Fairey Swordfish | Darling of the Fleet Air Arm [Aircraft Overview #16]

The Fairey Swordfish is an aircraft that achieved higher than its expectations. Developed in the mid-1930s, it was obsolete by the start of the second World War, but that didn't stop it from achieving some spectacular successes during the conflict.
Nicknamed the 'Stringbag' by some, it was operated by the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. It saw action in the Atlantic, Norway, the Home Front, France and the Mediterranean. It took centre stage during the famous attack at Taranto, where Swordfish sank or damaged numerous Italian Warships. The Swordfish also played its part in the sinking of the Bismarck, scoring multiple torpedo hits during the chase.
The Swordfish managed to find use throughout the war, to the point that it outlived the aircraft designed to replace it - the Fairey Albacore.
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Producing these videos is a hobby of mine. I have a passion for history, and personally own a large collection of books, journals and other texts, and endeavor to do as much research as possible. However if there are any mistakes, please don't hesitate to reach out and correct anything :)
Sources:
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[@RexsHangar]

Hope you don't mind the longer video, but 12 minutes wasn't going to do the Swordfish justice :)

[@jtjames79]

Moar!

[@markkatemcghee2381]

Nope love your chanel. Grate job awesome content.

[@Otokichi786]

"Longer video"? I've seen other nuts & bolts of vintage aircraft video makers go on and on about nothing. The details in your videos add heft which others bypass to "keep things short" and less complete.

[@Jonny189]

If anything, I personally prefer longer videos. I know that 10-12m is the sweet spot, but I will generally pick 30-60m over shorter clips.

[@TheMRSNUGGLES12]

I love the longer videos.

[@thebighurt2495]

A thing that kept the Swordfish relevant was having a light airframe and surprisingly powerful engine, making it capable of launching from Escort Carriers. Their teeny runways made them unsuitable for more advanced, but heavier planes. Thus the Swordfish would see service in ASW for the length of the war.

[@P_RO_]

It was as much or more the great lift of the biplane wings as it was engine power, it simply needed much less speed and therefore much less 'runway' to get airborne by itself. It also had long flight duration at cruise speed settings, making it superior for 'lingering' near it's ship complement. The 'glory' may have went to the Spitfire, but IMHO the Swordfish probably played an equal but different part of saving Britain in those perilous times.

[@papalegba6796]

It was incredibly reliable, tough & easy to fly. My dad flew them on convoy protection, only other type he liked was the Grumman Martlet.

[@invadegreece9281]

@@papalegba6796 oh the F4F wildcat

[@alexsis1778]

Yeah, when it comes to guarding convoys being able to be launched from a small flight deck and have a massive loiter time with only a few accurate armaments is far more important than speed or altitude. They were just better suited than a lot of the more advanced fighters and it meant those newer planes could go to front line units. Was just a really good role for them to fill.

[@stevetournay6103]

About half the surviving Swordfish came from a single owner here in Canada, Ernie Simmons of Courtland, Ontario. An eccentric collector of all things mechanical, he bought eight Swordfish, a couple Lysanders, a large batch of AS Cheetah engines off Ansons, and three dozen North American Yales from Crown Assets after World War II. Ernie died in 1970 and his collection was dispersed at auction...one Swordfish had already gone to the National Aeronautical Collection at Ottawa and been restored, the other seven were auctioned with one (HS554) eventually flying again.

[@Maddog3060]

For some reason it warms my heart to see stuff about the Swordfish. Just something so old-fashioned serving on and doing it's best, it's just nice. I also love that there's a Mk1 still flying, that's amazing.

[@jackdaniel7465]

You know, it did it's best and did it well, one of my favorite British aircraft that doesn't get enough love and respect, when you think about what it's accomplishments were and the crews that flew it, here's an aircraft that has made a HUGE impact, bringing the pain to the Bismarck so the British navy could pin it down and send the Bismarck to a watery grave and putting an end to the menace, then put a serous hurting on the Italian navy rendering it useless, I mean this is an open cockpit biplane that took off from carriers in some of the nastiest weather the north Atlantic had to dish out and did the impossible, you also have to admire and respect the crews that flew it, what an iconic aircraft!!! 🇺🇸👍

[@exb.r.buckeyeman845]

My Dad was a rear gunner with 825 squadron, he flew off of HMS Vindex.

