Combat aircraft. Such are they ... "Catafighters"

55

I really wanted to start with the phrase of Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol about "Turn around, son, what you are ..." Indeed, they were just like that - neither here nor there. But - the British off-deck fighters Sea Hurricane and Seafire.

It turns out a kind of bridge from the carrier-based sub-fighter A6M2 "Reisen" / "Zero" (although many consider it to be a kind of perfection) to underdecked fighters. Yes, it happened too.



"Sea Hurricane" was also called "Catafighter". I don't know if it comes from the word "hearse" or is it an abbreviated "catapult fighter", but story was by the plane God forbid, because British obstinacy mixed with suicidal tendencies gave rise to a rather creepy misalliance.

But - from the screw, and flew.


When World War II began, as always, it suddenly became clear that the British were not ready. This is not to say that they did not have planes. But in 1939, only a foolish optimist or a lord of the Admiralty could call this flying rubbish planes.

Indeed, the Sea Gladiator is a biplane suitable only for countries like Brazil. Blackburn's creations (albeit monoplanes) Skew and Rock, and with them Fulmar from Fairy, are also pretty poor creations. Slow, clumsy, with ugly turrets (some) that negatively affect aerodynamics and in general.

Combat aircraft. Such are they ... "Catafighters"

"Rock". Handsome fighter

"And in general" is the key. Anyway, these planes were ... so-so. But there were. And with this it was necessary to do something, since the war began, and it was necessary to fight not with figures of performance characteristics, but with real planes. As with the famous part. There were bodies, tsiferki, but there were no aircraft capable of performing combat missions.

And in these terrible realities of the presence of air traffic jams, the British command decided to do at least something in order to be able to fight at sea with aviation cover.

At the start of the war, the British had one and a half normal fighters. Land-based Hawker Hurricane and Supermarine Spitfire.

Spitfire was handsome, but required a lot of resources, both in materials and in man-hours. Because, as it were, "I was barely enough." That is, for the needs of the Royal Air Force, which is waging a war with the Luftwaffe. Therefore, in spite of all the inferiority, first they took up the already spent "Hurricane".


In addition, the "Hurricanes" have already been stamped so many that they can take and remake a couple of hundred for the needs fleet wasn't a big problem. The main thing is that the Hurricane was a very solid construction, which made it possible to use it on a sea catapult. Yes, and landing on the deck of the Hurricane could easily withstand. Otherwise, let's be honest, the plane was so-so.

Nevertheless, back in 1940, the British received the first experience of using the "Harry" on the decks of aircraft carriers. It cost them dearly, but nonetheless.


The ill-fated "Glories" took on board completely land "Hurricanes", which he delivered to Norway, where they, taking off from the deck, landed on land airfields and there they were already performing their combat missions.

However, since the Germans very quickly asked the British back, the ten surviving Hurricanes had to return home again on the aircraft carrier Glories. Landing land planes on deck without a brake hook is very difficult. Only really cool British pilots could really do it. And even then on the second attempt, on the night of June 7, 1940, when the planes boarded an aircraft carrier in a very strong headwind.

And then, you know, Glories ran into a sweet couple: Scharnhorst and Gneisenau. Nobody began to take off on land fighters without a chance to land, so the planes went to the bottom together with the aircraft carrier.

And then it dawned on the British that, after all, a decent marine fighter simply had to be. And the work began. Moreover, they decided to make two sea-based aircraft at once: a classic deck boat with a brake hook and a fighter that was supposed to take off from a truss catapult using powder accelerators. Catapult "Sea Hurricanes" were going to arm the ships of the Atlantic convoys, so that they could defend themselves against German aircraft.


Ground tests of the catapult

This is how the Catafighter appeared (go Hurricet, as it was also called) - a catapult fighter that takes off from any ship where there is a catapult. It differed from the base model only in that the power set of the fuselage was strengthened.

It was a European version of the kamikaze. Such a plane could land exclusively on a land airfield. If such an airfield was not foreseen, then the plane, together with the pilot, became simply disposable. In the conditions of Arctic convoys - a splashdown, and then an inflatable raft with a supply of water and food and a chance that the convoy ship will pick it up.


