Hawker Typhoon, Tempest, and Sea Fury

[Gary]

When ripping Nazi armour to shreds the Tiffies used the 60 lb rockets. How many did they fire at any one time? All 8. A pair, one from each wing, or a pair from each wing? Or was it a crap shoot that the pilot controlled as the need arose? Did they fire all at once or ripple fire and if rippled off the wing, starting inboard or outboard? I have a great big Typhoon book and there isn't a scrap of detail in this reguard.

[Spey_Phantom]

i got a video about WW2 aircraft in europe and by the looks of the images, ive seen that they fire 2 rockets at a time  B)  

[Jennings]

I'm virtually certain that the pilot could set his armament panel to various positions, allowing him to fire one, two, four, or the whole volley at once.  Usually you see them firing pairs, but not always.  I've seen film of USMC F4Us over Okinawa unloading the whole wad at one time.

J

[Ollie]

Just remember the RCAF never used rockets.

We used bombs, yeah!

     

[Jeffry Fontaine]

In regards to the numbers of rockets launched at a specific target, it would depend on the type of target that was being attacked.  

Some targets would be engaged with the entire battery of rocket projectiles while others would be engaged with one or two rockets per pass.  

If the target were a freight train, the priority would be to disable the locomotive with cannon and rocket fire as soon as possible, if this required an entire volley to destroy the target, then one of the aircraft in the flight would expend the entire battery of rockets to take out the target.  This would free up the rest of the flight to engage at will the remaining rail cars and ensure complete destruction of the target.  

If the target is an armored column, then the target could be engaged with single or pairs of rocket projectiles which would ensure that all of the targets within that location were "serviced" to either destroy or disable them to allow the ground forces to then engage them and finish them off or capture them.  

The main thing to consider is that when you engage the target with the entire battery of rockets, you are then out of rockets and you have only the cannon to rely on for any other targets of opportunity before you reach bingo fuel and have to return to base to refuel and rearm.  

regards,  

[NARSES2]

Film clips I've seen would indicate that normal firing was in pairs, even when expending the whole load against one target I've not seen all 8 go in one shot, it's been 4 sets of 2 fired very quickly .

As for British rockets Typhoons could use both the 60lb and 25lb SAP and there was also a "solid" shot type for use against surfaced U Boats (it punctured the pressure hull)

Chris

[nev]

I've definately seen Tiffies release pairs, and I've definately seen Mossies let rip with all 8, not sure about Tiffies with all 8 though...

[Gary]

Ollie, are you certain about the Canadians not using rockets. I've read loads of accounts and seen cartoons, paintings and the like that claim Canadians had. Now mind you, in saying that I'm not saying that this wasn't the Hollywood account, and I've never searched the sources.  

[Ollie]

Check all the RCAF books you can find that has our Typhoons in it and try to find a 438/439/440 Sqn. plane with rockets under the wings.

You'll see images of Typhies from other squadrons carrying the thing, but not RCAF ones.

 

[Ollie]

Found the reference.

In "Typhoon and Tempest - the canadian story" by Hugh Halliday, on page 138 :

Rocket projectiles (RPs), not used by 143 Wing, [...]

 

[nev]

As luck would have it, I was watching The World At War on THC last night and the episode was "Morning", so lots of footage of Typhoons firing rockets  

They fired 2s then peeled away

They fired 4s, then peeled away

They fired 2,2,2,2, then peeled away.

But no 8 at once.

[philp]

Okay, working on a Korean Whiff and got a couple of questions.

!st, were the interiors of lend lease aircraft painted British interior green or left in the US colors?

Next, did the Sea Furies carry over/under rocket launchers or just single shot on each station.  Not having much luck with pics on the web.  Most show modern warbirds or racers.  

Thanks for any help.

[jcf]

As far as anyone has been able to determine WWII Lend-Lease aircraft were delivered with US standard interior paint and if ordered with cammo they were painted with US equivalents of British colours.

The technical data I have on the Sea Fury states up to twelve rockets(although it was tested with as many as sixteen while under develpment for the Navy) and the one pic I have showing the rocket stubs on the aircraft has three per wing...double-stacked that would make six per wing for the stated full load of twelve.

Cheers, Jon  

[philp]

Thanks Jon,
Will go with the US interior color.

I also counted 3 stubs per wing but not sure if they carried a full load of rockets during Korea.  Hard to find period pics with any load other than 2 drop tanks.  

[NARSES2]

Had a look at Crowood's Hawker, Typhoon, Tempest and Sea Fury and there are photo's and diagrams of the rocket mounting points. 3 zero length per wing which could be "duplex mounted". Also pics of Korean War aircraft carrying 2 500lb bombs