[@bennieknape4857]

What did he say about the Bismark

[@exb.r.buckeyeman845]

@@bennieknape4857 Unfortunately Bennie, Dad was at gunnery and telegraphy training at Lee-on Solent.

[@MrTarakan]

​@@exb.r.buckeyeman845thanks regardless for the shared knowledge

[@peterharrington8709]

I had no idea that there were late war radar equipped Swordfish! No doubt in my mind that when it comes to naming the navy's next generation spotter / attack drone.... it HAS to be named Swordfish 2.

[@Ob1sdarkside]

Didn't Halle Berry get her baps out in that...

[@peterharrington8709]

@@Ob1sdarkside Not sure if that would have interfered with the torpedo release mechanism?

[@muddyboycrossaxel6204]

@@peterharrington8709 My father was an F A. A. C.P.O. airframe fitter for Swordfish and helped install radar systems on these aircraft. These were used for anti submarine duties. They would fly at night in pairs. The radar equipped Swordfish also carried a spotlight and they would catch the subs on the surface recharging their batteries. The radar equipped plane would vector in the rocket armed Swordfish from the opposite direction and trans illuminate the sub allowing the armed plane to attack. The Swordfish was a very stable weapons platform which allowed for great accuracy. A lot of U boats met their fate at the hands of these planes. My father was a keen photographer and brought back many memories of his service.

[@peterharrington8709]

@@muddyboycrossaxel6204 that is really interesting. I'm guessing that would have been a completely new innovation in air warfare. Reminiscent of the way that Buccaneers were fitted out with laser target designators during Gulf War 2(?). They say there's nothing new under the sun.... but under the moonlight... heh!!

[@exb.r.buckeyeman845]

Hello Peter, my Dad flew off of HMS Vindex as a rear gunner in a Swordfish, and I have a genuine 1944 photograph of a Swordfish taking off with secret underbelly radar ? which has been declassified before being released.

[@geordiedog1749]

The attack on Bismarck has a few myths about it. The Main one is that the guns couldn’t hit the Stringbags ‘cos they were too slow. Air launched torpedoes were very fragile at this time and had to be dropped at low speed and height. Swordfish dropped their fish at about a mere ten mph slower than other TPS of the time. Also, all Stringbags attacking the Bismarck were damaged and some were very badly hit. Some were hit over a hundred times and several aircrew were badly injured. However, not a single plane was shot down and this was due to a number of factors such as the excellent training of the FAA crews, poor weather (for the defending ships such as very low cloud cover) poor German AA gun types (Bismarck was due to have her AA suit upgraded to the same as Tripitz) very tired and fatigued Kreigsmarine Gun crews and the ability of the Stringbags to absorb punishment.

[@davidelliott5843]

Bismarck rounds went straight through the Stringbag's fabric coverings showing the German gunners were actually doing a great job. However it's a bit strong to say the plane "absorbed punishment". Shells went straight through leaving shell sized holes and too little impact to trigger explosive ammunition. Swordfish were used by FAA because they were capable of operating in heavy seas of the North Atlantic. At the time, there was nothing "better" that could operate in bad weather from a heaving carrier deck and return to the same heaving deck. It was (for the time) a heavy lift STOL.

[@geordiedog1749]

@@davidelliott5843 I see what you mean. Maybe say they could survive being hit many times? They were still very sturdy though. The engine was very robust and could take a couple of hits and still chugg on with a cylinder or two missing. - a feature of the type and different from the In line engines which were far more vulnerable. They frame was tough to handle the weather that you mention and also the heaving decks.

[@mathewkelly9968]

One of the swordfish came out of the attack with 300+ holes in it and 2 out of 3 crew wounded , tell them they couldn't get hit lol

[@geordiedog1749]

@@mathewkelly9968 Yea, exactly!!:)

[@bkjeong4302]

Another fun fact; Ark Royal actually sent off another strike the next morning to try and kill Bismarck for good, but the Admiralty called them off and the pilots had to watch as the thing became a surface action. A good example of the “carriers are there to support battleships” mentality.

[@LostShipMate]

"To war in a String bag" is an interesting memoir that covers this planes career from the onset to the famous raids of the Mediterranean.

[@Baron-Ortega]

My grandfather was a gunner navigator CPO on String bags in the Mediterranean.

[@BobSmith-dk8nw]

by Charles Lamb en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Lamb_(Royal_Navy_officer) - it is available on Amazon and others. And yes - it is a fascinating look at the operation of this aircraft. .