35 former merchant ships of various types and sizes were prepared for such Euromertikas, which began to be called CAM-class vessels, that is, Catapult Aircraft Merchantman - "a merchant ship with a catapult aircraft."


The simplest truss catapult and the simplest launching system. It was all very simple.

There was a very funny nuance: suicide bombers on merchant ships were selected from the Royal Air Force, that is, land pilots. And on naval vessels equipped with catapults of a similar design - from among the pilots of the naval air force of the fleet.

In general, it all looked like this: when torpedo bombers or Luftwaffe bombers appeared, correctly assessing the situation, the ship commander gave the order to launch the aircraft. Yes, the order to launch was given by the captain, since it was he who bore full responsibility for the launch, since this launch was the only one.

"Katafighter" was fired from a 21 m long catapult using powder boosters. Then there was an air battle, after which the pilot made a decision about what he could do next: fly to a regular airfield, splash down or parachute.

In the conditions of the northern convoys, everything is so-so.


It is clear that there was no talk of any land airfields. On the nearest, which are in Norway, the Germans were based. So the only way out was to jump with a parachute next to their ships and wait for help, hoping that the pilot would not have time to freeze. For this purpose, on all ejection vessels, there was a team of rescuers, who were always ready to help the suicide bomber in an inflatable motor boat. Well, if, in the heat of battle, the rescuers did not have time to see how, when and where the pilot splashed down ... Well, this is war.

On the other hand, the British could not establish the production of the so-called escort aircraft carriers (former merchant ships for 10-12 aircraft), so they had to protect the convoys with what was at hand. That is, the SAM vessels.


In general, in more than two years, 35 CAM-class vessels made 176 cruises, and in these cruises the Germans sank 12 ships. There were 8 launches of "Catafighters". British pilots shot down 6 German planes, losing only one of their pilots. It is understood that eight of the eight fighters were lost.

In general, at the very least, the Sea Hurricane Mk.1A fought. It immediately became clear that a normal carrier-based fighter was needed. Disposable kamikazes are, of course, not bad, but the Germans have raided the same convoys more than once.

Therefore, the Sea Hurricane Mk.1B was quickly created with a brake hook and nodes for launching from a carrier-based catapult of an aircraft carrier.


But that was a completely different conversation. The aircraft required significant structural reinforcement, since it assumed repeated loads associated with takeoff and landing on the deck of an aircraft carrier.

Therefore, it was necessary to significantly strengthen the power set of the fuselage, wing attachments, and landing gear. And replace radio equipment with naval equipment.

And the most important thing. For the sake of saving time and materials, the British did not bother with the development and implementation of the wing folding mechanism. A unique practice, but the aircraft was not developed for an aircraft carrier, but on the contrary, the aircraft carrier was adapted to the existing aircraft. Nobody did this either before or after.


And the fact that aircraft on aircraft carriers, especially on escort ones, could not be put into hangars ... A real sailor and naval pilot of Her Majesty the Queen must steadfastly endure all the nonsense and perversions of military service.

In general, all the aircraft carriers available at that time (Furies, Arc Royal, Formidable, Eagle) and several escort aircraft carriers built in the USA were armed with these not quite correct aircraft.


In addition, the British have come up with another innovation. Or perversion. These are MAS class ships, Merchant Aircraft Carrier, cargo aircraft carrier. Unlike the CAM-class ships with truss catapult, these ships had a flight deck laid over the superstructures, from which several Sea Hurricanes could take off and land in the normal way.


It is clear that there were no lifts on such ships, and the planes easily stood under covers (at best) on deck decks. In the conditions of the Arctic - the very thing. Corrosion, salt-damaged paint, and everything else was not good for the aircraft. Plus, low temperatures and icing.

But what happened, so we had to fight, in the end, not only us, right?


Since initially, being land-based, the Hurricane frankly did not shine with either speed, or rapid climb, or weapons, then, having received about 200 kg more into the design, it became a sad device in general. That is, it was not very good, but here it was also aggravated by its weaknesses.

In general, the Hurricane's strong point was its thick wing profile, which made it possible to take off with a fairly low mileage and land in the same way. Everything in between these points was bad.


The naval officers understood that something had to be done about this. I especially did not like the armament of eight mediocre 7,7 mm machine guns with a very small (280-354 pcs.) Ammunition. And they rightly demanded a modern aircraft with normal armament in terms of performance characteristics. Preferably with a cannon.

