Hawker Tempest

Originally envisaged as the Hawker Typhoon Mk.II, the Tempest was developed as a series of six prototypes, each powered by a different engine. This was undertaken, so that if development problems arose with one engine, development still continued with the others.

The six prototypes built were as follows:

• One Tempest Mk.I (serial number HM599), equipped with the Napier Sabre Mk.IV engine
• Two Tempest Mk.II (serial numbers LA602 and LA607), equipped with the Bristol Centaurus Mk.IV engine (LA607 later receiving a Centaurus Mk.V)
• One Tempest Mk.III (serial number LA610), equipped with the Rolls-Royce Griffon 85 engine (originally planned for the Griffon IIB)
• One Tempest Mk.IV (serial number LA614), which was never completed but planned to be equipped with a Griffon 61 engine
• One Tempest Mk.V (serial number HM595), equipped with the Napier Sabre Mk.II engine

The variants produced and the countries that operated them are listed below. Each has a link to a page with additional photos.

Variants

Hawker Tempest Mk.I

The Tempest Mk.I featured a clean single-piece sliding canopy in place of the car-door framed canopy, and it used wing radiators instead of a “chin” radiator. Due to development difficulties with the Sabre IV engine and its wing radiators, the completion of the Mk.I prototype, HM599, was delayed, and thus it was the Mk.V prototype, HM595, that would fly first.

Development issues with the Napier Sabre engine and the end of the Second World War led to all contracts for the Tempest Mk.I being cancelled. Only the prototype Mk.I was completed and no production was undertaken.

Hawker Tempest Mk.II

them for use in the Pacific further delayed production. The end of the war saw production contracts cancelled and only 452 were built. Many were passed or sold to Pakistan and India.

Hawker Tempest Mk.III

The Hawker Tempest Mk.III was planned to be powered by the Rolls Royce Griffon 85 driving two three-bladed propellers. First flying on 27 November 1944, development was abandoned soon after when priority for the Griffon engine was given to Spitfires.

Hawker converted LA610 into a Fury prototype powered by a Sabre Mk VIII driving a four-bladed propeller.

Hawker Tempest Mk.V Series 1

The first 100 production Hawker Tempest Mk. V fighters were designated as Series 1. All had serial numbers starting with JNxxx. They were easily distinguished from the later Series 2 due to:

• retention of fish plates on the rear fuselage
• a built-up rear spar pick-up/bulkhead assembly (just behind the cockpit) which was adapted from the Typhoon. Small blisters on the upper rear wing root fairing covered the securing bolts. Series 2 had a new forged, lightweight assembly which connected to new spar booms
• fitted with 20 mm Hispano Mk.IIs with long barrels which projected ahead of the wing leading edges and were covered by short fairings; Tempest V Series 2 switched to the short-barrelled Hispano Mk.Vs, with muzzles flush with the leading edges

Hawker Tempest Mk.V Series 2

The first 100 production Hawker Tempest fighters were designated as Series 1. All had serial numbers starting with JNxxx. They were easily distinguished from the later Series 2 due to:

• retention of fish plates on the rear fuselage
• a built-up rear spar pick-up/bulkhead assembly (just behind the cockpit) which was adapted from the Typhoon. Small blisters on the upper rear wing root fairing covered the securing bolts. Series 2 had a new forged, lightweight assembly which connected to new spar booms
• fitted with 20 mm Hispano Mk.IIs with long barrels which projected ahead of the wing leading edges and were covered by short fairings; Tempest V Series 2 switched to the short-barrelled Hispano Mk.Vs, with muzzles flush with the leading edges

A total of 701 Hawker Tempest Mk. V Series 2 fighters were built, serving with RAF and RNZAF squadrons.

Hawker Tempest Mk.V (PV)

Vickers design was called PV, for Class P, Vickers. The PV guns were housed in long slim streamlined gun pods carried on the bomb racks and had 38 rounds each. The 20 mm wing guns were removed for this installation. Testing of the guns revealed that the weapon had potential, but no production was undertaken.

Hawker Tempest TT Mk. 5

The Hawker Tempest TT Mk. V was a standard Tempest V converted for target towing duties. A total of 81 were converted, all but two being from Series 2 aircraft.

Hawker Tempest Mk.VI

The Hawker Tempest Mk. VI – F. Mk. VI (F.6), was fitted with the Napier Napier Sabre Mk. V inline piston engine (2,340 hp). This required a bigger radiator which displaced the oil cooler and carburettor air intake from the radiator’s centre; air for the carburettor was drawn through intakes on the leading edge of the inner wings, while the oil cooler was located behind the radiator. Most Tempest VIs were tropicalised, resulting in the air filter being fitted in a fairing on the lower centre section. Other changes included the strengthening of the rear spar and the inclusion of spring tabs, which granted the variant superior handling performance.

The original Tempest V prototype, HM595, was extensively modified to serve as the Tempest VI prototype.

A total of 142 Tempest Mk VI were produced, equipping nine RAF squadrons, five of which were stationed in the Middle East.

Operators

Great Britain

Photographs for Royal Air Force operated Hawker Tempests can be found in the links above for the individual Marks.

India

The Indian Air Force operated at total of 233 Hawker Tempest Mk.II fighters from 1946 until 1953. From 1953, Tempests were used for target towing until 1955. They were used operationally in Kashmir from 1947-48.

New Zealand

In January 1944, No. 486 Squadron Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) was the first squadron to be re-equipped with Hawker Tempest fighters (although No. 3 squadron completed re-equipping first). Initially used for V-1 interception, where their high speed was needed, the squadron was credited with the destruction of 223 1/2 flying bombs. They squadron was later assigned to the 2TAF where duties usually included low and medium fighter operations along with ground attack missions.

The squadron was disbanded on 12 October 1945 at RAF Dunsfold, England.

Pakistan

Pakistan operated approximately 80 Hawker Tempest Mk.II fighters from 1947 until 1952, after which they were relegated to training and target towing. The last Tempest left in 1958. Tempests were used operationally against insurgencies and rebellious tribesmen in the North-West. They were not used during clashes with India over Kashmir.