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Barracuda
Fairey Barracuda Mk I
Type	Torpedo/dive bomber
Manufacturer	Fairey Aviation
Designed by	Marcel Lobelle
Maiden flight	7 December 1940
Introduced	1943
Primary user	Fleet Air Arm
Produced	1941-1945
Number built	2,607
Developed from	Fairey Albacore

The Fairey Barracuda was a British carrier-borne torpedo- and dive-bomber used during World War II, the first of its type to be fabricated entirely from metal. It was introduced to the Fleet Air Arm as a replacement for the Fairey Swordfish and Fairey Albacore biplanes. It is famous for its role in attacking the German battleship Tirpitz and infamous for its unusual appearance.

Contents 1 Design and development 2 Operational service 3 Variants 4 Operators 5 Specifications (Barracuda Mk II) 6 References 7 Related content

The Barracuda resulted from Air Ministry Specification S.24/37 issued in 1937 for a monoplane torpedo bomber. Fairey Aviation's design was selected from six submissions and two prototypes were ordered. The first prototype flew on 7 December 1940. It had a high-wing configuration, with large Youngman flaps that doubled as dive brakes. Originally fitted with a conventional tail, flight tests suggested stability would be improved by mounting the stabiliser higher, similar to a T-tail, which was implemented on the second prototype. The Barracuda was originally intended to use the Rolls-Royce Exe engine but production of this powerplant was abandoned which delayed the prototype's trials. The prototypes eventually flew with the lower-powered Rolls-Royce Merlin 30 engine (1,260 hp or 940 kW) and a three-bladed de Havilland propeller. Further experience with the prototypes and the first production machines (Mk I) revealed the aircraft to be underpowered as a result of the weight of extra equipment that had been added since the initial design. Only 30 Mk Is were built (including five by Westland) and were used only for trials and conversion training.

Replacing the Merlin 30 with the more powerful Merlin 32 12-cylinder Vee type (1,640 hp or 1,225 kW) and a four-bladed propeller to resulted in the definitive Mk II variant of which 1,688 were manufactured by Fairey Stockport/Ringway (675), Blackburn (700), Boulton Paul (300), and Westland (13). A total of 2,607 Barracudas have been built.

The first Barracudas entered service on 10 January 1943 with No. 827 Squadron and were deployed in the North Atlantic. The following year they entered service in the Pacific Theatre. The Barracuda first saw action with No. 810 Squadron during the Salerno landings. Barracudas eventually would equip 23 front-line squadrons. From 1944 onwards, the Mk IIs were accompanied in service by radar-equipped (but otherwise similar) TB Mk IIIs which were used for anti-submarine patrols. 852 Mk IIIs were eventually produced (406 by Fairey, 392 by Boulton Paul).

The Mk IV never left the drawing board, so the next and final version of the Barracuda was the Mk V which replaced the Merlin powerplant with a Rolls-Royce Griffon and featured various aerodynamic changes. The Mk V did not take to the air until 16 November 1944, and Fairey built only 37 before the war in Europe was over.

Early, underpowered Barracudas suffered from poor rate of climb but once airborne, proved easy to fly. Pilots came to appreciate the powerful Youngman flaps/airbrakes and carrier landings were simple due to the aforementioned flaps and good visibility from the cockpit. During the earlier part of its service life, the Barracuda suffered a fairly high rate of unexplained fatal crashes, often involving experienced pilots. In 1945 this was traced to small leaks developing in the hydraulic system. The commonest point for the leak was at the point of entry to the pilot's pressure gauge and was situated such that the resulting spray went straight into the pilot's face. The chosen hydraulic fluid contained ether and as the aircraft rarely were equipped with oxygen masks (and few aircrew wore them below 10,000 ft (3,000 m) anyway) the pilot quickly became unconscious leading to a crash. An Admiralty order issued at the end of May 1945 required all examples of the type to be oxygen fitted as soon as possible, and for pilots to use the system at all times. Operation of airbrakes at high speeds caused a sudden change in trim which could throw the aircraft into an inverted dive. This proved fatal on at least five occasions during practice torpedo runs.

