In the early days of the Second World War, the protection of the British fleet was assured by the Fairey Fulmar.
Despite its inferior performances when compared to its land-based contemporaries, the Fulmar would prove to be one of aviation's greatest underdog and in the end, became the fighter with the most credited kills in the Fleet Air Arm's history. Sturdy, easy to fly and capable of suprisingly sharp turns for its size, the Fulmar and its courageous crews held the line during the Royal Navy's darkest hours.
Using the already existing side-view made by Radome, I modified it heavily and I added the top and front views.
So here is the Fairey Fulmar in its three variants:
Mark I
This is N1932, of 806 Naval Air Squadron, a high-scoring Fulmar flown by a variety of pilots. It was involded in the squadron's operations from HMS
Illustrious between OP Judgment and OP Excess and then continued to defend its carrier out of Malta during the
Illustrious Blitz.
Mark II
This is BP782, again of 806 NAS, but this time in April 1942 when the squadron was deployed to the Indian Ocean, based out of Ceylon. Churchill's famous 'most dangerous moment of the war'.
Compared to the Mk.I, the visual distinctions between the two types are few, the most obvious one being the additions of new air intakes each side of the already existing one under the engine. Less visible were the 350 lbs of weight saving, the more powerful Merlin 30 engine, and the addition of more ammunitions for the eight Brownings machine guns, among others.
Mark II NF
Finally, we have DR726, of 784 NAS, depicted at the time it was embarked aboard the escort carrier HMS
Ravager in early 1944.
The two main differences between the Night Fighter variant and the 'standard' Mk.II is the addition of the radar antennas and the upgrade of the armament from eight browning .303 to four M2 0.50. It should be noted though, that the armament change is not exclusive to the NF Mk.II but was rather a modification added to the last production units of the Mk.II, which were generally used for NF conversions.
Comments and criticism are welcome!