Difference between revisions of "Attacker FB 1"

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== Description ==
 
== Description ==
''In the description, the first part needs to be about the history of and the creation and combat usage of the aircraft, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the aircraft in the game. Insert screenshot of the vehicle. If the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle it is talking about.''
+
<!--In the description, the first part should be about the history of and the creation and combat usage of the aircraft, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the aircraft in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.-->
 +
 
 +
[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
 +
{{break}}
 +
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British jet fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.49 "Weapons of Victory"]].
 +
[[File:HMS Eagle (R05) flight deck at Gibraltar c1953.jpg|thumbnail|right|Attackers on-board HMS Eagle ]]
 +
 
 +
Following the Sea Fury in the Fleet Air Arm branch is the first operational carrier-based jet in the Royal Navy’s arsenal, the Supermarine Attacker. The Attacker was Britain's first naval jet and offers good all-around performance for a first generation jet design, as well as varied ground attack and fighter-bomber capabilities. Available to research after the Sea Fury, the Attacker is a different approach to jet fighter aircraft by comparison to the Meteors, Vampire or Venom.
 +
 
 +
The most unique and unusual trait of the Attacker is its taildragger configuration and wing-mounted armament. As the wing and undercarriage are shared with another Supermarine aircraft, the Spiteful, the Attacker is the only British jet from its period to feature wing mounted cannon armament. Unlike other British jet fighters that adopt nose mounted configurations, the 4 x 20 mm Hispano Mk V cannons on the Attacker do require careful use of convergence as a result of their positioning, much like the Sea Fury and Seafires.
 +
 
 +
Mounted in pairs with two in each wing, the Hispano cannons have 624 rounds of ammunition, more than the piston fighters before it. The Attacker can also mount 2 x 500 lb or 2 x 1,000 lb bombs as well as 12 x 76 mm RP-3 rockets with the GLBC Mk 3 and GRC Mk 8 modifications respectively. This combined with the universal or ground targets belts allows the Attacker to live up to its namesake, should pilots choose to use it in a fast ground-attack fighter-bomber role.
 +
 
 +
The unusual undercarriage is also very forgiving during landings, both on airfields and aircraft carriers. However, this can also prove to be a hindrance in simulator mode and for pilots who prefer cockpit view; the aircraft is indeed a taildragger. This results in an extremely restricted view on the ground and while landing, especially on a carrier.
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
 
=== Flight Performance ===
 
=== Flight Performance ===
''Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Maximum speed, maneuverability, speed and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.''
+
''Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.''
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="8" | Characteristics
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="8" | ''Stock''
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="2" | Max Speed<br>(km/h at 0 m - sea level)
 +
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude<br>(meters)
 +
! colspan="2" | Turn time<br>(seconds)
 +
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb<br>(meters/second)
 +
! rowspan="2" |Take-off run<br>(meters)
 +
|-
 +
! AB
 +
! RB
 +
! AB
 +
! RB
 +
! AB
 +
! RB
 +
|-
 +
| 885 || 859 || 12,191 || 26.2 || 26.9 || 22.8 || 21.5 || 950
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="8" | ''Upgraded''
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="2" | Max Speed<br>(km/h at 0 m - sea level)
 +
! rowspan="2" |Max altitude (meters)
 +
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
 +
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb<br>(meters/second)
 +
! rowspan="2" |Take-off run (meters)
 +
|-
 +
! AB
 +
! RB
 +
! AB
 +
! RB
 +
! AB
 +
! RB
 +
|-
 +
|936||922|| 12,191 ||23.9||25.0||33.8||28.0|| 950
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
====Details====
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="5" | Features
 +
|-
 +
! Combat flap
 +
! Take-off flap
 +
! Landing flap
 +
! Air brakes
 +
! Arrestor gear
 +
|-
 +
| ✓ || ✓ || ✓ || ✓ || ✓    <!-- ✓ -->
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="5" | Limits
 +
|-
 +
! rowspan="2" | Wing-break speed<br>(km/h)
 +
! rowspan="2" | Gear limit<br>(km/h)
 +
! rowspan="2" | Combat flap<br> (km/h)
 +
! colspan="2" | Max Static G
 +
|-
 +
! +
 +
! -
 +
|-
 +
| 895 || 351 || 520|| ~16 || ~9
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities
 +
|-
 +
! Ailerons<br>(km/h)
 +
! Rudder<br>(km/h)
 +
! Elevators<br>(km/h)
 +
! Radiator<br>(km/h)
 +
|-
 +
| < 491 || < 600 || < 620 || > 250
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
<!--
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
 +
|-
 +
! Optimal altitude
 +
! 100% Engine power
 +
! WEP Engine power
 +
|-
 +
| ?,??? m || ??? hp || ?,??? hp
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="3" | Setting 2
 +
|-
 +
! Optimal altitude
 +
! 100% Engine power
 +
! WEP Engine power
 +
|-
 +
| ?,??? m || ?,??? hp || ?,??? hp
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="3" | Setting 3
 +
|-
 +
! Optimal altitude
 +
! 100% Engine power
 +
! WEP Engine power
 +
|-
 +
| ?,??? m || ?,??? hp || ?,??? hp
 +
|-
 +
|} -->
  
