Fairey Světluška AS Mk 6

Fairey Světluška AS Mk 6

ZeměUk
RoliStíhací bombardér
První let22. prosince 1941
Postaven1702

Fairey světluška byl britský stíhací letoun a protiponorkové letouny flotily Air Arm (FAA) z druhé světové války. Pilot a navigátor/zbrojní důstojník, navržený podle současného konceptu dvoumístného průzkumu/stíhače dvoumístné flotily, byl umístěn na samostatných stanicích. Byl vynikající ve výkonu a palebné síle než jeho předchůdce Fulmar, ale do provozu vstoupil až ke konci války, kdy již nebyl konkurenceschopný jako bojovník. Omezení jednoho motoru v těžkém draku letadla snížila jeho výkon, ale ukázalo se, že je robustní, dálkový a poslušný v provozu dopravce.

Zdroj: Fairey Firefly na Wikipedii

Fairey Firefly AS Mk 6
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Viz také:

Druhá světová válka: Definitivní vizuální historie od Blitzkriegu po atomovou bombu (DK Definitive Visual Histories) - Amazon Druhá světová válka Mapa podle mapy (DK History Map by Map) - Amazon


Evolution of a Naval Thoroughbred

Fairey Světluška AS Mk 6 represents the peak of the Firefly’s evolution as a specialized Anti-Submarine (AS) platform. Originally designed during WWII as a two-seat fighter-reconnaissance aircraft, the post-war variants traded their cannons for sensors. By the time the Mk 6 arrived in the early 1950s, the threat had shifted from Axis ships to Soviet submarines. This version was the first to be entirely “gunless,” dedicated solely to the detection and destruction of sub-surface threats using an array of sonobuoys, radar, and depth charges.

Attribute Technical Specification (AS Mk 6)
Roli Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW)
Posádky 2 (Pilot and Observer/Radar Operator)
motor 1 × Rolls-Royce Griffon 74 V12 (2,100 hp)
Maximum Speed 526 km/h (327 mph) at 14,000 ft
Cruise Speed 336 km/h (209 mph)
Zbrojení None (Internal cannons removed for equipment/fuel)
Underwing Stores Sonobuoys, 2 × 1,000 lb bombs, or Depth Charges
Special Equipment ASH Radar in starboard wing pod

Design Engineering: The Griffon and the “Youngman” Flaps

  • The Griffon Engine: Replacing the older Merlins, the massive Rolls-Royce Griffon drove a four-blade propeller. The Griffon gave the Firefly the low-end torque required to lift heavy anti-submarine gear off the short decks of British Light Fleet Carriers.
  • Youngman Flaps: These were the Firefly’s secret weapon. These complex flaps could be extended below the wing not just for landing, but for cruising and combat. In the “cruise” position, they increased lift and allowed the plane to fly very slowly while loitering over a suspected submarine contact.
  • The “Gunless” Mk 6: Unlike the Mk 5 which retained four 20mm cannons, the Mk 6 removed them entirely. This allowed for more internal fuel and specialized radio gear, turning the aircraft from a hybrid fighter into a dedicated, long-endurance hunter.
  • Tandem Cockpits: The pilot sat forward, while the observer sat in a separate, secluded cockpit behind the trailing edge of the wing. From there, the observer managed the “ASH” radar and monitored the sonobuoy drops, essentially acting as the brains of the hunt.

Operational History: The Korean War and Beyond

  • The Korean War: Fireflies (mostly Mk 5s and 6s) were workhorses in Korea, flying from carriers like HMS Theseus A Ocean. While the Mk 6 was specialized for ASW, they were often used for “armed reconnaissance,” spotting targets for the fleet’s big guns and hunting North Korean coastal traffic.
  • International Hunter: The AS Mk 6 was exported to several allies, most notably Austrálie. The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) operated them from HMAS Sydney, where they were highly regarded for their reliability in the harsh Pacific environment.
  • The Transition to Jet Power: The Firefly AS Mk 6 served as the vital bridge for the Fleet Air Arm, holding the line until the turboprop-powered Fairey Gannet could take over the specialized anti-submarine role in the mid-1950s.
  • The Blue Hen: Because of the observer’s cramped, window-heavy cockpit in the rear, the aircraft was sometimes jokingly compared to a “flying greenhouse.”

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