Update 1.97 "Viking Fury" as a reward for the 2020 "Victory Day" event. The Swordfish Mk II can be helpful for inexperienced players who want to learn how to effectively destroy ground targets using bombs and unguided rockets. This is due to its low speed and excellent manoeuvrability, which make it easier for new players to aim and target ground units accurately. The Swordfish Mk II is an improved version of the Fairey Swordfish biplane torpedo bomber. It is equipped with eight underwing pylons that allow it to carry the AP Mk I rocket and the famous RP-3 rocket.

General info

Flight performance

Arrestor gear

Accelerates braking by grabbing the brake cable on the deck of the aircraft carrier

Max speed

at 1 800 m265 km/h

Turn time15 s

Max altitude5 200 m

EngineBristol Pegasus 30

TypeRadial

Cooling systemAir

Take-off weight4 t

While the Swordfish Mk II boasts a good stall speed, performing sharp turns will bleed your speed at an alarming rate. Under no circumstances should you attempt a steeply banked turn near the ground as you will lose a lot of altitude in the process. Instead, perform a shallow banked turn with the assistance of the rudder.

Characteristics	Max Speed (km/h at 1,800 m)		Max altitude (metres)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (metres/second)		Take-off run (metres)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	247	240	5200	16.1	17.6	1.2	1.2	190
Upgraded	285	265		14.0	15.0	7.3	3.9

Details

Features
Combat flaps	Take-off flaps	Landing flaps	Air brakes	Arrestor gear
X	X	✓	X	✓

Limits
Wings (km/h)	Gear (km/h)	Flaps (km/h)			Max Static G
		Combat	Take-off	Landing	+	-
390	400	N/A	N/A	400	~6	~4

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 200	< 220	< 260	> 310

Survivability and armour

Crew2 people

Speed of destruction

Structural390 km/h

Gear400 km/h

Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured, etc. Describe the armour, if there is any, and also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.

Modifications and economy

Repair cost

AB157

RB193

SB270

Crew training450

Experts3 000

Aces45

Research Aces220 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

2 × 20 / 50 / 90 %

2 × 100 / 100 / 100 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Fuselage repair Radiator Airframe Compressor Wings repair Engine Cover Engine injection	EFS	type89_belt_pack UC Mk.1 type97_new_gun UC Mk.2 bmg303_turret_belt_pack FTC mk.II vikkersK_turret_new_gun HRC mk.8

Armaments

Offensive armament

The Swordfish Mk II is armed with:

• 1 x 7.7 mm Vickers E machine gun, nose-mounted (600 rpg)

Suspended armament

The Swordfish Mk II can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

• 4 x 250 lb G.P. Mk.IV bombs (1,000 lb total)
• 6 x 250 lb G.P. Mk.IV bombs (1,500 lb total)
• 2 x 500 lb G.P. Mk.IV bombs + 2 x 250 lb G.P. Mk.IV bombs (1,500 lb total)
• 1 x 450 mm 18 inch Mark XII torpedo
• 8 x AP Mk I rockets
• 8 x RP-3 rockets

Defensive armament

The Swordfish Mk II is defended by:

• 1 x 7.7 mm Vickers K machine gun, dorsal turret (600 rpg)

Usage in battles

This aircraft will ultimately be outperformed by any aircraft it faces, so its key strength is the payload. Most noticeably, the RP-3 rockets which can be fired independently of each other is sufficient to attack light pillboxes and light to medium tanks, even at higher tiers!

In air RB, try to avoid getting into air combat as your weaponry is insufficient. When it comes to defending yourself, you really don't have much of a choice. Your machine guns are inadequate and most players would shrug off your spray. The recommendation is to always have a teammate keeping an eye on you as you do your duties

In Ground RB, spawn only if you think that the enemy does not have anti-aircraft vehicles in battle since your slow speed makes it easy for the enemy to shoot you down!

In Naval battles, you should only engage naval targets when you think the target is distracted (for example, while they're attacking an allied ship).

