Table of Contents
Did a Swordfish Sink the Bismarck?
In May 1941, Swordfish helped pursue and sink the German battleship Bismarck. On 24 May, nine Swordfish from HMS Victorious flew a late night sortie against the Bismarck under deteriorating weather conditions.
How many Fairey Swordfish were shot down?
Faced by a storm of anti-aircraft fire from the German warships, as well as large numbers of enemy fighters, all six Swordfish were shot down. Just five aircrew survived. Esmonde was later awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross.
How many ships did the Swordfish sink?
Swordfish actually sank 21 submarines over the course of the war, most whilst escorting Arctic convoys to north Russia, and were responsible for the highest tonnage of enemy shipping sunk by any allied aircraft type.
How fast was the Fairey Swordfish?
55.9 mph
| Specifications Mark I | |
|---|---|
| Dimensions: | 9.56 x 10.97 m x 4.50 m (33 x 41 x 13 ft) |
| Performances: | Top speed: 48.6 kn (55.9 mph, 90.0 km/h) Cruise speed: 116 kn (133 mph, 214 km/h) Service ceiling: 14,900 ft (4,500 m) Rate of climb: 915 ft/min (4.65 m/s) |
| Range: | 587 nmi (675 mi, 1,086 km) at 5,000 ft (1,500 m) |
| Armament – MGs | 2x 0.3 cal |
Who Really Sank the Bismarck?
the British navy
On May 27, 1941, the British navy sinks the German battleship Bismarck in the North Atlantic near France. The German death toll was more than 2,000.
How many Fairey Swordfish are still flying?
Two Swordfish
Two Swordfish are currently flying, one in the hands of Britain’s Royal Navy Historic Flight and the second put back into the air last July by Vintage Wings of Canada. The Fairey Swordfish biplane torpedo bomber was one of the most unusual yet effective World War II aircraft.
What sank the Bismarck?
torpedoes
On the morning of May 27 the King George V and the Rodney, in an hour-long attack, incapacitated the Bismarck, and an hour and a half later it sank after being hit by three torpedoes from the cruiser Dorsetshire.
Was the Bismarck sunk by a biplane?
With her rudder jammed to port, and thus unable to move in anything but endless circles, the Bismarck became a sitting duck. British naval ships later surrounded the Bismarck and eventually sank her after extensive bombardment.
How good was the Fairey Swordfish?
It took advantage of its modern features, adding speed but not losing most of the qualities required by a good torpedo bomber. It could approach the target at altitude, and while it could not dive near-vertically like the Swordfish, could easily glide at 30 degrees, and it could launch its torpedo at high speeds.
What replaced the Fairey Swordfish?
The Albacore
The Albacore, popularly known as the “Applecore”, was conceived as a replacement for the Fairey Swordfish, which had entered service in 1936.