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
''Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured. Describe the armour, if there is any, also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.''
+
<!--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.-->
 +
 
 +
* 38 mm Bulletproof glass - Armoured windscreen
 +
* 12.7 mm Steel - Armour plate behind the pilot's seat
  
 
== Armaments ==
 
== Armaments ==
 
=== Offensive armament ===
 
=== Offensive armament ===
''Describe the offensive armament of the aircraft, if any. Describe how effective the cannons and machine guns are in a battle, and also what belts or drums are better to use. If there is no offensive weaponry, delete this subsection.''
+
<!--Describe the offensive armament of the aircraft, if any. Describe how effective the cannons and machine guns are in a battle, and also what belts or drums are better to use. If there is no offensive weaponry, delete this subsection.-->
 +
{{main|Hispano Mk.V (20 mm)}}
 +
[[File:FighterImage_Shot 2015 07 28 13 04 55.jpg|thumbnail|right|X-Ray View of the Attacker FB.Mk 1]]
 +
 
 +
The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' is armed with:
 +
 
 +
* 4 x 20 mm Hispano Mk.V cannon, wing-mounted (167 rpg inner, 145 outer = 624 total)
  
 
=== Suspended armament ===
 
=== Suspended armament ===
''Describe the aircraft's suspended armament: additional cannons under the wings, bombs, rockets and torpedoes. This section is especially important for bombers and attackers. If there is no suspended weaponry remove this subsection.''
+
<!--Describe the aircraft's suspended armament: additional cannons under the wings, bombs, rockets and torpedoes. This section is especially important for bombers and attackers. If there is no suspended weaponry remove this subsection.-->
 +
{{main|G.P. 500 lb Mk.IV (500 lb)|G.P. 1,000 lb Mk.I (1,000 lb)|RP-3}}
  
=== Defensive armament ===
+
The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' can be outfitted with the following ordinance:
''Defensive armament with turret machine guns or cannons, crewed by gunners. Examine the number of gunners and what belts or drums are better to use. If defensive weaponry is not available remove this subsection.''
 
  
== Usage in the battles ==
+
* 2 x G.P. 500 lb Mk.IV bombs (1,000 lb total)
''Describe the tactics of playing in an aircraft, the features of using vehicles in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).''
+
* 2 x G.P. 1,000 lb Mk.I bombs (2,000 lb total
 +
* 12 x 76 mm RP-3 rockets
 +
 
 +
== Usage in battles ==
 +
<!--Describe the tactics of playing in an aircraft, the features of using vehicles in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).-->
 +
Utilizing the ''Air Targets'' belt and adopting a pure fighter role in the Attacker is fairly effective thanks to the aircraft's good all-round performance. Its bubble canopy offers good all-around visibility for simulator pilots, and a set of air brakes situated in the wings aid in slowing the aircraft for energy management purposes.
 +
 
 +
===Modules===
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
! colspan="1" | Tier
 +
! colspan="2" | Flight performance
 +
! colspan="1" | Survivability
 +
! colspan="2" | Weaponry
 +
|-
 +
| I
 +
| Fuselage Repair
 +
|
 +
|
 +
| Offensive 20 mm
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
| II
 +
|
 +
| Compressor
 +
| Airframe
 +
|
 +
| GLBC mk.3
 +
|-
 +
| III
 +
| Wings Repair
 +
| Engine
 +
|
 +
| New 20 mm Cannons
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
| IV
 +
| G-Suit
 +
| Cover
 +
|
 +
|
 +
| GRC mk.8
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
[[File:FighterImage_Supermarine 510 landing on HMS Illustrious (R87) 1950.jpg|thumbnail|right|The Supermarine 510 swept wing development of the Attacker would ultimately lead to the Swift]]
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
''Summarize and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in the bulleted list. Do not use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - they have a substitution in the form of softer "inadequate", "effective".''
+
<!--Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in the bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".-->
  