At the beginning of 1942, dreams began to come true, the Sea Hurricane Mk.IC with a Merlin III engine with a capacity of as much as 1030 hp began to enter service with the naval aviation. Instead of eight machine guns, the plane was armed with four 20-mm cannons "British Hispano", licensed "Hispano-Suiza".


True, the Sea Hurricane's flying became even worse. The maximum speed dropped to 474 km / h, which generally made it impossible for at least some kind of maneuverable battle.

And a New Year's gift by 1943 was the Sea Hurricane Mk.IIC with the Merlin XX engine, which developed 1280 hp. The plane began to accelerate to "as much" 550 km / h, but still remained an iron.

But since the "hearses" fought mainly in the North, where the Luftwaffe was bad with fighters, because the "Messerschmitts" (except for the 110s) could not accompany bombers and torpedo bombers in range, the British were fine. German bombers were very poor at withstanding a volley of four guns.

The second theater for the use of naval fighters was the Mediterranean, where the hearses had to fight both Italian aircraft and, unfortunately, German ones.

By the way, the British suffered the most tangible losses not from the Luftwaffe, but from the Kriegsmarine, whose submarine sank the Ark Royal aircraft carrier in November 1941 along with all the aircraft. And in August 1942, another submarine sent the aircraft carrier Eagle to the bottom. This made it difficult to counter the forces of the Luftwaffe and supply the blocked garrison of the island of Malta.

Only the Indomitable and Victories aircraft were left to defend the Maltese convoys, so the Hurricane pilots had to strain very hard, especially during Operation Pedestal. But the British pilots coped, and a very battered convoy still came to Malta.

And the pilots of the Sea Hurricanes chalked up 25 of the 39 enemy aircraft shot down during the raids.

In the North, the successes were more modest, but there the conditions were much more difficult, and the Luftwaffe was not so active. Escorting the Arctic convoys, the escort aircraft carrier "Avenger", which was built by the Americans, plowed all the way.

After the defeat of PQ-17, the next convoy, PQ-18, went as far north as possible so as not to fall into the range of German aviation. Nevertheless, air battles took place. The Avenger pilots shot down five torpedo bombers and bombers in battles, losing four of their aircraft.

The final for the Sea Hurricane was Operation Torch, the landing of the allies in North Africa. The landing force in Algeria was covered by the escort aircraft carriers Avenger, Beater and Dasher.

After "Torch" began the widespread replacement of "Sea Hurricanes" by "Seafires" and American "Wildcats" and "Hellcats".

Whatever one may say, even with cannons and a more powerful engine, the Katafighter was completely unsuitable for a war against German aircraft. Until 1944, the Sea Hurricanes remained in service with several MAC-class transports, but by 1944 all of them were either decommissioned or transferred to the coastal anti-submarine patrol service.

In general, it is a very logical result, because the Hurricane has already got to the fleet in the status of an outdated and weak aircraft. Low speed, weak armament at first, poor visibility from the cockpit and low flight range could not put the car in the first ranks of fighters for superiority in the sky.


Modifications with cannon armament and a more powerful engine did not improve, but even accelerated the end of the fighter's service, because, although it became somewhat faster, but not so much as to keep up with modern counterparts, in terms of maneuverability, everything remained at the "bad" level.

The situation was improved by the appearance in sufficient numbers of aircraft of new models, "Hellcat" and "Seafire".

However, despite all the inferiority of the Sea Hurricane, it is nevertheless worthy of respect, since it was on its wings that the brunt of the first three years of the war at sea fell. And what respect are worthy of the pilots of the "hearse", who went on it in 1943 against the "Focke-Wulfs" and "Messerschmitts" of the G series ...

In general, "Katafighter" deservedly took its place in history. Let and like an airplane, worse than which few were.


LTH Sea Hurricane Mk.IIС

Wingspan, m: 12,19.
Length, m: 9,84.
Height, m: 4,05.
Wing Area, m2: 23,92.

Weight, kg:
- empty aircraft: 2 631;
- normal take-off: 3;
- maximum take-off: 3 674.

Engine: 1 x Rolls-Royce Merlin XX x 1280 HP
Maximum speed, km / h: 550.
Practical range, km: 730.
Practical ceiling, m: 10 850.

