Fairey Barracuda, part seven

On 21st April 1944 Barracudas belonging to 827 Naval Air Squadron (NAS), on board HMS Illustrious (87) began operations against Japanese forces. The Barracuda took part in aerial raids on Sabang, in Sumatra, which were known as Operation Cockpit. In the Pacific Theatre, it's performance was considerably reduced by the prevailing high temperatures. In fact, its combat range was reportedly reduced in a 30%, which was a determining factor in the decision to re-equip the torpedo bomber squadrons aboard the aircraft carriers of the British Pacific Fleet with American-built Grumman Avengers.
In the Pacific, a major problem that hindered the Barracuda was the need to fly over Indonesian mountain ranges to strike at targets located at the eastern side of Java, which needed a high-altitude performance that Barracuda's low-altitude rated Merlin 32 engine with its single-stage supercharger could not provide in an effective way. Furthermore, the carriage of maximum underwing bomb load resulted in additional drag, which reduced performance even further. Nonetheless, the Light Fleet Carriers of the 11th ACS, which joined the British Pacific Fleet in June 1945 were all equipped with a single Barracuda and a single Corsair squadron, so, by Victory over Japan Day, the British Pacific Fleet counted with a total of five Avenger and four Barracuda squadrons embarked on all its carriers.

Sources:
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