 
'''Pros:'''
 
'''Pros:'''
*
+
 
 +
* Powerful armament consisting of 4 x 20 mm Hispano Mk V cannons
 +
* Wide track undercarriage for easier, stable landings
 +
* Ability to land on carriers
 +
* Clear visibility cockpit with good all-round vision
 +
* Good ground strike payloads for multi-role capabilities
 +
* Air brakes
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
*
 
  
== Historical part ==
+
* Poor acceleration
''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the aircraft in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too big, take it to a separate article, taking a link to an article about the vehicle and adding a block "/ historical reference" (example: https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=Name-vehicles/historical reference) and add a link to it here using the main template. Be sure to include links to sources at the end of the article.''
+
* Wing-mounted cannons prove to be lacking when compared to the nose-mounted armament of other jets
 +
* The taildragger gear configuration makes for difficult carrier take-off's and landings, particularly in simulator battles
 +
* Slow rate of climb
 +
 
 +
== History ==
 +
<!--Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the aircraft in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/ History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).-->
 +
 
 +
[[File:FighterImage_Supermarine Attacker TS413 on the ground 1947.jpg|thumbnail|left|Supermarine Type 398]]
 +
The Attacker was part of the first generation of jet aircraft to enter service with the Royal Navy and had the distinction of being the first operational combat jet on a British carrier. Whilst the Royal Air Force was already equipped with Meteors and Vampires, the Fleet Air Arm fell behind due to the difficulty of operating such a radical new technology from the Navy’s existing carriers. This was partially the reasoning the FAA showed interest in the Sea Fury and the later Griffon Seafires as a “make-do” solution.
 +
 
 +
After trials with the De Havilland Sea Vampire, the Navy wanted a jet aircraft that could be operated from its current ships. Supermarine’s failed Spitfire replacement, the Spiteful, was rejected by both the FAA and RAF due to already sufficient stocks of operational piston engine aircraft. However, this led to a jet engine design incorporating the same wing and undercarriage from the Spiteful, along with a tail wheel configuration as a result, and utilized a Rolls Royce Nene jet engine.
 +
 
 +
This rather primitive and rushed design was operational from 1951; however it had an extremely short career - being taken out of front-line service by 1954. This was primarily due to the aircraft's limitations being a "tail-dragger" that made operating on anything other than the deck of an aircraft carrier problematic because of the jet exhaust. The rear tail wheel only made the already hazardous task of operating a jet on a carrier even more problematic for pilots.
 +
 
 +
The Attacker quickly became superseded by the Hawker Sea Hawk and De Havilland Sea Venom, both of which were much more modern and refined designs featuring more powerful engines, tricycle undercarriages, and possessing superior performance. The Attacker did, however, serve as the base of Supermarine’s first swept-wing jet for the RAF, the Swift, as can be seen by the similarity of the nose and fuselage. It would also lead to the more successful Supermarine Scimitar naval jet fighter in the later part of the 1950s.
 +
 
 +
Whilst the Attacker saw no major service and was relatively short-lived from an operational standpoint, it nonetheless holds the distinction of being the very first of a very new breed of carrier-borne aircraft and the first chapter in a rapidly advancing era of aviation evolution.
 +
 
 +
=== In-game description ===
 +
Whilst the world’s leading air forces forged ahead with the development of new jet aircraft in the mid to late 1940s, naval aviation was left behind in the piston era due to the as of yet undefeated complexities of successfully operating jet aircraft from aircraft carriers. Whilst purpose designed naval jet aircraft were still embryonic in Britain, there was at least still some scope for converting land based jet aircraft.
 +
 
 +
Supermarine had enjoyed the premium position as the designer and manufacturer of fighter aircraft with the world-beating Spitfire, but were now in danger of being left behind by other British aviation companies who had moved ahead with jet fighters. The Supermarine Attacker was originally developed for the RAF as a land based jet in accordance with Spec E.10/44, with its prototype first flying in July 1946.
 +
 
