Fairey Barracuda, part eight

The Fairey Barracuda Mk.V was the final variant after it was decided that the Mk.IV would never been produced. On it the Merlin engine was replaced with the larger Rolls-Royce Griffon rated at 2020 hp. Given the increased power and torque effect generated by the new engine, some changes had to be done, which included the enlargement of the vertical stabiliser and increased wing span with wing-tips being clipped.
The first Barracuda Mk.V, which was converted from an Mk.II, flew for the first time on 16th November 1944 and only 30 serial machines were built, with 1 prototype and 6 pre-production ones, before the end of the World War 2. All of them, 37, were manufactured at Fairey's Stockport factory. The Mk.V had also an increased payload of up to 2000 lb (910 kg) to carry either one 1672 lb (759 kg) torpedo or up to that weight in bombs.It was equipped with and ASH radar under the left wing as it was intended for anti-submarine warfare. The defensive machine gun mounted at the rear was also removed as it was assumed that the type would always operate together with fighter escort. It was also expected to be equipped with the RATOG rockets for boosting take-off performance, however it never went beyond testing phase.
After the end of the World War 2, the Barracuda was relegated to secondary roles, mainly being used as trainers. It continued to serve with the Fleet Air Arm until the mid-1950s, but by then most of them were entirely replaced by either the Grumman Avenger or the Fairey Gannet. 
On 24th January 1946 the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), received a batch of 12 radar-equipped Barracuda Mk.II, which were in reality Mk.III as the Mk.II was a Canadian designation. The first acquired aircraft were assigned to the newly formed 825 Naval Air Squadron on board carrier HMCS Warrior (R31). Most of the Canadian aircraft mechanics had served during the war and had been deployed on several British aircraft carriers, like HMS Puncher (D79) and HMS Nabob (D77), which, along some Canadian pilots, the RCN crewed and operated on behalf of the Royal Navy. During 1948 HMCS Warrior (R31) was paid off and returned to the United Kingdom along with the Barracuda aircraft.

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

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

Fairey Barracuda, part six

During July 1943 the Barracuda saw action for the first time with the 810 Naval Air Squadron (NAS) aboard HMS Illustrious (87) off the Norwegian coast. Shortly later, the squadron was re-assigned to the Mediterranean to provide support for the landings at Salerno, in Italy, which was a critical position for the Allied Invasion of Italy.
Considering that the Barracuda was the only aircraft in service with the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) that was stressed in dive bombing after the retirement of the Blackburn Skua, the Barracuda took part in the Operation Tungsten, which was an attack on the German Battleship Tirpitz when it was moored in Kafjord, Alta, Norway. On 3rd April 1944 forty-two aircraft were dispatched from HMS Victorious (R38) and HMS Furious (47) to strike on the German Battleships. The Barracudas managed to score 14 direct hits on the Tirpitz using a combination of 1600 lb (730 kg) and 500 lb (230 kg) for the loss of just one airplane. The attack damaged the Tirpitz killing 122 of her crew and injuring 316 and disabling the ship for over two months. However, the slow speed of the Barracudas, contributed to the failure of both Operations Mascot and Goodwood, which were attacks on the Tirpitz in July and August that same year.

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

Fairey Barracuda, part five

The first Barracudas saw operational service for the first time on 10th January 1943 with 827 Naval Air Squadron (NAS) of the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) and were deployed in the North Atlantic. A total of 24 front-line FAA squadrons were eventually equipped with the Barracuda. It's primary role was to function as a torpedo bomber, however, by the time it entered service, there was little-to-none Axis surface shipping in the North Atlantic, so, in the practice, it acted as a dive bomber. The next year, 1944, the Barracuda Mk.II was accompanied by the radar-equipped Barracuda Mk.III which were used to conduct anti-submarine operations.
The Royal Air Force (RAF) operated the Barracuda Mk.II too. During 1943 the first RAF's Barracudas were assigned to the No.567 Squadron, based at RAF Detling, in Kent. During 1944 identical models went to various squadrons, including No.667 Squadron at RAF Gosport, in Hampshire, No.679 Squadron at RAF Ipswich, in Suffolk and No.691 Squadron at RAF Roborough, in Devon. However, between March and July 1945 every RAF's Barracuda was withdrawn from service.

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

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

Fairey Barracuda, part three

The Barracuda Mk.II was the definitive variant of the aircraft. It was powered by the Merlin 32 engine which yielded 1640 hp of power and drove a four-bladed propeller. A total of 1688 Mk.II were manufactured by various companies, with Fairey being the second main manufacturer with 675 machines made both at Stockport and Ringway, Blackburn being the first one with 700 machines made at Brough, Boulton Paul being the third with 300 machines made at Wolverhampton and Westland being the fourth one with just 13 machines manufactured at Yeovil. The Mk.II was equipped with the metric wavelength ASV II (Air Surface Vessel) radar with the Yagi-Uda antennae carried above the wings.
Early Merlin 30-powered Barracuda Mk.Is proved to be under powered and suffered from a poor rate of climb, however, once airborne, the type proved easy to fly. During October 1941 the Barracuda Mk.I was tested at RAF Boscombe Down and it was found that the aircraft had an overall weight of 12820 lb (5830 kg)  if equipped with a 1566 lb (712 kg) torpedo. At that weight it showed a maximum speed of 251 mph (405 km/h) at 10900 ft (3322 m) with a climb to 15000 ft (4572 m) taking 19.5 minutes.