Crew, person: 1.

Armament: four 20-mm cannons with 91 rounds per barrel.
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55 comments
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  1. +15
    26 July 2020 07: 02
    Controversial statement! Especially considering the successes of the Xi Gladiators. Sefaer Supermarine simply did not have time for the war! In many respects, it surpasses the latest Spitfires. Dear Roman, you often write without understanding the details, it does not paint you, unfortunately, the articles are empty, and what your conclusions are based on is not clear at all ...
    1. +3
      26 July 2020 13: 24
      Let's still criticize the author for real, not imaginary bloopers.
      Cyphar had enough time for the war.
      Mk3 from the beginning of 1945, the main aircraft carrier aircraft of the FAA in general.
      The first two modifications, respectively, appeared even earlier. Air defense umbrella during the landing in Sicily in 1943 - their work
      1. 0
        26 July 2020 14: 22
        Then let's turn to the facts. In fact, Sefaer was brought to mind just in time 45. The author did not touch on the evolution of the FAA Seifair at all; his calculation did not have any aircraft at all except Gladiators
        1. +3
          26 July 2020 16: 57
          Then let's turn to the facts. Really, Sefaer was brought to mind just in time 45


          Are these not facts?
          https://www.armouredcarriers.com/hms-indomitable-operation-husky

          Indomeable Summer 1943

          Formidebl. Summer 1943
          The author did not touch on the evolution of the FAA Seifair at all; his calculation did not have any aircraft at all except Gladiators

          Did you read the article exactly?
          After "Torch", the widespread replacement of "Sea Hurricanes" with "Seafires" and American Wildcats and Hellcats.

          There is no evolution, for sure, well, and the article is not about them
        2. Alf
          0
          26 July 2020 23: 08
          Quote: Nehist
          In fact, Sefaer was brought to mind just in time 45.

          And what was the name of this brought Sefaer? A case, not Xi Feng?
      2. 0
        27 July 2020 14: 45
        Guys, let's not dissemble? Sleeping II - the king of the bend (well, if 3m (yak-9), mirrors, or, well, something completely exotic like 153) BUT - in the crowd - willy would get everyone (take into account their doctrine of military operations, - "4-ku La -5 less than 8 "Fredericks-4" - do not rush ...) Nemchura was cunning and careful, we took them with our fearlessness and Russian hurray ...
        1. 0
          27 July 2020 15: 22
          What is deceit?
          And what, in fact, is your thesis in relation to the topic under discussion?
          1. 0
            27 July 2020 15: 58
            The thesis is as follows: Not only ours or the Germans were at their peak, the same mustang 51 (I myself flew on it for 3.4 hours of flight, by the way, I liked the "gustav" more (2.5), BUT the English idiots (I apologize for being rude) NEVER they fought with us, NEVER, always by someone else's hands, always played off, but never directly !! In the Crimea - the French, in the civilian - Kolchak, etc. These Eshkenazi THINGS "will bear their due in their deeds" ... The Englishwoman always crap - gently, about nothing ... Churchill is the last scum, jumped on the Yalta train last, no one called him or waited ... What is this island with 78 million inhabitants ??? WHAT? Stalin said to Churchill - "you are just an island !!! "
    2. +1
      27 July 2020 12: 34
      Quote: Nehist
      Dear Roman, you often write without understanding the details, it does not paint you, unfortunately, the articles are empty, and what your conclusions are based on is not clear at all ...

      I no longer understood what, in his opinion, was so terrible "Fulmar". Not a word on this matter. Yes, the plane did not have enough stars from the sky, but it fought very worthily and practically the entire war.
      1. Alf
        0
        27 July 2020 19: 14
        Quote: Kuroneko
        I no longer understood what, in his opinion, was so terrible "Fulmar".

        Well, how can I tell you ... The speed of the Mk-2 variant was 412 km / h in the 41st year. I couldn't even catch up with Junkers, so how could I fight fighters. I climbed 4,5 thousand for 12 minutes. And the range did not shine, the combat radius of 515 km. For 41, not ice at all.
        1. 0
          27 July 2020 19: 35
          Quote: Alf
          Well, how can I tell you ...