[@kfeltenberger]

What an amazing little aircraft! If I had to point to one plane and say, “this has ‘heart’!” It would be the Swordfish. Truly the Honey Badger of biplanes.

[@Allan_aka_RocKITEman]

The _"Stringbag"_ is a BEAUTIFUL aircraft.

[@GIGABACHI]

HA ! That's so spot on ! I can see how it looks like one. 👌😁

[@tim7052]

Agreed! A ruggedly handsome aircraft that replaced it's own replacement!! 👍

[@Dr_Jebus]

Amazing video as always. And every one of these aircraft development videos just makes me awed at those test pilots. Not just taking up a plane that no-one had done so before, but then finding its limits by pushing it over them.

[@Kriszx6]

Don't mind the longer format at all! You're my go-to content creator when I want to listen to air warfare history, while doing basically anything during the day. Keep up the good work Rex!

[@aircraftonjacks]

Grab some tea, and watch this fantastic video on the bloody Stringbag!

[@raulisrael7342]

I love how the swordfish was loved so much it was still upgraded even though the era of the biplane was seemingly over

[@craigpennington1251]

I have a very healthy respect for the pilots & gunners of these aircraft. To go into battle with these - oh my. Unlimited courage they had. Great video and very informative.

[@johnnelson8833]

Very well done indeed. I'd dare say you've become the Drachanifel of aircraft. Can't wait to see what else you'll come out with. Keep it up!

[@theverseshed]

Of all the slow-flying aircraft of WW2, the one I hope Rex's Hangar covers is the Westland Lysander. The Swordish was an amazing plane and to have served throughout WW2 is an astonishing credit to both the plane and its pilots.

[@roberthutchins1507]

I was hoping for the TBM/TBF, but this is a good choice. My fascination with the TBM/TBF is its sheer size. The first time I saw one in person, I thought to myself there's no way this lands and takeoffs on an aircraft carrier.

[@jacobmccandles1767]

Right!? I feel the same about the AD/A-1

[@stevetournay6103]

The Strngbag isn't that much smaller, but yes, the Avenger is a big, bulky machine.

[@Straswa]

Great vid Rex! Impressive how versatile the Swordfish proved to be

[@robbierobinson8819]

As good as always - a pleasure to watch and a chance to learn things I didn't know. The Swordfish has always been a favourite of mine yet I was still surprised to learn how effective it had been against U-Boats.

[@wildancrazy159]

The swordfish has always been a issue for me. the use of a front line biplane at such a late date that was effective and useful gave me headaches in the beginning of my interest of naval aircraft. I would get so angry at the idea of Britain sending their pilots off to fight in such a mismatched and obsolete aircraft, but I have gotten over it. Enjoy all your output, but most of all the "longer" videos. I think I speak for many of your watchers in saying it truly is a pleasure to find a film of yours, no matter the length. Thank you for the quality of the work you do, it's why we are here.

[@garryferrington811]

I first saw these in SINK THE BISMARCK in a theater many decades ago, and wondered why on earth the British were using WW1 aircraft. Obviously, I've learned more about them since then and have a soft spot for these great aircraft and the amazing men who flew them. Thanks for the excellent video.

[@Lord.Kiltridge]

The Swordfish is without a doubt, the most famous biplane of WW2. Deciding which was number two, is a much greater challenge. It might be the CR.42, the Gloster Gladiator, the Mitsubishi F1M2, or the Polikarpov series, depending where you are from.

[@farmerned6]

maybe Faith, Hope and Charity? And you forgot the "Steam pigeon" AKA the " "Shagbat" or the Supermarine Walrus, if you were a downed aircrew inthe water, the Walrus was the most beauiful thing you would ever see.

[@Lord.Kiltridge]

@@farmerned6 Faith, Hope and Charity were Gloster Gladiators, which I mentioned. But if you think I "forgot" the Walrus, you are mistaken.

[@wisp666]

I saw in another comment section that you are the Drachinifel of aircraft. Couldn’t agree more. In case you are wondering, that is a compliment! Endlessly fascinating and informative history. Thank you!

[@drstevenrey]

Being a Canadian living in Britain, I am not a fan of British mentality, however, these guys have my fullest respect. Fighting with such a kite in an era of heavily armed all metal monoplanes must have required a set of enormous balls. As for the Swordfish, I always liked the exhaust ring forming the front of the engine cowling. Such a great idea. A part you need anyway and it makes a perfect collector ring too.

