The Fairey Swordfish is a biplane torpedo bomber designed by the Fairey Aviation Company. Originating in the early 1930s, the Swordfish, nicknamed "Stringbag", was operated by the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy, it was also used by the Royal Air Force (RAF), as well as several overseas operators, including the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and the Royal Netherlands Navy. It was initially operated primarily as a fleet attack aircraft. During its later years, the Swordfish became increasingly used as an anti-submarine and training platform. The type was in frontline service throughout the Second World War.
Despite being obsolete by 1939, the Swordfish achieved some spectacular successes during the war. Notable events included sinking one battleship and damaging two others of the Regia Marina (the Italian Navy) during the Battle of Taranto, and the famous attack on the Bismarck, which contributed to her eventual demise. By the end of the war, the Swordfish held the distinction of having caused the destruction of a greater tonnage of Axis shipping than any other Allied aircraft. The Swordfish remained in front-line service until V-E Day, having outlived multiple aircraft that had been intended to replace it in service.
The Fairey Swordfish was a medium-sized biplane torpedo bomber and reconnaissance aircraft. The Swordfish employed a metal airframe covered in fabric. It utilized folding wings as a space-saving measure, which was useful onboard aircraft carriers and battleships. In service, it received the nickname Stringbag; this was not due to its biplane struts, spars, and braces, but a reference to the seemingly endless variety of stores and equipment that the type was cleared to carry. Crews likened the aircraft to a housewife's string shopping bag, common at the time and which could accommodate contents of any shape, and that a Swordfish, like the shopping bag, could carry anything.
The primary weapon of the Swordfish was the aerial torpedo, but the low speed of the biplane and the need for a long straight approach made it difficult to deliver against well-defended targets. Swordfish torpedo doctrine called for an approach at 5,000 feet (1,500 m) followed by a dive to torpedo release altitude of 18 feet (5.5 m). Maximum range of the early Mark XII torpedo was 1,500 yards (1,400 m) at 40 knots (74 km/h; 46 mph) and 3,500 yards (3,200 m) at 27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph). The torpedo travelled 200 feet (61 m) forward from release to water impact, and required another 300 yards (270 m) to stabilise at preset depth and arm itself. Ideal release distance was 1,000 yards (910 m) from target if the Swordfish survived to that distance.
The Swordfish was also capable of operating as a dive-bomber. During 1939, Swordfish on board HMS Glorious participated in a series of dive-bombing trials, during which 439 practice bombs were dropped at dive angles of 60, 67 and 70 degrees, against the target ship HMS Centurion. Tests against a stationary target showed an average error of 49 yd (45 m) from a release height of 1,300 ft (400 m) and a dive angle of 70 degrees; tests against a manoeuvring target showed an average error of 44 yd (40 m) from a drop height of 1,800 ft (550 m) and a dive angle of 60 degrees.