          TTX, this is, of course, wonderful. But in fact "Fulmars" fought and showed themselves more than decently - it is enough to ask about the history of the fighter's combat service.
          1. Alf
            0
            27 July 2020 19: 37
            Quote: Kuroneko
            Quote: Alf
            Well, how can I tell you ...

            TTX, this is, of course, wonderful. But in fact "Fulmars" fought and showed themselves more than decently - it is enough to ask about the history of the fighter's combat service.

            As they say, not having a queen near, we love the maid.
            P.S. I confess I like freaks, I even put it on the shelf.
  2. +4
    26 July 2020 07: 09
    When I first heard this word - katafighter - the feeling was very unpleasant - this word was associated with the word hearse. for the first time I read about the combat use of such fighters in Valentin Pikul's * Requiem *
    1. +13
      26 July 2020 07: 27
      Pikul is an artist, he wrote according to the principle I see. But the CAM boats did their job. They did not need to shoot down someone, their business was to disrupt the attack and not give aiming to throw torpedoes or bomb them.
      1. +8
        26 July 2020 08: 21
        And I don't argue with that! I have books about WW2 deck ships, including catafighters, and about WW2 aircraft carriers, including CAM! After all, THIS is the task facing ALL fighters! - not to give sighting bombing! so to speak the program is a minimum! and if you can also fill up someone, it's generally wonderful! Like Rosenbaum- * You are a convoy ship! We made it! So you proved EVERYTHING with this! *
  3. +3
    26 July 2020 07: 48
    In the pictures, the very thick wing of the Hurricane is immediately striking, obscenely.
    And also pilots fly with an open lantern. Why? Due to the frequent interlacing of the power elements? Or was the plexiglass cloudy not only among the LaGGs and Jacob, but also among the advanced Anglo-Saxons?
    1. +5
      26 July 2020 09: 33
      The reason is not only the quality of the plexiglass
      Quite possibly for various reasons
      ... to improve visibility, many lanterns were opened. I, too, made most of the sorties with an open lamp.
      Was the plexiglass clarity poor?
      No, the transparency was normal, but when you look through it towards the sun, the “plex” gave glare, and this interfered, because the most dangerous enemy attack was from the sun. Sometimes the closed lantern fogged up, which is dangerous for the same reason for the reduced visibility.

      It's about La5fn
      https://airpages.ru/ru/aleks.shtml
      There could be problems with locks
      Yak pilots explained this by the fact that the lanterns were difficult to open and close in the air [4]. FF Archipenko, Hero of the Soviet Union, explained his flights with an open lantern with similar arguments (jamming a lantern on the Yak and LaGG-3, including on the ground) [5]. II Kozhemyako said in his interview that in 1943 he flew with an open lamp until an emergency discharge appeared on the Yak-7B, and the yellowish plexiglass was encountered until the end of 1943 [6].


      https://ru.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Фонарь_(авиация)
      When flying at low altitudes, an open canopy made it possible to quickly leave the plane - then ejection seats were practically not used, especially at low altitudes
      Such and such a problem is not only about transparency
      1. Alf
        +1
        26 July 2020 23: 13
        Quote: Avior
        There could be problems with locks

        On the Spitfires, a crowbar was standard in the cockpit for breaking a jammed canopy. True, I personally think that hardly anyone had time to use it ...
        1. -2
          26 July 2020 23: 20
          Psychologically calmer?
          Maybe on the ground after landing it could come in handy.
          In general, the lantern could be opened not only because of the quality of the plexus
          1. Alf
            +1
            26 July 2020 23: 31
            Quote: Avior
            Maybe on the ground after landing it could come in handy.

            If you sat down, then you no longer need a crowbar, the ground team will do everything. But when leaving in the air because of a jammed flashlight, a crowbar is needed. Although you hardly have time to use it, and even in the cramped cabin of the Spita.
            1. 0
              27 July 2020 08: 51
              There were, probably, and emergency landings not at the aerodrome
              1. Alf
                0
                27 July 2020 19: 06
                Quote: Avior
                There were, probably, and emergency landings not at the aerodrome

                It is truth too.
    2. +4
      26 July 2020 13: 19
      They do not fly with an open flashlight, but take off and land by sliding the flashlight to improve visibility. This is the worldwide practice of WWII aircraft carrier aircraft
      1. +3
        26 July 2020 14: 42
        They often flew with an open lantern (if the design allowed), there are many photos of "Corsairs" and "Hellkets" with a sliding part of the canopy open in flight. And these machines cannot be called low-quality or outdated.
    3. Alf
      +1
      26 July 2020 23: 11
      Quote: pro100y.belarus
      In the pictures, the very thick wing of the Hurricane is immediately striking, obscenely.