 +
Powered by the Rolls-Royce Nene engine and using the laminar flow wing which had been successfully tested on the Spiteful, the Attacker failed to offer any performance advantage over the Meteor or Vampire and so was rejected by the RAF. The Fleet Air Arm, however, saw some potential in the aircraft’s navalised prototypes and pursued the design to carrier trials in October 1947.
 +
 +
The first production Supermarine Attacker flew in May 1950 and 800 Naval Air Squadron became the first front line jet fighter squadron of the Royal Navy in August 1951 – although some jet experience had been gleaned from a small number of de Havilland Vampires purchased for just that reason.
 +
 
 +
Armed with four 20mm Hispano cannon and able to carry eight 60 lb rockets or two 1000 lb bombs, the Attacker was capable of reaching 590 mph at sea level and climbing at 6350 feet per minute. However, the Attacker was a true first generation jet fighter and was already outclassed by fighters of other nations when it entered service. It served only briefly as a front line fighter, being replaced by the Sea Hawk and Sea Venom from 1954 onwards.
 +
 
 +
It continued in second line service with the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve until 1957, and was also used by the Royal Pakistan Air Force.
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
''An excellent addition to the article will be video guides, as well as screenshots from the game and photos.''
+
''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''
 +
 
 +
== See also ==
 +
<!--Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:
  
== Read 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;''
 
* ''reference to the series of the aircraft;''
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''
+
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''-->
''ETC.''
 
  
== Sources ==
+
* [[Ar 234 C-3]] - A common enemy of the Attacker at the same 7.0 battle rating, the Ar 234 C-3 has comparable ground-attack capabilities.
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
+
 
 +
== External links ==
 +
<!--Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
* ''page on the Wikipedia;''
+
* ''encyclopedia page on the aircraft;''
* ''page on aircraft encyclopedia;''
+
* ''other literature.''-->
* ''other literature.''
+
 
 +
* [http://warthunder.com/en/devblog/current/772 [Devblog<nowiki>]</nowiki> Attacker FB.1 and M10 & M36 Slugger]
 +
* [http://warthunder.com/en/news/3233-vehicle-profile-supermarine-attacker-en [Vehicle Profile<nowiki>]</nowiki> Supermarine Attacker]
 +
 
 +
{{Britain jet aircrafts}}

Revision as of 04:16, 15 June 2019

Rank VI Israel | Premium | Golden Eagles
Merkava Mk.2D Pack
attaker_fb1.png
Attacker FB 1
Research:95 000 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:270 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png
Show in game

Description

GarageImage Attacker FB 1.jpg


The Attacker FB 1 is a rank V British jet fighter with a battle rating of 7.0 (AB/RB) and 7.3 (SB). It was introduced in Update 1.49 "Weapons of Victory".

Attackers on-board HMS Eagle

Following the Sea Fury in the Fleet Air Arm branch is the first operational carrier-based jet in the Royal Navy’s arsenal, the Supermarine Attacker. The Attacker was Britain's first naval jet and offers good all-around performance for a first generation jet design, as well as varied ground attack and fighter-bomber capabilities. Available to research after the Sea Fury, the Attacker is a different approach to jet fighter aircraft by comparison to the Meteors, Vampire or Venom.

The most unique and unusual trait of the Attacker is its taildragger configuration and wing-mounted armament. As the wing and undercarriage are shared with another Supermarine aircraft, the Spiteful, the Attacker is the only British jet from its period to feature wing mounted cannon armament. Unlike other British jet fighters that adopt nose mounted configurations, the 4 x 20 mm Hispano Mk V cannons on the Attacker do require careful use of convergence as a result of their positioning, much like the Sea Fury and Seafires.

Mounted in pairs with two in each wing, the Hispano cannons have 624 rounds of ammunition, more than the piston fighters before it. The Attacker can also mount 2 x 500 lb or 2 x 1,000 lb bombs as well as 12 x 76 mm RP-3 rockets with the GLBC Mk 3 and GRC Mk 8 modifications respectively. This combined with the universal or ground targets belts allows the Attacker to live up to its namesake, should pilots choose to use it in a fast ground-attack fighter-bomber role.