[@peterbrown6392]

I had the honour of knowing a Swordfish pilot. He talked of running search and rescue for downed pilots on the Méditerranéen off of Corsica.

[@lllordllloyd]

There's a lot of teary-eyed patriotic nostalgia about the Swordfish. What kept it in service was that for the most part it was almost completely unopposed in most of its roles. The FAA (and the Swordfish's reputation) were extremely lucky.

[@laszlokaestner5766]

10:16 HMS Warspite - more battle honours and more "firsts" than just about any ship that ever floated. Even though a battleship she still had to be "first" to sink a submarine with a plane, to hell with all those carriers! She always reminds me of that really drunk bloke (usually Irish) in a bar brawl that refuses to give up no matter what. Who needs a flight deck in order to sink a sub with a plane? Let me at 'im!

[@iffracem]

OI! I'm Irish and I resemble that remark! 😉

[@zzirSnipzz1]

Warspite and her spotter were a one ship/plane fleet lol

[@TheLostDefender]

HMS Warspite, the ship to be hit with everything from a Fritz X bomb to sea mines. And keep on sailing

[@dillonpierce7869]

Reminds me of using kingfishers and Catalinas to kill subs in battlestations pacific..... Off of cruisers and battleships while the destroyers were used to cover heavier ships and attack enemies when they closed in. 😅

[@johnevans7261]

A nice piece on Pusser's Favourite Flying Machine, well done.

[@timwilkinsongs]

Excellent episode about a remarkable aircraft flown by remarkable men. Do you think though, that you might correctly pronounce their rank as 'leftenant' and not 'lootenant'? We are, after all, British and not American.

[@georgesakellaropoulos8162]

For more information on the Swordfish and its operational service, I'd like to recommend the book 'War In A Stringbag' by Charles Lamb.

[@samuelhowie4543]

Have read the book. Very good, even the parts that covered the time he spent in a POW camp.

[@michaeltelson9798]

A good read on this aircraft is “To War in a Stringbag “. The author flew in the Taranto raid and afterwards. Stringbag was a nickname for the aircraft because of the wires.

[@raypurchase801]

No. The name "Stringbag" came from its ability to carry phenomenal loads. In the era before plastic carrier bags, people would carry a string bag in their pocket. The string bag would expand to carry almost any load. Similarly, the Swordfish could carry mines, radar, rockets, cannon, machine guns, bombs, torpedoes and even allied spies being dropped into/recovered from enemy territory.

[@simonrook5743]

Author was Charles Lamb

[@Simon_Nonymous]

@@raypurchase801 I believe that to be correct myself, no offence to Michael Telson.

[@raypurchase801]

@@simonrook5743 Correct! I couldn't remember the name of the author. A phenomenal story. He devised a special manoeuvre which allowed a Swordfish to out-turn a fighter, with tragic consequences on the first occasion it was trialled.

[@raypurchase801]

@@Simon_Nonymous That's right. Please see my other comment herewith, and the comment from Simon.

[@simonrook5743]

Fun fact, U64 (the first U-boat sunk during WW2) was sunk by that single bomb on her foredeck, she sunk in shallow water and although many crew were still onboard they managed to flood the boat and escape using their rescue breather kits. The survivors went on to form nucleus of the crew of U-124 which had an Edelweiss flower painted on the conning tower in acknowledgement of the German mountain troops (whose logo is the Edelweiss) who had rescued both the initial survivors and the later escapees using small boats. Warspite (through her floatplane) was the only Battleship in WW2 to sink a submarine. Dreadnought being the only other Battleship to achieve this feat having sunk U-29 by ramming in WW1, they had fought alongside each other at Jutland of course.

[@Packless1]

...a.f.a.i.k. Dreadnought wasn't engaged at Jutland/Skagarak...?

[@asnrobert]

I read book about the U-124 many years ago, and it told about the sinking of U-64, and of the rescue of its crew by German mountain troops.

[@Petard49]

My Grandfather was an AC1on Sub-Lieutenant Morris White's Swordfish, 823 Sqd., A Flight. A Flight was rotated off about a week before the Glorious was sunk. There is/was a teaspoon in the Naval Museum from the Glorious...my Grandfather happened to have it on him when he rotated off. lol

[@somerandomguy___]

:O! I was *not* expecting you to make a video about the swordfish which is one of my favourite planes to play in WT and I love how it loves in infamy as the plane that didn't get shot down by the bismark and helped in sinking it

[@Lord.Kiltridge]

I tried to do a loop in the WT Swordfish once and ended up in an unrecoverable inverted flat spin. The funny thing was that I came down so slowly that both aircrew and aircraft survived the "landing" undamaged.

