Swordfish Units of World War 2 cover

Description

A fully illustrated account of the World War 2 combat career of the Fairey Swordfish torpedo-bomber, one of the Royal Navy's most resilient and effective aircraft of the period.

During the 1930s, the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm sought an aircraft to combine the functions of torpedo attack, reconnaissance and gunnery spotting, eventually realising this goal with the Swordfish biplane. Despite competition from more modern types like the Blackburn Shark and Barracuda, the Swordfish made a key contribution to some of Britain's greatest naval successes of World War 2, helping to tip the balance during operations such as the raid on the Italian battle fleet at Taranto in November 1940, and the attacks on the German battleship Bismarck in May 1941. Elsewhere, it assumed an anti-submarine role both in the Battle of the Atlantic and when escorting Arctic convoys, and was used by the RAF for anti-shipping work during the D-Day landings and the final stages of the European war.

With this fascinating study, historian Matthew Willis draws on Admiralty files, operational records and interviews with Fleet Air Arm aircrew to assemble a wide-ranging history of one of the Royal Navy's most important aircraft. Archival photographs and 22 newly commissioned colour profiles help to chart the development of the Swordfish, detailing the aircraft's resilience and adaptability through both its many victories and its equally eventful defeats.

Table of Contents

(subject to confirmation)
Development
Carrier-based operations with the Royal Navy 1939–42
Shore-based operations with the Royal Navy and RAF 1939–42
Operating from escort carriers in convoy protection 1941–44
RAF anti-shipping service 1943–45
Appendices
Index

Product details

Published Jul 17 2025
Format Ebook (PDF)
Edition 1st
Extent 96
ISBN 9781472865083
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Illustrations Colour artwork plates and maps; black & white and colour photographs and illustrations.
Series Combat Aircraft
Short code COM 157
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Matthew Willis

Matthew Willis is a writer and editor, specialisin…

Illustrator

Janusz Swiatlon

Janusz Swiatlon lives in Krakow, Poland. A veteran…

Illustrator

Gareth Hector

Gareth Hector is a digital artist of international…

Resources

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