After more modern torpedo attack aircraft were developed, the Swordfish was soon redeployed successfully in an anti-submarine role, armed with depth charges or eight "60 lb" (27 kg) RP-3 rockets and flying from the smaller escort carriers, or even merchant aircraft carriers (MACs) when equipped for rocket-assisted takeoff (RATO). Its low stall speed and inherently tough design made it ideal for operation from the MACs in the often severe mid-Atlantic weather. Indeed, its takeoff and landing speeds were so low that, unlike most carrier-based aircraft, it did not require the carrier to be steaming into the wind. On occasion, when the wind was right, Swordfish were flown from a carrier at anchor. Wikipedia
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Used post war at Dartmouth, NS. Delivered to west coast on deck of HMCS Warrior in December 1946, for use as a training aid at HMCS Discovery, in Stanley Park, Vancouver, BC. This made it the only RCN Swordfish to be on board an RCN carrier. last update: 2024-February-19Known Squadron Assignments:
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With No. 1 Naval Air Gunners School at East Camp, RCAF Station Yarmouth, NS. Crash landed after engine failure on takeoff on 9 November 1944, coming down in Yarmouth Army Camp. last update: 2024-February-19Known Squadron Assignments:
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With No. 1 Naval Air Gunners School at East Camp, RCAF Station Yarmouth, NS, coded "H". last update: 2024-February-19Known Squadron Assignments:
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With No. 1 Naval Air Gunners School at East Camp, RCAF Station Yarmouth, NS, coded "Q". last update: 2024-February-19Known Squadron Assignments:
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Operated by RN in Canada, at HMS Seaborn (co-located with RCAF Station Shearwater) by 745 Squadron, on behalf of the No. 1 Naval Telegraphist Air Gunner School. Converted to Mk. IV, with enclosed cockpit, while there. Transferred to RCN on 2 August 1945. May have been operated by 743 Fleet Requirements Unit. Sold as scrap, probably to farm near Tillsonberg. Purchased in early 1980s, under went long restoration. First flight in April 1994, at CFB Shearwater. Registered to Department of National Defense since 19 September 1994 as C-GRCN. On display at Shearwater Aviation Museum, near Halifax, NS in 2006, in RCN markings. Registration cancelled in May 2010. Still on display at this Museum in 2012. last update: 2024-February-19Known Squadron Assignments:
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With No. 1 Naval Air Gunners School at East Camp, RCAF Station Yarmouth, NS. Forced landing on beach at Cotton Bay, near Lockeport, NS on 26 June 1943, first reported accident with this School. Repaired on site, and flown out. Writteon off after forced landing on 28 January 1945. Cause was engine failure resulting from mis-assembled fuel cock. Crashed near New France, Southville, NS. Last reported accident with this School. last update: 2024-February-19Known Squadron Assignments:
With No. 1 Naval Air Gunners School at East Camp, RCAF Station Yarmouth, NS, coded "F3". Written off in forced landing on 16 October 1944. Resulted from engine faiilure caused by excessive use of boost in a steep turn. last update: 2024-February-19Known Squadron Assignments:
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Delivered to FAA on 2 March 1943. Shipped new to Dartmouth, assembled and first flown on 21 June 1943. Used by No. 1 Naval Air Gunners School at RCAF Station Yarmouth, NS, coded "R2". last update: 2024-February-19Known Squadron Assignments:
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To civil register as C-GEVS. Under restoration at Canada Wings in April 2008. last update: 2024-February-19Known Squadron Assignments:
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Ferried to the west for use as a training aid at reserve units, in probably the last RCN Swordfish formation flight, in 1946(?). last update: 2024-February-19Known Squadron Assignments:
Operated by Air Component Training at Shearwater, from 20 March 1946 until struck off. last update: 2024-February-19Known Squadron Assignments:
Built in July 1944, for the RN. Probably used at RN training facility at Yarmouth, NS before transfer to RCN. Probably used by No. 743 (FR) Squadron at Dartmouth, NS. Carried overall aluminum painted finish while at Dartmouth, coded "TH*M". The aircraft in the Canada Aviation Museum displaying this serial is actually built up from parts of several of Ernie Simmons' aircraft, original serials unknown. last update: 2024-February-19Known Squadron Assignments:
Used post war as a training aid at HMCS Star, the reserve facility in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Ferried to the west, in probably the last RCN Swordfiush formation flight, in 1946(?). last update: 2024-February-19Known Squadron Assignments:
Ferried to the west for use as a training aid at reserve units, in probably the last RCN Swordfiush formation flight, in 1946(?). last update: 2024-February-19Known Squadron Assignments: ;824
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Used by No. 1 Naval Air Gunners School at RCAF Station Yarmouth, NS. Returned to the UK after the war, where it survived for many years with the Royal Navy Historical Flight, registered as G-BMGC. Now (2023), with Flight's successor, Navy Wings which is the public facing side of the Fly Heritage Trust that today operates the aircraft.