Fairey Barracuda, part four

The Barracuda Mk.II was powered by the more powerful Merlin 32 engine which yielded 400 hp more in power than the previous one. During late 1942 it was tested at RAF Boscombe Down and, when flown at 14250 lb (6477 kg) it showed a climb to 10000 ft (3048 m) in 13,6 minutes, with a maximum climb rate of 840 fpm (4.3 m/s) at 5200 ft (1585 m) and an effective ceiling of 15000 ft (4572 m). During June 1943 it underwent further testing at Boscombe Down which showed a maximum range while carrying either a 1630 lb (750 kg) torpedo or a single 2000 lb (909 kg) bomb, of 840 statute milles (1355 km) and a practical range of 650 statute milles (1048 km), but it was discovered that when loaded with 6 x 250 lb (114 kg) bombs the effective range was reduced to 780 milles (1258 km) and 625 milles (1008 km) respectively.
During its early part of service it suffered an unusual high rate of unexplained fatal crashes, often at the hands of experienced pilots. During 1945 it was discovered that the hydraulic system developed small leaks and the most common point for such leak to happen was at the point of entry to the pilot's pressure gauge and was placed such that the resulting spray was directed straight into pilot's face. The hydraulic fluid contained ether and, as the aircraft were rarely equipped with oxygen masks and few aircrew wore them below 10000 ft (3048 m), the pilot quickly became unconscious during such a leak, leading to a crash. At the end of May 1945 the Admiralty ordered all the examples of the type to be equipped with oxygen as soon as possible and for pilots to use the system at all times.

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairey_Barracuda
2. https://www.valka.cz/Fairey-Barracuda-Mk-II-t8638
3. Hall Park Books - Warpaint 35 - Fairey Barracuda