Stringbag Back in the Air

摘要

The Fairey Swordfish biplane torpedo bomber was one of the most unusual yet effective World War II aircraft. The Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm deployed it as late as May 1945, which would have been akin to the U.S. Army Air Forces ending WWII with Boeing P-26 Peashooters battling Me-109s. Fortunately, the Swordfish faced few aerial opponents. The Germans had no aircraft carriers, so as long as Swordfish operated far enough from fighter bases-typically from carriers-they were free to do major damage. In a November 1940 night attack during the Battle of Taranto, Swordfish mauled one Italian battleship so badly that it never sailed again and seriously damaged two more and a cruiser. In May 1941, a Swordfish torpedo disabled the German battleship Bismarck's steering gear and set up the ship for sinking the next day.