      A relic from the 30s.
      Quote: pro100y.belarus
      And also pilots fly with an open lantern. Why?

      In order to have time to jump out, if the engine suddenly cuts off or drops sharply immediately after takeoff, the plane takes off with a full load. This is beautifully shown in the 2019 Midway movie.
  4. +13
    26 July 2020 07: 53
    Here are how many articles on this site about Hurricanes have already read on this site everywhere the same thing, it takes a long time to sign what kind of turd he is, and then at the end it is short that the combat use was generally successful, he coped with his tasks.
    1. +9
      26 July 2020 08: 22
      I'm calm about * Khariton *! Boris Safonov's pilots fought on them remarkably! Especially when our weapons were delivered!
  5. +7
    26 July 2020 08: 31
    And what respect are worthy of the pilots of the "hearse", who went on it in 1943 against the "Focke-Wulfs" and "Messerschmitts" of the G series ...

    We had LaGG-3 under construction until mid-1944 ...
  6. +10
    26 July 2020 09: 07
    ... Therefore, the Sea Hurricane Mk.1B was quickly created with a brake hook and nodes for launching from a carrier-based catapult of an aircraft carrier.

    I'm not sure if the carrier-based fighters of that time were launched from a catapult. In the photo she is not found anywhere.
    As for the Hurricane, the author's claims, in my opinion, are unfounded.
    The fact that the Hurricanes at that moment had insufficient speed for maneuvering fighter battles did not matter much, since in the escort his main enemy was bombers and torpedo bombers, but he was normally suitable for flights from the deck.
    And his task was not to shoot them down, but not to let them carry out the attack. And on the whole he coped with this task.
    planes on aircraft carriers, especially on escort ones, could not be put into hangars ... A real sailor and naval pilot of Her Majesty the Queen must steadfastly endure all the nonsense and perversions of military service.

    The author believes that Her Majesty's pilots are so severe that they sleep and live strictly next to their planes on the deck?
    Anyway, the article is full of exaggerations in the style of "perversion", "stupidity", "death row" and so on.
    They fought what they were, proactively and creatively used the maximum of what was actually available, and the same escort aircraft carriers or the MAS made their noticeable contribution.
    I think the author of the attacks is too much in the article.
    1. +2
      26 July 2020 09: 31
      SAM ships were launched from the catapult, and on many battleships the planes were launched from the catapult.
      1. +2
        26 July 2020 09: 36
        We are talking about carrier-based aircraft of aircraft carriers
        nodes for launching from a carrier-based catapult of an aircraft carrier.

        The fact that the catapult was launched, in principle, is known
      2. Alf
        +1
        26 July 2020 23: 16
        Quote: Nehist
        and on many battleships planes were launched from the catapult, more precisely, on all battleships

        Interesting infa-ejection seaplanes Valrus and Sea Fox after five takeoffs from the board were written off due to structural deformation after takeoff.
  7. +4
    26 July 2020 09: 29
    An interesting page in history. There is no war without losses, but it is not widely known how the British went to the deliberate losses from the loss of origin.
  8. +6
    26 July 2020 10: 25
    British pilots shot down 6 German planes, having lost only one of its pilot
    this does not correspond to the hysterical
    It was a European-style kamikaze variant.
    .
    the kamikaze were suicide planes, while the SAM planes carried out very dangerous and risky missions, but were not intended for suicide missions. Ba - the coefficient of losses by the number of lots (176 trips, only 1 pilot!) Is even lower than in other "normal" formations.
    Well, if you wrote an article on a thesis, supposed in advance, it turned out that it turned out.
  9. 0
    26 July 2020 10: 36
    Thanks to the author, it's interesting to read!)
  10. +2
    26 July 2020 13: 17
    The novel, oddly enough, placed the accents correctly
    pilots-gentlemen-kamikaze is truly one of the most infamous pages in the history of Royal Navy
    In details, as usual horror - horror))
    And the fact that aircraft on aircraft carriers, especially on escort ones, could not be put into hangars ... A real sailor and naval pilot of Her Majesty the Queen must steadfastly endure all the nonsense and perversions of military service.
    In general, all the aircraft carriers available at that time ("Furies", "Arc Royal", "Formidable", "Eagle")

    Furies elevators 14x14 meters - Sea Hurricane was placed on them
    The front Igla elevator 14x14 meters (the rear one was really small)
    The situation was improved by the appearance in sufficient numbers of aircraft of new models, "Hellcat" and "Seafire".

