Hawker Trident

[benskipper]

Hawker Trident - Battle of Kowloon Bay

In 1938 a HRC Junkers Ju 87 landed in thick fog on the Commonwealth Fortress Island of Jersey in error. The crew were immediately interned and the aircraft was 'destroyed by fire' as a result of damaged 'sustained' on landing. 2 years later hawker revelaed the Typhoon. A fast interceptor/battlefield support aircraft that could easily out pace the Me 109, 110, Ju 87 & 88.

Late in 1940 Hawker revealed a navalised version, the Trident. It featured a strenthened rear fuselage, folding wings, arrestor and centrally mounted Torpedo point (the standard torpedo had to have part of the desk side fin removed so the torpedo could be mounted). It was also equipped with ASV radar which guided pilots to their targets through a series of blips in the headphones much akin to modern parking sensors.

This particular Trident took part in the Battle of Kowloon Bay as part of the HMS Eagle Flotilla, part of the South China Fleet. The flotilla ambushed and mauled an Imperial Japanese Invasion force early on the morning 7th December 1941. The 2nd China Expeditionary Fleet was so badly mauled by the combined attack of the HMS Eagle Flotilla, the HMS Orphius Flotilla and the HMAS Kamilaroi Flotilla, that the commander, Adm Masaichi Niimi was hung from his own quater deck before the fleet skuttled itself in the Taiwan Straits as oppossed to being destroyed by the Commonwealth forces bearing down upon them.

[The Rat]

 

[comrade harps]

Got a Tiffy kit and been musing on the torpedo idea my self, so I'll have to go with my USAAF in Russia idea instead 

Nice job.

[Pablo1965]

Nice idea.

[Cliffy B]

Great build and backstory.  Well done indeed sir! 

[kitbasher]

There was of course the real Hawker P.1009 Sea Typhoon design proposal drawn up to the same spec as the Blackburn Firebrand - which was intended to carry a torpedo.  The P.1009 was rather more than just a navalised 'land' Typhoon, however, quite a lot of redesign, especially the wing. 

[NARSES2]

I really like that, some lovely detail work.

What kit is it ?

[rickshaw]

It's nice.  Very well executed.  You earn a Koala Stamp! 

[benskipper]

Narses2 - Cheer s for the comment. The kit is that fantasically well detailed, and molded Airfix offering circa 196? I believe. All I have to say is that it certainly tests one abilities even making the basic model as none of the parts actually fit together, at all.

Rick I thank you for the Koala Stamp and hope the mighty Koala brings me fame and fortune...

[NARSES2]

Narses2 - Cheer s for the comment. The kit is that fantasically well detailed, and molded Airfix offering circa 196? I believe. All I have to say is that it certainly tests one abilities even making the basic model as none of the parts actually fit together, at all.

Thought it was  Even more kudos then

[Old Wombat]

That's great, Ben!

On a personal note: I think I would have gone for a flush-mount on the lower fuselage, or even slightly recessed, to give better ground/deck clearance.