[@mycroft1905]

A type worthy of this well presented video. TFP. The remarkable wartime record of the Swordfish was of course the result of superb training and the outstanding skill and bravery of its crews.

[@lyudmila2882]

Thanks for the terrific video. The length was just fine since the plane is worthy of it.

[@jodypitt3629]

Hi Rex, Andy Gifford would love your videos as much as I do. Bismarck's ack-ack guns weren't calinrated to hit such slow moving aircraft, hence she failed to shoot a single one down. Germany's Messerschmitt Bf 109 was designed to fly at speed, there were encounters between these and the Swordfish whereby the 'stringbag' would go into a shallow dive where it would pull up at the last moment, making the faster "Hun" finish up in the drink!

[@billfarley9167]

From Canada: I joined the RCN Air in 1950 and was stationed at Air Arm base HMCS Shearwater, the carrier HMCS Magnificent and HMCS Bonaventure. It was during my sojourn with HMCS Magnificent that I met a navy pilot, Lt. Bruce Vibert, who was English and had transferred over to Canadian naval aviation from the British Fleet Air Arm after WWll; in the late 1940's I believe. Lt. Vibert had been a Swordfish pilot aboard HMS Ark Royal and had flown the missions to sink the Bismark. He was the person who had fired a torpedo into the rudder of the Bismark, causing it to jam and thereby rendering the ship fairly helpless. All it could do was travel in large circles while underway. This allowed the British battleships ships to intercept and the rest is history. Am now 90 years old and recently came across this video which allowed me to reflect about this chap. He's probably long gone now and I can only say, RIP sir.

[@rivopoiss1]

Im simple man-when i see new video from Rex's Hangar, i click like.

[@parrotraiser6541]

Great summary, but I'd quarrel with the description of it as a "small" plane. It's impressively large when seen at close range.

[@johnevans7261]

Agree, Pusser's Favourite Flying Machine isn't small - and it takes some climbing to get aboard too.

[@tobyrobson2939]

THIS. A Swordfish definitely isn't a 'little' plane by any contemporary standards

[@joaoguilhermedacruzribeiro6262]

Many thanks for the video. It was the most attractive of many. Congratulations on a very goog job! The dear old Stringbag certainly deserves the honour!

[@Gary85Paul]

I believe the Swordfish that disabled Bismarck were launched from Ark Royal? My grandfather flew with Commander Esmonde. He, at times, served on Ark Royal along many other ships. He was attached to an admiral, so went wherever he did. I enjoy the stories he told my father, who has then shared some of them with me. Whilst we have the 'facts', it's the lived stories that are most interesting.

[@paulcasey5204]

Saw one do a flypast on Battle of Britain Day at Biggin Hill in 1997, bloody brilliant.

[@dovetonsturdee7033]

I saw one a few years at Yeovilton, as part of a FAA fly past and actually flying a White Ensign. Magnificent!!

[@lyudmila2882]

Thanks for the fascinating video. I just love the Swordfish and its story (any idea why it was named Swordfish and nicknamed String Bag, though?). I wish I had known about them while my sister-in-law's Auntie Jaye was alive so I could have asked her about them. She was one of the English women pilots who learned to fly all different kinds of aircraft to get them from one place to another. She must have flown Swordfish too.

[@jimbetzing3587]

Excellent video! Just subscribed today. So far I have truly enjoyed both the info and the presentation. Being old fashioned and slow is not always a disadvantage, I'm both but, I can get the job done.

[@rogerkay8603]

Great aircraft but the men who flew them were the real heroes.

[@YellowBaboon2003]

I love the Swordfish! I love its rear gun, and I love Biplanes like that. Im writing a book in which a soldier in a Civil War (not any real one) finds himself in the middle of a dive bombing. This book is called 12 Weeks in Aucaut, and its a series. Its set in 1846, when the biplane was starting to be used (fictionally), same with the Lewis Gun, bombs, bolt action rifles and lever action rifles. I was inspired to write these because of this plane🛫

[@anthonychappell9409]

Marvellous...keep them coming please dude

[@lazaglider]

I've only been subbed for a couple of weeks, but I'm already looking forward to the hour long videos in the future. No problems here. Also, a topic suggestion if you don't mind; Lysander.

