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- 35,629 Faces
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- Detailed Cockpit
- 3DS, LWO, MAX and
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Price: £65.00
Fairey Gannet
Submarine activity during the second world war usually involved extremely long distances from base ports and entirely new tactics. The Royal Navy began to think in terms of a dedicated anti submarine aircraft suitable for operation from aircraft carriers. In due course specification GR.17/45 was issued calling for a two seat carrier borne aircraft equipped with specialised radar capable of detecting very small objects such as a submarine snorkel or conning tower at very long range. The aircraft also had to carry the specialised stores capable of destroying a submarine.
Three companies, Fairey's, Blackburn and Shorts submitted tenders and two prototypes from each company were ordered. The Fairey design designed by H. E. Chaplin was powered by the radical Armstrong Siddeley Double Mamba coupled gas turbines which drove a pair of contra rotating four bladed propellors. Each engine could be operated seperately and one engine could be shut down in flight conserving fuel for extended range. The large weapons bay was capable of accomodating two of the new homing torpedoes or depth charges.
The first prototype was flown on 19th September 1949, at Aldermarston by Group Captain Richard Slade. In due course the Fairey design was awarded a production contract and the first Gannets, (as the aircraft was now known) entered service with the Royal Navy in 1954. The first operational Fairey Gannet squadron was 826 Squadron and embarked on HMS Eagle in June 1955. Eventually nine Gannet Squadrons were to serve with the Royal Navy. An extensive re-design produced the Fairey Gannet AWE3 which was equipped with an enormous radome underneath the fuselage which was equipped with Airborne Early Warning Radar. The Gannet was to serve with the Royal Navy until 1978.
Performance
310
mph at sea level
Weight: 21,600 lbs max all up weight.
Armament: Two homing torpedoes and three depth charges, one 2000lb and
one 1000lb bomb. There was provision for underwing rocket projectiles.
Powerplant: One 2,950 EHP Armsrong Siddeley Double Mamba coupled turboprop