    The first two modifications of Seifair also had non-folding wings.
  11. +2
    26 July 2020 13: 20
    An interesting article by Roman about a not very popular topic. As always, it is well illustrated, written in a flashy, emotional way, with errors and erroneous judgments. But it is easy to read and with interest.

    True, he was disappointed that Roman, having swung at the topic of the best fighter of World War II and published an article about the best front-line fighters, lost interest in this topic and abandoned it. And where are the articles about the best heavy, interceptors, high-altitude, night, escort armada of heavy bombers fighters, fighter-bombers, the final article? And where is the article on the stream about carrier-based fighters? There is NOTHING ...
  12. 0
    26 July 2020 13: 30
    "And the Hurricanes are theirs - rubbish!" - said Comrade Stalin about the Hawker Hurricane Mk.II fighters supplied to the USSR.
  13. BAI
    -1
    26 July 2020 13: 37
    "Katafighter" was fired from a 21 m long catapult using powder boosters. Then there was an air battle, after which the pilot made a decision about what he could do next: fly to a regular airfield, splash down or parachute.

    Yes, with the Germans, the Me-163 fought on this principle. Only on land.
    1. +2
      26 July 2020 14: 23
      The Me-163 landed on the airfield on a ski that was under its belly. It was definitely not disposable.
  14. +2
    26 July 2020 14: 37
    Quote: Avior
    ejection seats were practically not used then, especially at low altitudes

    There were no ejection seats then. Not at all. The first production vehicle with ejection (pneumatic) seats for the pilot and radar operator is the German He-219 "Uhu".
    1. -1
      26 July 2020 15: 13
      In general, they were.
      But in reality they were used by the Germans very limitedly.
      1. 0
        27 July 2020 13: 19
        As were ONLY on He-219 On everything else, only after the won.
  15. +6
    26 July 2020 17: 29
    Another opus from Skomorokhov with zero information value. The suspicion arises that the author is deliberately provoking commentators, trying to attract readers in such a simple way. However, the provocation should not be based on complete ignorance of the topic.
    In addition, the British have come up with another innovation. Or perversion. These are MAS class ships, Merchant Aircraft Carrier, cargo aircraft carrier. Unlike the CAM-class ships with truss catapult, these ships had a flight deck laid over the superstructures, from which several Sea Hurricanes could take off and land in the normal way.
    CAM ships have never been equipped with a Sea Hurricane. The only type of aircraft flying from these ships was the Fairey Swordfish Mks. II and III.
    1. +4
      27 July 2020 07: 57
      Quote: Undecim
      Another opus from Skomorokhov with zero information value

      )))
      And, of course, the seal of the master.
      carrier-based fighter A6M2 "Reisen" / "Zero" (although many consider it to be a kind of perfection)

      It would seem, where are the British, where is Zero? But no.
      Wherever they say,
      All one will reduce to women!
    2. 0
      27 July 2020 13: 22
      CAM ships have never been equipped with a Sea Hurricane. The only type of aircraft flying from these ships was the Fairey Swordfish Mks. II and III.

      So the British are lying?
      By the end of January, 1941, Hawker had an order for 50 field-modification kits to enable surplus RAF Hurricanes to be sent to sea as single-shot air defense system fitted to key merchant ships. The hapless pilots had to ditch alongside their mothership.

      Some 35 merchant ships - designated Catapult Armed Merchantmen (CAM ships) - were rapidly fitted with the crane, catapult and between one and three Hurricanes. Five Royal Navy Auxiliary vessels were likewise equipped (and designated Fighter Catapult Ships).

