Fairey Albacore – Photos & Videos

De Fairey Albacore was een Britse eenmotorige torpedobommenwerper gebouwd door Fairey Aviation tussen 1939 en 1943 voor de Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm en gebruikt tijdens de Tweede Wereldoorlog. Het had een bemanning van drie en was ontworpen voor spotting en verkenning, evenals niveau-, duik- en torpedobombardementen. De Albacore, in de volksmond bekend als de "Applecore", werd bedacht als vervanging voor de Fairey Swordfish, die in 1936 in dienst was gekomen. De Albacore diende echter naast de Swordfish en werd ervoor met pensioen gestuurd, en werd vanaf 1944 vervangen door twee eendekkerontwerpen, de Fairey Barracuda en Grumman Avenger.

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The Fairey Albacore was a single-engine biplane torpedo bomber that served in the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm during the Second World War. It was designed and produced by the British aircraft manufacturer Fairey Aviation, and was intended to replace the older Fairey Swordfish. However, the Albacore did not offer much improvement over the Swordfish, and was eventually replaced by monoplane designs such as the Fairey Barracuda and the Grumman Avenger.
The Albacore had a crew of three and a closed cockpit for better protection. It could carry a single 18-inch torpedo or up to 2,000 lb of bombs. It could also perform spotting and reconnaissance missions, as well as level and dive bombing. The Albacore first flew on 12 December 1938, and entered service in March 1940. A total of 800 Albacores were built, but only 400 were used operationally by the Royal Navy.
The Albacore saw action in various theatres of war, including the Mediterranean, where it participated in the Battle of Cape Matapan in 1941, and North Africa, where it supported the Second Battle of El Alamein in 1942. It also operated from land bases in East Africa, Malta and the Middle East. Some Albacores were used for special duties such as mine-laying and anti-mosquito spraying. The Albacore was also used by the Royal Air Force and the Royal Canadian Air Force, which operated the type until 1949.
The Albacore was nicknamed “Applecore” by its crews, and was generally well-liked for its handling and stability. However, it was slower and less manoeuvrable than its enemies, and suffered from poor visibility and maintenance problems. The Albacore was gradually phased out from frontline service from 1943 onwards, and was retired from all service by 1950. Today, only one Albacore survives, and is on display at the Fleet Air Arm Museum near Bristol, United Kingdom.