FAIREY BARRACUDA

The 'Fairey Barracuda' was a British carrier-borne torpedo- and dive-bomber used during the Second World War, the first of its type to be fabricated entirely from metal. It was introduced to the Fleet Air Arm as a replacement for the Fairey Swordfish and Fairey Albacore biplanes. It is notable for its role in attacking the German battleship ''Tirpitz'' and infamous for its unusual appearance when the undercarriage was extended and wings folded.

Contents

Design and development

Operational history

Variants

Operators

Specifications (Barracuda Mk II)

References

External links

Related content

Design and development

The Barracuda resulted from Air Ministry Specification S.24/37 issued in 1937 for a monoplane torpedo bomber. Of the six submissions, the designs of Fairey Aviation and Supermarine (Type 322) were selected and two prototypes of each ordered. The first Fairey prototype flew on 7 December 1940. It had a high-wing configuration, with large Youngman flaps that doubled as dive brakes. Originally fitted with a conventional tail, flight tests suggested stability would be improved by mounting the stabiliser higher, similar to a T-tail, which was implemented on the second prototype. The Barracuda was originally intended to use the Rolls-Royce Exe engine but production of this powerplant was abandoned which delayed the prototype's trials. The prototypes eventually flew with the lower-powered 12-cylinder Vee type Rolls-Royce Merlin 30 engine (1,260 hp or 940 kW) and a three-bladed de Havilland propeller. Further experience with the prototypes and the first production machines ('Mk I') revealed the aircraft to be underpowered as a result of the weight of extra equipment that had been added since the initial design. Only 30 Mk Is were built (including five by Westland) and were used only for trials and conversion training.
Replacing the Merlin 30 with the more powerful Merlin 32 (1,640 hp or 1,225 kW) and a four-bladed propeller resulted in the definitive 'Mk II' variant of which 1,688 were manufactured by Fairey Stockport/Ringway (675), Blackburn (700), Boulton Paul (300), and Westland (13). A total of 2,607 Barracudas were built.
The Supermarine Type 322 first flew in 1943 but with the Barracuda already in production it did not progress further.

Operational history

The first Barracudas entered service on 10 January 1943 with No. 827 Squadron and were deployed in the North Atlantic. The following year they entered service in the Pacific Theatre. The Barracuda first saw action with No. 810 Squadron during the Salerno landings. Barracudas eventually would equip 23 front line squadrons. From 1944 onwards, the Mk IIs were accompanied in service by radar-equipped (but otherwise similar) 'TB Mk III's which were used for anti-submarine patrols. 852 Mk IIIs were eventually produced (406 by Fairey, 392 by Boulton Paul).
The 'Mk IV' never left the drawing board, so the next and final version of the Barracuda was the 'Mk V' which replaced the Merlin powerplant with a Rolls-Royce Griffon and featured various aerodynamic changes. The Mk V did not take to the air until 16 November 1944, and Fairey built only 37 before the war in Europe was over.
Early, underpowered Barracudas suffered from poor rate of climb but once airborne, proved easy to fly. Pilots came to appreciate the powerful Youngman flaps/airbrakes and carrier landings were simple due to the aforementioned flaps and good visibility from the cockpit. During the earlier part of its service life, the Barracuda suffered a fairly high rate of unexplained fatal crashes, often involving experienced pilots. In 1945 this was traced to small leaks developing in the hydraulic system.
The most common point for the leak was at the point of entry to the pilot's pressure gauge and was situated such that the resulting spray went straight into the pilot's face. The chosen hydraulic fluid contained ether and as the aircraft rarely were equipped with oxygen masks (and few aircrew wore them below 10,000 ft (3,000 m) anyway) the pilot quickly became unconscious leading to a crash. An Admiralty order issued at the end of May 1945 required all examples of the type to be oxygen fitted as soon as possible, and for pilots to use the system at all times. Operation of airbrakes at high speeds caused a sudden change in trim which could throw the aircraft into an inverted dive. This proved fatal on at least five occasions during practice torpedo runs.
In spite of their odd appearance, Barracudas were effective dive bombers (torpedoes were rarely, if ever, used in combat by the type in spite of appearing in many publicity photos because the aircraft lacked the engine power to effectively carry them) and played a pivotal role in a major attack on the German battleship ''Tirpitz''. On 3 April 1944, 42 aircraft from British carriers HMS ''Victorious'' and ''Furious'' scored 14 direct hits on ''Tirpitz'' with 250 lb (114 kg) and 500 lb (227 kg) bombs at the cost of three bombers ^[1]. The attack disabled ''Tirpitz'' for over two months.
Barracudas were used to test several innovations including RATOG rockets for takeoff and a braking propeller which slowed the aircraft by reversing the blade pitch.
The Barracuda continued in Fleet Air Arm service until the mid 1950s, by which time they were all replaced by Grumman Avengers. Not a single example exists today, although the Fleet Air Arm Museum has large pieces of wreckage from two crashed aircraft and hopes to collect enough parts to eventually assemble a complete example for static display.

Variants

;Mk I:First production version, Rolls-Royce Merlin 30 engine with 1,260 hp (940 kW), 30 built
;Mk II:Upgraded Merlin 32 engine with 1,640 hp (1,225 kW), four-bladed propeller, ASV radar, 1,688 built
;Mk III:Anti-submarine warfare version of Mk II with radar in a blister under rear fuselage, 852 built
;Mk IV:Mk II (number ''P9976'') fitted with a Rolls-Royce Griffon engine with 1,850 hp (1,380 kW), first flight 11 November 1944, abandoned in favor of Fairey Spearfish.
;Mk V:Griffon 37 engine with 2,020 hp (1,505 kW), payload increased to 2,000 lb (910 kg), ASH radar under the left wing, revised tailfin, 37 built

Operators

;:

★ Fleet Air Arm

Specifications (Barracuda Mk II)

References

1. Gunston 1995


★ Donald, David and Lake, Jon, editors. ''Encyclopedia of World Military Aircraft.'' London: AIRtime Publishing, 1996. ISBN 1-880588-24-2

★ Gunston, Bill. ''Classic World War II Aircraft Cutaways.'' London: Osprey, 1995. ISBN 1-85532-526-8.

★ Hadley, D. ''Barracuda Pilot.'' London: Airlife Publishing, 2000. ISBN 1-84037-225-7.

★ Taylor, H.A. ''Fairey Aircraft Since 1915.'' London: Putnam, 1974. ISBN 0-370-00065-X.

External links

★ Fairey Barracuda

★ British Aircraft of World War II: Fairey Barracuda

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