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Grumman Wildcat in British Service

Grumman Martlet (Wildcat) Mk. II of No. 888 AJ148 from HMS Formidable on an airfield at Oran Algeria in Dec 42

Grumman Wildcat in British Service

Initially operated under the nae Martlet, the Fleet Air Arm would eventually receive nearly 1200 Grumman Wildcat fighters. The Martlet name was replaced by January 1944 with Wildcat, in common with the US Navy and Marine Corps. Wildcats were operated from shore bases as well as aircraft carriers, and the types first victory in FAA hands was on 25 December 1940 when a land-based Martlet destroyed a Junkers Ju 88 bomber over the Scapa Flow.

HMS Atheling

HMS Begum

HMS Campania

HMS Empress

HMS Fencer

HMS Formidable

HMS Illustrious

HMS Indomitable

HMS Puncher

HMS Pursuer

HMS Searcher

HMS Tracker

HMS Trumpeter

Land Based Grumman Wildcats

Fairey Barracuda Torpedo Bomber

Fairey Barracuda Mk.II MD693 with late exhaust manifold

Fairey Barracuda Fleet Air Arm Torpedo Bomber

Fairey Barracuda Torpedo Bomber

Designed as a replacement for the Fairey Swordfish and Albacore biplanes, the Fairey Barracuda first flew on 7 December 1940. It entered service on 10 January 1943, with its first action being with 10 Squadron aboard HMS Illustrious off the Norwegian coast during July 1943. Although designed as a combined dive bomber and torpedo bomber, it was more often operated as a dive bomber.

On 3 April 1944, a total of 42 Barracudas from HMS Illustrious and Furious attacked the German battleship Tirpitz in the Kåfjord, Alta, Norway. The attacked achieved 16 direct hits, putting the battleship out of action for two months. The follow-up attacks of Operation Mascot and Operation Goodwood were not successful, partly owing to the Barracuda’s slow speed.

On 21 April 1944 Barracudas of No 827 Squadron aboard HMS Illustrious attacked Japanese targets around Sumatra. It was discovered that the prevailing high temperatures in the Pacific affected the performance of the Barracuda by up to 30%. As a result, it was decided to re-equip the fleet carriers with Grumman Avenger aircraft.

Post war, the Barracuda was used as a trainer and was removed from service in the early 1950s.

In addition to the Royal Navy, the Barracuda was operated by the RAF, Royal Canadian Navy, Netherlands Naval Aviation Service (Marineluchtvaartdienst, shortened to MLD) and the French Air Force (Armée de l’air).

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 II radar, 1,688 built

Mk III: Anti-submarine warfare version of Mk II with ASV III 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 favour of Fairey Spearfish.

Mk V: Griffon 37 engine with 2,020 hp (1,510 kW), payload increased to 2,000 lb (910 kg), ASH radar under the left wing, revised tailfin, 37 built

Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Operations

Ship-Base Barracudas

Land-Base Barracudas

Variants

Other Operators

Other Variants and Uses

HMS Atheling

HMS Colossus

HMS Emperor

HMS Formidable

HMS Furious

HMS Glory

HMS Illustrious

HMS Implacable

HMS Indefatigable

HMS Indomitable

HMS Pretoria Castle

HMS Puncher

HMS Queen

HMS Rajah

HMS Ravager

HMS Smiter

Fairey Barracuda crash landing on HMS Smiter. In the background is the destroyer HMS Walker
Fairey Barracuda crash landing on HMS Smiter. In the background is the destroyer HMS Walker

HMS Theseus

HMS Trumpeter

HMS Venerable

HMS Vengeance

HMS Victorious

Land-Base Barracudas

HMS Ariel – Warrington

HMS Ariel was a Royal Navy air radio mechanics training establishment.

HMS Condor – Arbroath

HMS Cormorant – Gibraltar

HMS Daedalus – Lee-on-Solent

HMS Merlin – Donibristle

HMS Urley Ronaldsway – Isle of Man

RNAS Trincomalee – Sri Lanka

Variants

Prototypes

Fairey Barracuda Mk.I

Fairey Barracuda Mk.II

Fairey Barracuda Mk.III

Fairey Barracuda Mk.V

Other Operators

Fairey Barracuda in Netherlands Naval Aviation Service

Fairey Barracuda in French Air Force Service

Other Variants and Uses

Lifeboat Trials

A Fairey Barracuda Mk III was modified to enable it to carry a lifeboat which could be dropped to downed aircrew or sailors. The lifeboat, was 17 ft, 9 ins long, and was dropped by parachute. The lifeboat was self-righting and self-baling. It was equipped with sails and an outboard engine which gives it a range of 120 miles at 4 knots.

A trial was undertaken at the Naval Air Station at Lee-on-Solent in September 1945. Although 24 lifeboats were built, there are no records of them being used operationally.

Special Operations

In July 1944, Fairey Barracuda Mk.II P9575 was fitted with “Cuda Floats”. These were intended to carry a paratrooper, while a container under the fuselage contained equipment. Although trialed successfully, they were not deployed operationally.

In addition to the Cuda Floats, the Barracuda was used to trial an airborne delivered radio station which was contained in a pod beneath the fuselage.

Detailed Photos

Construction

German Floatplane Arado Ar 196

Arado Ar 196A-5 of SAGr126 (DN+IF) WkNr 100276 Moored at a beaching ramp France 1941

German Floatplane Arado Ar 196

The Arado Ar 196 was designed to an October 1936 RLM request for a Heinkel He 114 reconnaissance floatplane replacement. The four prototypes ordered were delivered in the summer of 1937. The V1 and V2 had twin floats, while the V3 and V4 had a single central floats and two outrigger floats. Comparative trials demonstrated that both versions had excellent water handling qualities. However, it was felt that in rough seas there was a possibility that the outrigger floats of the V3/V4 could dig in, causing damage to the aircraft. A further V5 prototype was ordered to study the final twin float configuration.

Ten Ar 196A-0s pre-production aircraft were delivered for ship trials in November and December 1938. Five B-0s (single central float versions) were delivered at the same time for shore-based trials. These were the only B-0 floatplanes ordered.

Production of the A-1 version commenced June 1939, which were used to equip the Kriegsmarine surface fleet. Including prototypes, a total of 541 were produced of all types, including approximately 100 from the SNCA and Fokker plants.

Versions

German Units

Arado Ar 196 Floatplanes Serving Aboard German Ships

Other Operators

Miscellaneous Photographs of Arado Ar 196 Floatplanes

Kampfgeschwader 100 (KG 100)

Kampfgeschwader 200 (KG 200)

Under Construction

Interior Photos

Detailed Exterior Photos