      The aircraft themselves were very tired discarded RAF machines, flown by RAF pilots and maintained by RAF mechanics.

      The first 'Hurricat' launch in anger was on June 18, 1941, when the FCS HMS Maplin launched her aircraft against a German shadower. The Fw200 Condor was shot down.

      The'Hurricats' was soon given a 44 gallon overload tank to give the pilots the opportunity to return to land after launch - a vital boost to morale given the aircraft's horrific ditching record. The slding cockpit hood was also modified to make it easier to jettision, and an inflatable dinghy fitted.

      250 Hurricanes were eventually modified for the catapults.
      1. 0
        27 July 2020 13: 29
        Only now I realized that I had a typo. Instead CAM ships have never been equipped with a Sea Hurricane. I had to write MAC ships (merchant aircraft carrier) were never equipped with a Sea Hurricane
        So the British are not lying.
  16. +2
    26 July 2020 17: 56
    In general, all the aircraft carriers available at that time (Furies, Arc Royal, Formidable, Eagle) and several escort aircraft carriers built in the USA were armed with these not quite correct aircraft.
    The aircraft carrier Ark Royal has never been equipped with Sea Hurricane aircraft. The aircraft carriers Argus, Eagle, Formidable and Victorious were equipped with Sea Hurricane Mk IB aircraft.
    1. +2
      26 July 2020 18: 10
      Hike, be my devil's advocate today)
      There can only be a formal discussion about equipping the Arc Royal Sea with Hurricanes.
      In fact, the three Sea Hurricanes went through a training and training period on this aircraft carrier
      https://www.armouredcarriers.com/hawker-sea-hurricane-development
      REPORT ON MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION OF SEA HURRICANES

      Three Sea Hurricanes were erected in 'Furious' and were flown to the Naval Air Station, North Front, Gibraltar, by pilots from 'Ark Royal' on 1st July, 1941.

      2. While at North Front, pilots flew the Sea Hurricanes to gain experience on type and practiced ADDLs.

      3. On 11th July, 1941, two Sea Hurricanes, the third being unserviceable, flew to 'Ark Royal' for deck landing practice, and to operate from the ship during a period of training at sea.

      Formally, there were no weapons, the equipment was
      1. +2
        26 July 2020 18: 21
        In July 1941, three Sea Hurricane were tested on an aircraft carrier, following which they were returned to shore. One was smashed. They were not part of the regular air wing.
        1. +1
          26 July 2020 18: 28
          NOT included. I just wanted to say that with Royal "not everything is so simple"
  17. 0
    27 July 2020 00: 52
    Quote: DED_peer_DED
    "And the Hurricanes are theirs - rubbish!" - said Comrade Stalin about the Hawker Hurricane Mk.II fighters supplied to the USSR.

    But they were flown by the 2nd Guards Aviation Regiment of the Northern Sea Fleet. Under the command of Boris Safonov. Reviews of course negative: "On a dive, speed is not gaining."
    Memories of Golodovikov in comparison with the I-16, the P-40, and the P-39Q5. In Drabkin's collection "I Fought in a Fighter". There is also about the British squadron that flew to us from the aircraft carrier.
    And about their tactics, and about their skills.
  18. +1
    27 July 2020 13: 20
    The maximum speed dropped to 474 km / h, which generally made it impossible for at least some kind of maneuverable battle.

    Fighters of escort aircraft carriers had to fight more with torpedo bombers, bombers and submarines - for these tasks, the plane was quite suitable.

    British pilots shot down 6 German planes, losing only one of their pilots. It is understood that eight of the eight fighters were lost.

    And this is very good! Each rescued Liberty type vehicle is 9000 tons of so necessary cargo, these are 50-60 boxes with disassembled fighters or 15-20 disassembled twin-engine bombers, a hundred cars or two dozen tanks
  19. 0
    10 September 2020 17: 37
    "after all, not only to us, is it?"
    Irony is out of place. The British cut off the entire WWII from call to call. Including during the period when two mustache kissed with might and main
  20. kig
    0
    16 October 2020 08: 18
    Looking back from the days of today, of course, you can mock and scold the Hurricane. However, it turned out the way it turned out, and nothing else. And the Hurricane plowed the entire war, and during the Battle of Britain, the Hurricane pilots shot down more aircraft than the Spitfires.

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