The unusual undercarriage is also very forgiving during landings, both on airfields and aircraft carriers. However, this can also prove to be a hindrance in simulator mode and for pilots who prefer cockpit view; the aircraft is indeed a taildragger. This results in an extremely restricted view on the ground and while landing, especially on a carrier.

General info

Flight Performance

Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.

Characteristics
Stock
Max Speed
(km/h at 0 m - sea level)
Max altitude
(meters)
Turn time
(seconds)
Rate of climb
(meters/second)
Take-off run
(meters)
AB RB AB RB AB RB
885 859 12,191 26.2 26.9 22.8 21.5 950
Upgraded
Max Speed
(km/h at 0 m - sea level)
Max altitude (meters) Turn time (seconds) Rate of climb
(meters/second)
Take-off run (meters)
AB RB AB RB AB RB
936 922 12,191 23.9 25.0 33.8 28.0 950

Details

Features
Combat flap Take-off flap Landing flap Air brakes Arrestor gear
Limits
Wing-break speed
(km/h)
Gear limit
(km/h)
Combat flap
(km/h)
Max Static G
+ -
895 351 520 ~16 ~9
Optimal velocities
Ailerons
(km/h)
Rudder
(km/h)
Elevators
(km/h)
Radiator
(km/h)
< 491 < 600 < 620 > 250

Survivability and armour

  • 38 mm Bulletproof glass - Armoured windscreen
  • 12.7 mm Steel - Armour plate behind the pilot's seat

Armaments

Offensive armament

Main article: Hispano Mk.V (20 mm)
X-Ray View of the Attacker FB.Mk 1

The Attacker FB 1 is armed with:

  • 4 x 20 mm Hispano Mk.V cannon, wing-mounted (167 rpg inner, 145 outer = 624 total)

Suspended armament

The Attacker FB 1 can be outfitted with the following ordinance:

  • 2 x G.P. 500 lb Mk.IV bombs (1,000 lb total)
  • 2 x G.P. 1,000 lb Mk.I bombs (2,000 lb total
  • 12 x 76 mm RP-3 rockets

Usage in battles

Utilizing the Air Targets belt and adopting a pure fighter role in the Attacker is fairly effective thanks to the aircraft's good all-round performance. Its bubble canopy offers good all-around visibility for simulator pilots, and a set of air brakes situated in the wings aid in slowing the aircraft for energy management purposes.

Modules

Tier Flight performance Survivability Weaponry
I Fuselage Repair Offensive 20 mm
II Compressor Airframe GLBC mk.3
III Wings Repair Engine New 20 mm Cannons
IV G-Suit Cover GRC mk.8
The Supermarine 510 swept wing development of the Attacker would ultimately lead to the Swift

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Powerful armament consisting of 4 x 20 mm Hispano Mk V cannons
  • Wide track undercarriage for easier, stable landings
  • Ability to land on carriers
  • Clear visibility cockpit with good all-round vision
  • Good ground strike payloads for multi-role capabilities
  • Air brakes

Cons:

  • Poor acceleration
  • Wing-mounted cannons prove to be lacking when compared to the nose-mounted armament of other jets
  • The taildragger gear configuration makes for difficult carrier take-off's and landings, particularly in simulator battles
  • Slow rate of climb

History

Supermarine Type 398

The Attacker was part of the first generation of jet aircraft to enter service with the Royal Navy and had the distinction of being the first operational combat jet on a British carrier. Whilst the Royal Air Force was already equipped with Meteors and Vampires, the Fleet Air Arm fell behind due to the difficulty of operating such a radical new technology from the Navy’s existing carriers. This was partially the reasoning the FAA showed interest in the Sea Fury and the later Griffon Seafires as a “make-do” solution.

After trials with the De Havilland Sea Vampire, the Navy wanted a jet aircraft that could be operated from its current ships. Supermarine’s failed Spitfire replacement, the Spiteful, was rejected by both the FAA and RAF due to already sufficient stocks of operational piston engine aircraft. However, this led to a jet engine design incorporating the same wing and undercarriage from the Spiteful, along with a tail wheel configuration as a result, and utilized a Rolls Royce Nene jet engine.

This rather primitive and rushed design was operational from 1951; however it had an extremely short career - being taken out of front-line service by 1954. This was primarily due to the aircraft's limitations being a "tail-dragger" that made operating on anything other than the deck of an aircraft carrier problematic because of the jet exhaust. The rear tail wheel only made the already hazardous task of operating a jet on a carrier even more problematic for pilots.

