World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseThe Swordfish torpedo bombers were biplanes constructed with metal frames covered in fabric. The design also called for folding wings so they could be launched from carriers. They entered service with Britain's Fleet Air Arm in 1936, replacing the Seal torpedo bombers also made by Fairey Aviation. By 1939, however, the Swordfish aircraft were already obsolete. Nevertheless, they remained in use throughout the fleet as torpedo bombers and reconnaissance aircraft. While they served with relative success on the Norwegian coast in 1940 and in the Battle of the Atlantic, they achieve their fame during the 11 Nov 1940 attack on Taranto. 21 Swordfish aircraft in two waves caught six Italian battleships, nine cruisers, and eight destroyers completely off guard at Taranto. The battleship Conte di Cavour was sunk in harbor, the battleship Littorio suffered three torpedo hits, and the battleship Caio Diulio suffered one torpedo hit. The heavy cruiser Trento received heavy damage, along with several destroyers badly hurt. Shore facilities were damaged as well. Their luck turned, though, when six of them conducted a strike on German battlecruisers dashing through the English Channel in Feb 1942; all six were lost without inflicting any significant damage. When the Barracuda torpedo bombers entered service in Jan 1943, Swordfish aircraft were finally removed from front line duties, though they continued to be in production and in service until 1945. The last Swordfish was delivered in Aug 1944, the last of 2,392 aircraft. They remained in service with training squadrons until summer of 1946.

Swordfish Timeline

SPECIFICATIONS

Swordfish

Machinery	One Bristol Pegasus IIIM.3 rated at 690hp or Bristol Pegasus XXX radial engine rated at 750hp
Armament	2x7.7mm Vickers machine guns, 1x760kg torpedo or 1x700kg mine, 8x27kg rockets
Crew	3
Span	13.87 m
Length	10.87 m
Height	3.76 m
Wing Area	50.40 m²
Weight, Empty	1,900 kg
Weight, Loaded	3,500 kg
Speed, Maximum	222 km/h
Rate of Climb	6.20 m/s
Service Ceiling	5,870 m
Range, Normal	879 km
Range, Maximum	1,650 km

Photographs

Visitor Submitted Comments

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2.  Hobilar says:
2 Sep 2007 01:00:14 AM

Lieutenant Commander Esmonde, a veteran of the attack on the Bismarck, would later be awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross for his bravery and leadership under fire during the suicidal attack on Scharnhorst, Gneisenau and Prinz Eugen in February 1942. Only five airmen, from eighteen, survived from this attack.

3.  Hobilar says:
13 Sep 2007 06:23:09 AM

Two Stringbags are still airworthy with the FAA Memorial flight.

4.  Alan Chanter says:
29 Nov 2007 05:19:11 AM

Introduced in 1943, the Swordfish Mk.II introduced a strengthened lower wing, metal skin under-surfaces and a rocket projectile capability. A total of 1,080 Swordfish Mk.II were built by Blackburn at the new Brough factory in Yorkshire. Ninety-nine Mk.IIs were delivered to the Royal Canadian Navy.