[@johnforsyth7987]

Thank you for another very informative video.

[@larrydavis3645]

I recently found your channel and I enjoy if very much. I know it is a lot of work.

[@willfriar8054]

The men and women of this generation of Heroes fighting fascism. There would be spinning in their graves if they could see what America has become today. God Bless America we need all the help we can get

[@artokiiskinen1058]

I love the longer format - please keep these 20 mins. 10 mins is so short.

[@captaintoyota3171]

Engineering, history, & intriguing stories. 2month old video selection.... Are you a robot? Because these videos are PERFECT

[@chopsandarchie7015]

Good stuff. Please note pron' of Lieutenant for RN and commonwealth is "Leftenant". I can assure you that we are not that easily confused to not be able to tell the difference. Cheers

[@ProjectFlashlight612]

Get this Swordfish torpedo right up ya, Fritz. WINNING.

[@UnclePutte]

So innocuous-looking, but with quite some achievements.

[@clydebalcom3679]

No apologies needed. I'm quite impressed with the Swordfish. They personified the term "timeless."

[@JohnJohansen2]

I stil love the Swordfish! It's so beautiful.

[@AndorRadnai]

Eloquent is putting it mildly. Indubitably a fantastic video, many thanks! ^^

[@Lee-70ish]

What amazes me is even compared to the excellent and much more modern Dauntless SBD from the USA the Stringbag actually according to stats beat them on tonnage of shipping sunk by an aircraft. Much i believe to the amount they sunk of Rommel's convoys in the med

[@soppdrake]

So interesting! Thanks for the upload❤

[@jakublulek3261]

This and Gloster Gladiator are in my eyes such a demonstration of the British attitude to the war itself.

[@75brittle]

Bravo ! Best survey of aircraft I've seen on UT. Well researched and fine photos

[@jerryroebuck5870]

Excellent, as always.

[@bostonrailfan2427]

this incident is exactly why you must include anti-aircraft support in your ship design. these were woefully outdated yet they were able to sink the most powerful ship in the world! they would have been blown out of the sky against US, UK, or Japanese ships but with light anti-aircraft fire they were overpowering and deadly

[@joelamb3581]

"To War in a Stringbag" by Charles Lamb is a pretty good read.

[@iffracem]

Excellent, many thanks for your efforts. Love to see a similar episode on the Gladiators (esp Faith , Hope and Charity.. Myth or fact?)

[@mikesmith2905]

Gladiators also fought in East Africa, against Italian biplane fighters and assorted other aircraft. Seems they did rather well but I am unsure as to the details.

[@normmcrae1140]

@@mikesmith2905 One of the HIGHEST Scoring RAF Fighter pilots got MOST of his 42 Confirmed (although more were claimed) victories in Gladiators - (Pat) Pattle. He even shot down several Me109's with a Gladiator! Unfortunately, he didn't survive the Greek campaign. :(

[@richardbanker3910]

The Swordfish did a fine job in the attack on the Italian fleet at Taranto and in its part in sinking the Bismark. However, when sent against the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau during the Channel dash when up against German fighters, all six aircraft were shot down. Very brave men who flew them but there were varying results.

[@alankohn6709]

There is a story that some of the swordfish used in the Tarintino attack flew sow low that one came back wire from the radio antenna of an Italian ship wrapped around its landing gear

[@hammondsgc100]

Fascinating video, thank you

[@keitholding8541]

Great video, thank you. A top speed of 147mph in WW2 - less with a torpedo! Eek!

[@Panzerkampfwagen_VI995]

The swordfish casually outliving its intended replacement planes and sinking Bismarck 🗿

[@jamescarrington6504]

Thank you Rex's Hangar for all your great information on the Fairey Swordfish. This has really changed my perception of Bi Planes being used during World War 2; it sounds like a plucky design that took all the challengers that were thrown up against this hardly Bi Plane. And I guess since it was using rockets it would be like using a modern helicopter gun ship today. Really being a pioneer of aircraft

[@davidelliott5843]

Stringbags were sent against the Scharnhorst Gneisnau channel dash without fighter cover. They were all shot down. By Luftwaffe and Kreigsmarine flak.

[@ponybottle]

Although somewhat hard to believe for such a dated design I understand the Swordfish is credited with the most tonnage of enemy shipping sunk during WW2 by any aircraft.

[@samarkand1585]

Well the only other real competitors would have to be the American planes, but they didn't have the convenience of operating in the relatively small and busy spaces of the Mediterranean, so it's not a surprise. American submarines had to be the ones doing the convoy raiding, and though they took some time figuring it out, once they did, they sure did it right

[@mpetersen6]

@@samarkand1585 Once they got Bureau of Ordinance's abortion known as the Mk 14 torpedo fixed. Dracinefel has a couple of good videos both on the Mk14 and the efforts of SubPac through 1942

[@geordiedog1749]

@@samarkand1585 Alas, I think the Ju87s might have claimed a fair few.

[@bobmcrae5751]

I've heard the same claim made for the SBD Dauntless.

[@ponybottle]

@@bobmcrae5751 The truthe is it was probably the Condor so ! :-)

[@xcrockery8080]

That's my darling too. Flew over me at Yeovil once, I think it's my favourite plane.

[@thisisus.504]

Thanks buddy, this was amazing. Loved your commentary. Am now a sub'. 😊

[@douglasharley2440]

what a lil *beast!* lol, a rocket-shooting biplane is rad af.

[@copferthat]

A great plane made great by truly great flyers

[@garygriffiths2911]

I enjoyed this and even gained a few new insights into this famous type's development history. I did however find it a little odd that both metric and imperial measurements are employed in a seemingly random fashion - for example the gun armament is quoted as 7.7mm (rather than .303) while the length of the floats are measured in feet not metres?

[@jameswebb4593]

Younger generation would be perplexed with ft and inches , us oldies can handle both.

[@jameswolfe7485]

Good old Stringbags!

[@maxart3392]

NIce video. I may be mistaken, but wasn't it also a Swordfish that torpedoed Vittorio Veneto, slowing her down and thus enable the British fleet to catch the Italians at Matapan?

[@dovetonsturdee7033]

No. An Albacore from HMS Formidable.

[@raulisrael7342]

rex could you talk about the lack of british single engine attack/dive bombers, Ive been trying to find british equivalent of an il 2 or sbd but I haven't had any luck, is it an issue about their doctrine, or simply not needing them

[@papalegba6796]

Best combat aircraft ever made.

[@atfyoutubedivision955]

Objectively false.

[@hifigeek009]

I went to visit my old boss in hospital after a series of illnesses, heart attack, strokes etc. etc. He was on the light aircraft carrier HMS Glory and had been trained Pratt and Whitney and Chance Vought in the USA. During the course of the visit we were joined by another visitor. Anyway to cut a long story short, the visitor was I found out was a Fairy Swordfish pilot. After he left my old boss burst into tears and said, 'how those boys suffered' The whole war fought with a bi-plane..give me a break!

[@Caseytify]

The Fairey Swordfish; the B-52 of its time...

[@MrGeeyess]

Great video as always. Just a minor note that pronunciation of the 'H' in HMS jars, there is only one 'h' in 'aitch' and is at the back end.

[@RipRoaringGarage]

One thing to add, that during the Battle of the Atlantic, while targeting Bismarck, one of the Swordfish mistaken a destroyer for the German ship, and torpedoed it. I dont recall if it sank, but definitely, it was a nasty case of friendly fire.

[@keithrosenberg5486]

Charles Lamb wrote a nice memoir about his service as a Swordfish pilot.

[@lp5335]

REX !! You are awesome. That is all.

[@TheJaymon1962]

This was the AD of its day

[@DannyDanII]

Just one small thing, the second srike on Bismarck was by planes operated from HMS Ark Royal, not HMS Victorious, it sounded like it was all Victorious, but it was Ark Royal that scored the steering hit :) Honestly had to fact check it and was surprised that the first strike was doen by HMS Victorius, the more I know!

[@memoryfoam2285]

If you ever get the chance, you should check out the Fleet Air Arm museum in Yeovilton.

[@pierrebuffiere5923]

I have only once seen a Swordfish in flight. It was flying flat out at around 90kts with a Westland Lynx helicopter alongside it flying at the same speed. The Lynx was flying backwards.

[@americanpatriot2422]

Great video

[@jonrolfson1686]

Great Video. Just a warning - I intend to seek opportunities to deploy your wonderful descriptive phrase: ‘Norway’s aggressive coastal terrain.’

[@jacobmccandles1767]

While not in the running for "best" carrier Torpedo bomber of the war, it could easily be considered the best up until 1942.

[@davidwood1923]

That was a Great Video... Thanks for Sharing