Fairey Albacore

Fairey Albacore
Country	UK
Role	Torpedo bomber
First fly	12 December 1938
Built	800

The Fairey Albacore was a British single-engine torpedo bomber built by Fairey Aviation between 1939 and 1943 for the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm and used during the Second World War. It had a crew of three and was designed for spotting and reconnaissance as well as level, dive, and torpedo bombing. The Albacore, popularly known as the “Applecore”, was conceived as a replacement for the Fairey Swordfish, which had entered service in 1936. However, the Albacore served alongside the Swordfish and was retired before it, being replaced from 1944 by two monoplane designs, the Fairey Barracuda and Grumman Avenger.

Source: Fairey Battle on Wikipedia

Fairey Albacore Walk Around
Photographer	Rob Leiga
Localisation	Unknow
Photos	70

Fairey Albacore 1

Fairey Albacore 2

Fairey Albacore 3

Fairey Albacore 5

Fairey Albacore 4

Fairey Albacore 7

Fairey Albacore 6

Fairey Albacore 9

Fairey Albacore 8

Click on a photo and use the mouse scroll to view all photos

Wait, Searching Fairey Albacore for you…

General Characteristics

The Fairey Albacore was a British single-engine, three-seat carrier-based torpedo bomber biplane used by the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) during World War II. Designed in response to Air Ministry specification S.41/36, it was intended as a modern replacement for the legendary but older Fairey Swordfish. The Albacore introduced several advancements over the Swordfish, including an enclosed and heated cockpit, hydraulic flaps, and a variable-pitch propeller. Despite these improvements, it ultimately served alongside, and was retired before, the Swordfish, being eventually replaced by the monoplane Fairey Barracuda.

Property	Typical Value (Mk. I)
Role	Torpedo Bomber, Reconnaissance, Dive Bomber
National Origin	United Kingdom
Manufacturer	Fairey Aviation Company Limited
First Flight	December 12, 1938
No. Built	~802
Crew	3 (Pilot, Observer, Air Gunner)
Length	12.14 m (39 ft 10 in)
Wingspan	15.24 m (50 ft 0 in)
Max Takeoff Weight	5,670 kg (12,500 lb)

Powerplant and Performance

Engine: One Bristol Taurus XII 14-cylinder air-cooled radial engine.
Power Output: 843 kW (1,130 hp) in production models.
Maximum Speed: 259 km/h (161 mph).
Cruise Speed: 187 km/h (116 mph).
Range (Normal): 1,143 km (710 miles).
Range (Maximum): 1,497 km (930 miles).
Service Ceiling: 6,310 m (20,700 ft).
Design Note: Initial reliability issues with the sleeve-valve Taurus engine were eventually resolved, but the Swordfish’s older, simpler Pegasus engine remained more consistently dependable.

Armament and Ordnance

Fixed Forward Armament: 1 x 7.7 mm (.303 in) M1919 Browning machine gun (fixed in the starboard lower wing).
Defensive Armament: 1 or 2 x 7.7 mm (.303 in) Vickers K machine guns (flexible mounting in the rear cockpit).
External Ordnance:
- 1 x 730 kg (1,670 lb) torpedo.
- Or, up to 910 kg (2,000 lb) of bombs (e.g., four 227 kg / 500 lb bombs).
- Or, four Mk.VII depth charges for anti-submarine patrols.
Operational Use: The Albacore saw action across multiple theaters, including the Battle of Cape Matapan, the Battle of Malta, and the attack on the German battleship Tirpitz in 1942.