In spite of their odd appearance, Barracudas were effective dive bombers (torpedoes were rarely, if ever, used in combat by the type in spite of appearing in many publicity photos because the aircraft lacked the engine power to effectively carry them) and played a pivotal role in the sinking of the German battleship Tirpitz. On 3 April 1944, 42 aircraft from British carriers HMS Victorious and Furious scored 14 direct hits on Tirpitz with 250 lb (114 kg) and 500 lb (227 kg) bombs at the cost of three bombers (Gunston 1995). The attack disabled Tirpitz for over two months.

Barracudas were used to test several innovations including RATOG rockets for takeoff and a braking propeller which slowed the aircraft by reversing the blade pitch.

The Barracuda continued in Fleet Air Arm service until the mid 1950s, by which time they were all replaced by Grumman Avengers. Not a single example exists today, although the Fleet Air Arm Museum has large pieces of wreckage from two crashed aircraft and hopes to collect enough parts to eventually assemble a complete example for static display.

Mk I

First production version, Rolls-Royce Merlin 30 engine with 1,260 hp (940 kW), 30 built

Mk II

Upgraded Merlin 32 engine with 1,640 hp (1,225 kW), four-bladed propeller, ASV radar, 1,688 built

Mk III

Anti-submarine warfare version of Mk II with radar in a blister under rear fuselage, 852 built

Mk IV

Mk II (number P9976) fitted with a Rolls-Royce Griffon engine with 1,850 hp (1,380 kW), first flight 11 November 1944, abandoned in favor of Fairey Spearfish.

Mk V

Griffon 37 engine with 2,020 hp (1,505 kW), payload increased to 2,000 lb (910 kg), ASH radar under the left wing, revised tailfin, 37 built

 United Kingdom

• Fleet Air Arm

General characteristics

• Crew: 3
• Length: 40 ft 0 in (12.18 m)
• Wingspan: 47 ft 6 in (14.49 m)
• Height: 15 ft 0 in (4.60 m)
• Wing area: 404.94 ft² (37.62 m²)
• Empty weight: 9,800 lb (4,445 kg)
• Loaded weight: 12,600 lb (5,715 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 14,080 lb (6,385 kg)
• Powerplant: 1× Rolls-Royce Merlin 32 liquid-cooled V12 engine, 1,640 hp (1,225 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 210 mph (180 knots, 340 km/h) at altitude
• Cruise speed: 195 mph (169 knots, 315 km/h)
• Range: 725 mi (630 nm, 1,165 km)
• Service ceiling: 21,600 ft (6,585 m)
• Wing loading: 31.1 lb/ft² (151.9 kg/m²)
• Power/mass: 0.13 hp/lb (210 W/kg)

Armament

• Guns: 2× 0.303 in (7.7 mm) Vickers K machine guns in rear cockpit
• Hardpoints: 5: (two under each wing and one under the fuselage), with a capcity of 1,620 lb (735 kg), equipped to carry:
  • 1× torpedo or
  • Bombs or
  • Depth charges or
  • Mines
• Four paratroopers have been deployed from underwing containers on several occasions

• Donald, David, Lake J. (editors) Encyclopedia of world military aircraft. London: AIRtime Publishing, 1996. ISBN 1-880588-24-2
• Gunston, B. Classic World War II Aircraft Cutaways. London: Osprey, 1995. ISBN 1-85532-526-8
• Hadley, D. Barracuda Pilot. London: Airlife Publishing,2000. ISBN 1-84037-225-7
• Taylor, H. A. Fairey aircraft since 1915. London: Putnam, 1974. ISBN 0-370-00065-X

 

Comparable aircraft

• Nakajima B6N
• TBF Avenger

Designation sequence

• Seafox - Fulmar - Albacore - Barracuda - Firefly - Spearfish - Gyrodyne

Related lists

• List of aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm