Hawker Typhoon in Action
In February 1940, the first N model, now known as the Typhoon, was delivered. Like the Tornado, the Typhoon was soon demonstrating its own problems, including vibrations from the engine causing the wing skinning to peel. The first production Mk IA was delivered in May 1941 with 12 Browning .303 guns, but this was followed quickly with the Mk IB with four Hispano 20 mm cannons.By this time the Spitfire Vs were encountering the superior Focke-Wulf Fw 190 in combat and suffering heavy losses, with the inevitable result that the Typhoon was rushed into squadron service (with Nos. 56 and 609 Squadrons) to counter the new German plane. Sadly, this decision proved to be a disaster, and several Typhoons were lost for mysterious reasons. Once again there was talk of killing the Typhoon.The cause of the tail failures was eventually identified only because one pilot managed to survive and return to tell his story. The problem was found to be caused by fatigue failure of the elevator mass-balance, allowing elevator-flutter to occur which was at its greatest when pulling out of a dive. Diving out of combat was the favourite escape manoeuvre for the Fw 190, which had a distinct speed advantage over the Spitfire. Against the Typhoon this manoeuvre should have proved deadly for the Fw pilots, but flutter problems turned the tables.As a "temporary" measure, rectangular strengthening "fishplates" were riveted around the fuselage/empennage joint, the site of the failures. These fishplates remained a feature on all subsequent Typhoons. Problems with leakage of exhaust fumes into the cockpit and subsequent high carbon monoxide levels also meant Typhoon pilots had to use oxygen for even low level operations. The Sabre engine was also a constant source of problems, notably in colder weather where it was very difficult to start. During late 1942 and early 1943, the Typhoon Squadrons on the South Coast were finally effective in countering the Luftwaffe's "tip and run" low-level nuisance raids, shooting down a score or more fighter-bomber Fw 190s. The first two Messerschmitt Me 210 fighter-bombers to be destroyed over the British Isles fell to the guns of Typhoons in late 1942, and during a daylight raid by the Luftwaffe on London on 20 January 1943, five Fw 190s were destroyed by Typhoons.As soon as the aircraft entered service it was immediately apparent the profile of the Typhoon resembled a Fw190 from some angles, and this similarity caused more than one "friendly fire" incident with Allied anti-aircraft units and other planes. This led to Typhoons being marked up with high visibility black and white stripes under the wings; a precursor of the marking applied to all Allied aircraft on D-Day.The Typhoon would however become much more famous armed with four "60 lb" RP-3 rockets under each wing—the so-called "Rocketphoons." In October 1943, No. 181 Squadron made the first Typhoon rocket strikes. Although the rocket projectiles were inaccurate and took some considerable skill to aim properly and allow for the drop after firing, the sheer firepower of just one Typhoon was equivalent to a destroyer's broadside. The top speed of the Typhoon was reduced by some 15 mph by the non-jettisionable rocket rails. By the end of 1943, 18 rocket-equipped Typhoon squadrons formed the basis of the RAF's Second Tactical Air Force ground attack arm in Europe.Inaccuracy notwithstanding, the rockets (backed by the Typhoon's four 20 mm cannon) proved highly effective against many targets, such as unarmoured "soft-skinned" vehicles, road transport, trains and small sea craft. Although great things were expected against the heavily armoured tanks of the Wehrmacht, the rockets needed to hit the thin-walled engine compartment or the tank's tracks to really have any destructive effect. Analysis of destroyed tanks after the Normandy battle showed a 'hit-rate' for the air-fired rockets of only 4%.General characteristicsCrew: One Length: 31 ft 11.5 in (9.73 m) Wingspan: 41 ft 7 in (12.67 m) Height: 15 ft 4 in (4.66 m) Wing area: 249 ft² (23.13 m²) Empty weight: 9,800 lb (4,445 kg) Loaded weight: 11,400 lb (5,170 kg) Max takeoff weight: 13,980 lb (6,340 kg) Powerplant: 1× Napier Sabre IIC liquid-cooled H-24, 2,260 hp (1,685 kW) PerformanceMaximum speed: 405 mph at 18,000 ft (650 km/h at 5,485 m) Range: 610 mi (980 km) Service ceiling: 34,000 ft (10,400 m) Rate of climb: 2,630 ft/min (13.4 m/s) Wing loading: 45.8 lb/ft² (223.5 kg/m²) Power/mass: 0.20 hp/lb (0.33 kW/kg) Armament4x 20 mm Hispano-Suiza HS.404 cannons 2x 1,000 lb (454 kg) bombs 8x 3 in (75 mm) RP-3 ("60 lb) unguided rockets
Channel: Entertainment
Uploaded: November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am
Author: Bomberguy
Length: 06:41
Rating: 4.87
Views: 67544
Tags: aircraft aviation Fighter Hawker history RAF Typhoon ww2
Video Comments
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Crawlerz246 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)
did i hear 12?! machine guns?
TheMightOfTheEnglish (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)
they say a volley of rockets from the typhoon was equivilent as a broadside from a cruiser
7thCavalryman (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)
Sorry, but the Republic P-47D T'Bolt was a superb high-altitude due to its 2-stage supercharged 2,000hp R-2800 engine! High up, it could match any FW or 109. It was relegated to ground attack only after the P-51assumed the bomber escort role, and because it could still survive at low level. The P-47N outclassed any P-51 in any flight envelope, & the AF decision to use P-51's in Korea for ground attack instead caused the unnecessary deaths of several hundred pilots!
mutikonka (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)
Wow - the Typhoon was a monster for pilot and enemy alike. Flying artillery indeed.
DaveGIS123 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)
Hi, Olinolan190, the big difference between a cannon and a machine gun is in the rounds they fire --- cannon rounds have driver rings, like piston rings, around the base to give a better gas seal against the inside of the barrel. Machine gun rounds don't have driver rings. Instead, machine gun rounds are essentially like rifle rounds (in fact, rounds from a rifle-calibre machine gun ARE rifle rounds!).Cheers.
vne1981 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)
Great aircraft. They saved Patton from becoming another Custer at the hands of the Panzers in 1944. Later developed into the excellent Tempest and formidable Sea Fury.
LOLDISNEYLAND (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)
fuckin ol' time gas. Always on about their crap being better than the enemies crap. bah
StPaul76 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)
As I remember, the Typhoon had a very poor high altitude performance and is was as clumsy as a bath tub as well compared to Focke Wulf. The Tempest was a very good interceptor and was a derivative of the Typhoon. I believe both of the planes were armed with Hispano cannons with a firing rate of about 1200rpm. .50 Brownings were and still are around 500rpm. 20mm cannons also provided more variety in chosen ammo. and in strafing you also get the frag-effect of the granades.
Olinolan190 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)
The hawker typhoon was made to tackle the german focke wulfs, which i did so and very well. The hawker tempest came later on and became a feared ground attack aircraft. I would think that the cannons wouldnt have as much speed as a machine gun, but it did much more damage. I think the p-47s 8 .50c als were great weapons anyway, why use cannons when you have something nearly as deadly?
MetalReaper07 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)
Thunderbolt never had cannons only machine guns also the Thunderbolt had problems as well. The Thunderbolt and Typhoon were designed to be air suppority fighters but were poor in high altitude combat so both were posted for ground attack which they succeded. Had the Thunderbolt had cannons instead of machine it would of been better as machine guns dont puncture as well as cannons. By the way im not a brit also the Vengenace was faster than a Thunderbolt and a Typhoon in a dive. |
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