Fairey Barracuda: The troubled torpedo bomber

Few aircraft draw as much derision as the Fairey Barracuda. It was built to be "all things to all people" - a torpedo bomber that was also a competent dive bomber and reconnaissance platform.
But its development was troubled from the start.
It was originally intended to be the recipient of a new generation of Rolls Royce engines specifically built for Fleet Air Arm needs - the four-cylinder-bank "Exe" (Boreas). But this was cancelled as part of the war emergency program to focus efforts on fewer projects.
It was then supposed to get the Rolls Royce Griffon engine - the successor to the Merlin. But the Royal Air Force over-ruled the Royal Navy in the priority lists.
So the Barracuda was left desperately underpowered.
And that was before fatal problems began to emerge with its structural rivets and main spar joints ...

   • When Corsairs & Hellcats hit the Tirpitz   ► For more about the Tirpitz raids
   • USER EXPERIENCE   ► More User Experience documentaries
► Website - https://www.armouredcarriers.com/

SEO hashtags
#documentary #military #ww2 #navy #war #history #warthunder #worldofwarships #dark #lost #memories #airplane #aircraftcarrier