The Attacker quickly became superseded by the Hawker Sea Hawk and De Havilland Sea Venom, both of which were much more modern and refined designs featuring more powerful engines, tricycle undercarriages, and possessing superior performance. The Attacker did, however, serve as the base of Supermarine’s first swept-wing jet for the RAF, the Swift, as can be seen by the similarity of the nose and fuselage. It would also lead to the more successful Supermarine Scimitar naval jet fighter in the later part of the 1950s.

Whilst the Attacker saw no major service and was relatively short-lived from an operational standpoint, it nonetheless holds the distinction of being the very first of a very new breed of carrier-borne aircraft and the first chapter in a rapidly advancing era of aviation evolution.

In-game description

Whilst the world’s leading air forces forged ahead with the development of new jet aircraft in the mid to late 1940s, naval aviation was left behind in the piston era due to the as of yet undefeated complexities of successfully operating jet aircraft from aircraft carriers. Whilst purpose designed naval jet aircraft were still embryonic in Britain, there was at least still some scope for converting land based jet aircraft.

Supermarine had enjoyed the premium position as the designer and manufacturer of fighter aircraft with the world-beating Spitfire, but were now in danger of being left behind by other British aviation companies who had moved ahead with jet fighters. The Supermarine Attacker was originally developed for the RAF as a land based jet in accordance with Spec E.10/44, with its prototype first flying in July 1946.

Powered by the Rolls-Royce Nene engine and using the laminar flow wing which had been successfully tested on the Spiteful, the Attacker failed to offer any performance advantage over the Meteor or Vampire and so was rejected by the RAF. The Fleet Air Arm, however, saw some potential in the aircraft’s navalised prototypes and pursued the design to carrier trials in October 1947.

The first production Supermarine Attacker flew in May 1950 and 800 Naval Air Squadron became the first front line jet fighter squadron of the Royal Navy in August 1951 – although some jet experience had been gleaned from a small number of de Havilland Vampires purchased for just that reason.

Armed with four 20mm Hispano cannon and able to carry eight 60 lb rockets or two 1000 lb bombs, the Attacker was capable of reaching 590 mph at sea level and climbing at 6350 feet per minute. However, the Attacker was a true first generation jet fighter and was already outclassed by fighters of other nations when it entered service. It served only briefly as a front line fighter, being replaced by the Sea Hawk and Sea Venom from 1954 onwards.

It continued in second line service with the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve until 1957, and was also used by the Royal Pakistan Air Force.

Media

Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.

See also

  • Ar 234 C-3 - A common enemy of the Attacker at the same 7.0 battle rating, the Ar 234 C-3 has comparable ground-attack capabilities.

External links


Britain jet aircraft
Blackburn  Buccaneer S.1 · Buccaneer S.2 · Buccaneer S.2B
British Aerospace  Harrier GR.7 · Sea Harrier FRS.1 (e) · Sea Harrier FRS.1
British Aircraft Corporation  Strikemaster Mk.88
English Electric  Canberra B Mk 2 · Canberra B (I) Mk 6 · Lightning F.6 · Lightning F.53
Gloster  Meteor F Mk 3 · Sea Meteor F Mk 3 · Meteor F Mk 4 G.41F · Meteor F Mk 4 G.41G · Meteor F Mk 8 G.41K · Meteor F Mk.8 Reaper
  Javelin F.(A.W.) Mk.9
de Havilland  Vampire F.B.5 · Venom FB.4 · Sea Venom FAW 20 · Sea Vixen F.A.W. Mk.2
Hawker  Sea Hawk FGA.6 · Hunter F.1 · Hunter F.6 · Hunter FGA.9 · Harrier GR.1 · Harrier GR.3
Panavia  Tornado GR.1 · Tornado F.3
SEPECAT  Jaguar GR.1 · Jaguar GR.1A · Jaguar IS
Supermarine  Attacker FB 1 · Attacker FB.2 · Scimitar F Mk.1 · Swift F.1 · Swift F.7
Foreign  Phantom FG.1 (USA) · Phantom FGR.2 (USA) · F-4J(UK) Phantom II (USA)
  JAS39C (Sweden)