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

Fairey Barracuda, part two

Back in 1937 the British Air Ministry issued Specification S.24/37 for a monoplane torpedo-bomber which would satisfy the Operational Requirement OR.35. The envisioned aircraft was a three-seater with bot a high payload capacity and a high maximum speed. A total of six submissions were received by the Air Ministry and only two of them were accepted, those of Supermarine and their Type 322 and Fairey's one. Therefore a pair of prototypes of each design were ordered. On 7th December 1940 the first Fairey prototype flew for the first time, while its rival, the Supermarine Type 322 didn't get to the skies until 1943.
The Barracuda was a shoulder-wing cantilever monoplane with a retractable undercarriage and a non-retractable tail wheel.
The hydraulically-actuated main landing gear were "L"-shaped which retracted into a recess in the side of the fuselage and the wing, with the wheels within the wing. A flush arrestor hook was fitted directly ahead of the tail wheel. It had a crew of three, who seated in a tandem position under a continuous-glazed canopy. The pilot had a sliding canopy while the other two crew members' canopy was hinged. The two rear-crew had alternate locations in the fuselage, as the navigator's position had bay windows below the wings for downwards visibility. The wings were furnished with large Fairey-Youngman flaps which could also act as dive brakes.
Originally it was fitted with a conventional tail, but flight tests suggested that stability would be improved if the stabiliser was mounted higher, similar to a T-tail, an arrangement which was implemented on the second prototype. For carrier operations the wings could be folded back horizontally at the roots as the small vertical protrusions on the upper wingtips held hooks that attached to the tailplane.
The Barracuda was originally going to be powered by the Rolls-Royce Exe  X block, sleeve valve engine. However, as that engine was problematic and eventually abandoned, delaying the prototype's trials. It was decided instead to fit a lower-powered 12-cylinder Vee-type Rolls-Royce Merlin 30 engine rated at 1260 hp driving a three-bladed de Havilland propeller, which would be the configuration in which the prototypes would eventually flow. The experience gained from the prototype's flight testing, as well as the operations with the first production aircraft, denominated as Barracuda Mk.I, showed that the aircraft was underpowered. This was attributed to the weight of the many extra equipment introduced since the initial design phase. Just 23 machines of the Mk.I series were manufactured, 5 of them by Westland Aircraft, and all of them were used just for trials and conversion training.
The powerful flaps/airbrakes the aircraft was fitted with, became very appreciated among pilots, as the task of landing on an aircraft carrier was relatively straightforward thanks to a combination of the flaps and good visibility from the cockpit. Retracting the airbrakes at high speed while at the same time applying rudder, would cause a sudden change in trim, which could launch the aircraft into an inverted dive. Incidents like those occurrence proved fatal in, at least, five occasions during practice torpedo runs. However, once the problem was identified, appropriate pilot instructions were issued prior to the aircraft entering carrier service.

Sources:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairey_Barracuda
2. https://web.ipmsusa3.org/content/fairey-barracuda
3. Hall Park Books - Warpaint 35 - Fairey Barracuda

Fairey Barracuda, part one

The Fairey Barracuda was a British carrier-borne torpedo and dive bomber that was designed by Fairey Aviation. It was the first aircraft of this type operated by the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) that was entirely made out of metal.
Operated mainly by the Royal Navy's FAA, it was exported to some countries and saw some service abroad.

• Canada: The 825 Naval Air Squadron (NAS) was reformed in July 1945 as a Canadian-manned squadron. It was intended to be equipped with 12 Barracuda Mk.II and be part of the 19th Carrier Air Group aboard a Colossus-class aircraft carrier, to take part in Operation Downfall (the Allied Invasion of Japan that never took place). However, that didn't happen immediately and it wasn't until 1946 when the HMCS Warrior (R31) was leased to the Royal Canadian Navy that Barracudas served aboard a Canadian Aircraft Carrier. They served until May 1951 when the squadron changed its denomination and was re-equipped with Fairey Gannets.
• France: A single Barracuda Mk.III was leased after the War to France and served with ELA I./56 at Persan-Beaumont, close to Paris. It was evaluated against the Grumman Avenger, for a modern carrier-based torpedo-bomber. The Aéronavale (French Navy's Naval Air Arm) decided to go for the Avenger and the Barracuda was kept until the very late 1940s. 
• Holland: The Dutch-manned 860 Naval Air Squadron was re-equipped with Fairey Barracudas in June 1945 and in August was designated to the escort-carrier HMS Nairana (D05) and the Barracudas weren't kept for a very long time because in May 1946 they were replaced by the Fairey Firefly.

Sources:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairey_Barracuda

2. https://web.ipmsusa3.org/content/fairey-barracuda

3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/825_Naval_Air_Squadron

4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/860_Naval_Air_Squadron