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer	Pitch	Radiator			Supercharger	Turbocharger
		Oil	Water	Type
Not controllable	Not controllable Not auto controlled	Not controllable Not auto controlled	Not controllable Not auto controlled	Combined	Not controllable 1 gear	Not controllable

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Allows the use of WEP, unlike the Mk I, as well as a larger oil cooler
• Very versatile with multiple payload options
• Excellent stall speed of 96 km/h
• Surprisingly good turning radius for a bomber
• Rockets can be fired off independently, starting on the left wing

Cons:

• Engine has less horsepower than the Mk I - very slow without WEP!
• Poorer climb rate than the Mk I
• Clumsier/bulkier than the Mk I
• Sharp turns bleeds speed at an alarming rate
• Inadequate defence weaponry
• Large minimum fuel load (>40 minutes)

History

Three rocket-armed Fairey Swordfishes on a training flight, circa 1943.

The Swordfish is the second variant of the legendary Fairey Swordfish, the primary carrier-based torpedo bomber of the Royal Air Force. Despite being extremely obsolete by the outbreak of the Second World war, the Swordfish remained a crucial asset to the Fleet Air Arm. It was involved in many notable engagements, including the hunt for Bismarck and attack on Taranto. The Mk II variant was introduced in 1943, and featured the ability to mount rockets on underwing brackets.

Design and development

The Fairey Swordfish was developed as an advanced variant of the earlier Fairey III, with the working name of TSR (Torpedo Spotting Reconnaissance) 1. The TSR-1 model was unsuccessful, and so a second TSR-2 model was developed - this model would eventually enter service as the actual Swordfish. The aircraft first flew in 1934, and entered service with the Royal Navy in 1936. However, it was already obsolete by the time it entered service, due to its biplane design and slow speed. Despite this, the aircraft still entered service in large numbers.

The aircraft, being designed for operation on aircraft carrier decks, was equipped with folding wings. It was powered by the Bristol Pegasus, a 9-cylinder radial that was state-of-the-art when the Swordfish entered service. Despite the powerful engine, the Swordfish could only reach 90 knots (166 km/h) unloaded. The crew of three sat in an open cockpit that provided minimal protection against both flak and weather. The aircraft was armed with two rifle-calibre guns (one firing forward and one firing backwards), and could carry up to 1,500 lbs of bombs, mines, torpedoes or rockets.

Operational history

The Swordfish, despite being extremely obsolete by the start of the Second World War, engaged in a multitude of conflicts. The aircraft played a key role in the Attack on Taranto in November of 1940, which crippled the Italian fleet and would later be used by the Japanese as a blueprint for Pearl Harbour. Swordfishes were also responsible for crippling the battleship Bismarck, which was later sunk by British surface ships. During its time with the Fleet Air Arm, the Swordfish was affectionately nicknamed the 'Stringbag', a reference to the shopping bags used at the time; this referenced the Swordfish's ability to carry almost any ordnance that the FAA could fit on it.

The Swordfish Mk II was developed as the second Swordfish iteration and was first introduced in 1943. It was fitted with a new, metal lower wing section, allowing it to carry rockets on underwing racks. The Swordfish Mk II saw extensive service as a convoy escort, in the Atlantic and in the Arctic. During the course of the Second World War, the Swordfish distinguished itself as a highly reliable reconnaissance and torpedo bomber aircraft. The aircraft sank 21 submarines, numerous surface ships, and was responsible for the highest tonnage of Axis shipping destroyed by a single Allied aircraft type. Several Swordfishes still exist today, including a flight-capable Swordfish Mk II operated by Navy Wings.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the Swordfish Mk II from live.warthunder.com.

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

• reference to the series of the aircraft;
• links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links

References

Citations

Bibliography

• Navy Wings. (2020, November 05). Swordfish MkII LS326. Retrieved November 28, 2020, from https://navywings.org.uk/portfolio/swordfish-ls326/

Fairey Aviation Company, Limited
Fighters	Firefly F Mk I · Firefly FR Mk V
Bombers	Swordfish Mk I · Swordfish Mk II
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