'Big Bird' ? at Duxford.

Best used before it runs out… 😉

The boat attacks were later, and extemporare.

Lovely word that ~ extemporare.

The solid head rocket (can’t remember the exact name at the moment) was designed as an anti-U-Boat measure in particular. Better than a depth charge which were (British aircraft carried ones anyway) a) cr@p b) too small, c) had too little charge, of a not very good explosive d) often didn’t go off – and had to be set to the expected depth that the crash diving sub would have got to when the DC arrived. Just the sort of job you want when attacking a fire spitting U-Boat. However, pierce it anywhere, with a solid head (spear like) rocket, and it’s a gonner. The boat attacks were later, and extemporare.

The IWM Stringbag has the metal clad lower mainplane mod for the rocket fitment, BTW.

Indeed – I have (as in, I KNOW I have somewhere but where?) a FlyPast (nod to the wings) in my house of fairly recent vintage (the last decade) with an interesting discussion about TseTse Mossies and anti-shipping Mossies and Beaus etc. including a wonderful strike photo of a German ship being hit just below the water line by solid head rockets – the article said they were more effective than explosive – aimed just short to punch holes in the hull about 1m deep. I haven’t, until this very moment, wondered why that might be – perhaps the explosive rockets detonated on the surface or/therefore if they struck the ship it would by definition be above the waterline?

This has struck a chord somewhere back in the dark recesses of my memory. I seem to recall reading somewhere about how these attacks worked – standard German naval tactics were to try and turn towards an attacker, therefore presenting a smaller target area.

However, when you try to turn a ship at speed, it will heel over to the outside of the turn, ie, the waterline on the side of the ship which is on the inside of the turn will rise up out of the water.

So if your Mossie / Beau / Blackfish(!) pilot manages to a) get his rockets fired while the ship is still turning towards him, and b) the rockets punch holes in the ship just on the ‘new’ waterline, when the ship stops turning the holes will actually be below the ‘proper’ waterline, and down she goes.

Or at least, that’s the theory… 😉

Channel Dash Stringbags

I read somewhere that the Swordfish used to try and stop the Scharnhorst and Gneiseau (Eugene Esmonde VC and colleagues) recevied a coat of black distemper in the hours prior to the attack.

I don’t know if the long range Swordfish used in Malta also were so painted.

Welcome back gnome 😀

… the solid head rocket being better against subs than the DC, and bombs and explosive headed rockets better against surface shipping. Mine is a broad statement, open to clarification! 😉

Indeed – I have (as in, I KNOW I have somewhere but where?) a FlyPast (nod to the wings) in my house of fairly recent vintage (the last decade) with an interesting discussion about TseTse Mossies and anti-shipping Mossies and Beaus etc. including a wonderful strike photo of a German ship being hit just below the water line by solid head rockets – the article said they were more effective than explosive – aimed just short to punch holes in the hull about 1m deep. I haven’t, until this very moment, wondered why that might be – perhaps the explosive rockets detonated on the surface or/therefore if they struck the ship it would by definition be above the waterline?

Heh 😀

[QUOTE=JDKThey also laid smoke screens on D-Day (white stripes on a black scheme – I think…) [/QUOTE]
JDK,

Is that the smoke or the aircraft?

Mark

Gee, so you manage to be a plural, do you? Wheee.

Yes, you are correct, both a git, and torpedoes were phased out by the RN as they found other methods to attack the smaller ships better, after the Med war was waining, the solid head rocket being better against subs than the DC, and bombs and explosive headed rockets better against surface shipping. Mine is a broad statement, open to clarification! 😉

Gits

I resemble that remark 😀

IIRC Torpedoes were not used much later in the war because
a) It was a dangerous way to go to war
b) the aircraft were equipped with Rockets that did a more effective job.

JDK clearly has a book in front of him, can you confirm Kighters?

😀 Don’t believe everything you read eh?

Torps. That’s cos they dint.

They were attacking German light shipping; E-Boats and mini subs, so they used mines, flame floats and depth charges etc. There were black painted RN and RAF Swordfish, I ought to clarify, it was a role rather than a service scheme. I also ought to add that this was later war – 42 – 45 IIRC.

They also laid smoke screens on D-Day (white stripes on a black scheme – I think…) and I quote: “Our aircraft were painted black for night work and equipped with the latest ASV Mk.X radar scanner, housed in a black plastic pod like a small tympanum between the landing struts, the wavelength being ‘secret.'”
An anon pilot quoted in ‘The Swordfish Story’ by Ray Sturtivant

The IWM aircraft isn’t fitted with the bulge (you’d be able to tell, as it resulted in the nickname ‘the pregnat Stringbag’ for the Mk.III so equipped. However I know (cos I was shown it) that the radar equipment for the cockpit has been obtained, from an amazing private collection of these items.

Cheers!

Gits 😀

I had no idea you could launch torpedoes from aircraft at night in those days

Or no?

I guess we can’t have much more fun with this…

It’s in the colours of 119 Sqn RAF, and painted for night operations in the Channel and North Sea. Previously Nick and I were being economical with the truth…

Heh!

Yes. 😀

JDK – cross posted there – is that for real? Why did they have to distinguish in this way?

Did the RAF also use them as torpedo carriers? Or were they in a different role like training gunners?

I did have my suspicions, but since I genuinely have no idea why it’s black, I thought you may be telling the truth.

Does anyone REALLY know why?

Because the RN Swordfish were white, the RAF had to paint theirs black.

You realise I was joking dont you??? (please say yes!)

Thanks Nick. Looks great.