m10bob
Posts: 8622
Joined: 11/3/2002 From: Dismal Seepage Indiana Status: offline
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Most of my aircraft data comes from COMBAT AIRCRAFT OF THE WORLD..by John W. R. Taylor, ISBN 0-399-50471-0. I also use Aircraft of WWII by Stewart Wilson, ISBN 1-875671-35-8 They describe the Swordfish as having three main models, starting with the mark I in 1936, a carrier-borne torpedo/patrol/recon plane which overtime furnished31 FFA squadrons, and 2 RAF as well. It outlasted it's intended replacement, (the Albacore) and was still active in 1945. From the beginning, it could be operated from land based units, and even had special floats made to interchange with the wheels. The info I provided was gleaned from wikipedia, (regarding Hermes' deployment in home waters and her anti-sub duties in 1939. It also gave the dates I mentioned concerning her transfer to the Med and to Ceylon with the Swordfish back in torpedo missions. Between these books and wikipedia, they describe the plane as the only Brit plane capable of hard landings from listing or sinking carriers, even when carrying loads. While the Mark II did nor come out till 1943, the only real difference was the type of engine, and types of bomb shackles. The Mark III could be equipped with ASV Mk X ASW Radar and ASW weapons. From the very beginning, the plane could carry an 1800 lb torpedo, or the equivalent load in bombs. Canada even produced a modified Mk II version with an enclosed canopy, like the Albacores. Regarding the assignments of HMS Hermes itself, we might look at some info provided by this "WW2 Database, online). https://ww2db.com/ship_spec.php?ship_id=160 Also regarding Hermes final days, I used the Belotes' TITANS OF THE SEAS. BTW, I was surprised to learn the reason the HERMES was carrying 14-15 planes instead of her designed capacity of 20, was due to her second elevator being installed, robbing the hanger of the room. FWIW, we both remember how easy subs were to kill in the original WITP, (and it's predecessor Uncommon Valor), and we both worked on ways to improve this. In the end, it was corrected in AE, but now, air ASW efforts are left toothless, (IMHO), and just as it is easier for a grunt to hit a target from atop a hill, I feel it should be easier to locate and injure a sub from the air. Blimps suffered NO losses of ships which they were protecting...according to stats, (while losing out to one German U-boat during Operation Drumbeat, IIRC.) 1 Sep 1939 12 Swordfish torpedo bombers of 814 Naval Air Squadron landed aboard HMS Hermes to join her air crew. 18 Sep 1939 Aircraft from HMS Hermes located a German submarine escorted by destroyers Isis and Imogen; the subsequent attack was ineffective. 7 Oct 1939 HMS Hermes made rendezvous with French battleship Strasbourg in the Atlantic Ocean. 16 Oct 1939 HMS Hermes arrived at Dakar, French West Africa. 25 Oct 1939 HMS Hermes departed Dakar, French West Africa as a part of Force X patrolling Atlantic waters for German raiders. 9 Jan 1940 HMS Hermes began a period of refitting in Britain. 10 Feb 1940 HMS Hermes completed a period of refitting in Britain. 25 May 1940 Captain Richard F. J. Onslow was named the commanding officer of HMS Hermes, relieving Captain F. E. P. Hutton. 29 Jun 1940 HMS Hermes received orders to set sail toward Dakar, French West Africa. 7 Jul 1940 After dark, a boat from HMS Hermes attempted to drop depth charges underneath French battleship Richelieu in Dakar, French West Africa; the attack was not successful. 10 Jul 1940 HMS Hermes collided with armed merchant cruiser HMS Corfu in the Atlantic Ocean in poor weather, injuring two and killing one aboard HMS Hermes. 5 Aug 1940 HMS Hermes joined a South Africa-bound convoy in the South Atlantic. 17 Aug 1940 HMS Hermes began receiving repairs at Simon's Town, South Africa for damage caused by the 10 Jul 1940 collision with armed merchant cruiser HMS Corfu. 2 Nov 1940 HMS Hermes completed her repairs at Simon's Town, South Africa. 29 Nov 1940 HMS Hermes arrived at Freetown, South Africa. 2 Dec 1940 HMS Hermes made rendezvous with light cruiser HMS Dragon in the South Atlantic. 31 Dec 1940 HMS Hermes set sail for Simon's Town, South Africa. 26 Jan 1941 HMS Hermes detected a French blockade runner in the Indian Ocean south of South Africa, but lost the ship in the pursuit. 4 Feb 1941 HMS Hermes set sail toward Kismayo, Somaliland, Italian East Africa. 12 Feb 1941 HMS Hermes captured an Italian merchant ship off Italian East Africa. 22 Feb 1941 HMS Hermes was ordered to search for German cruiser Admiral Scheer in the Indian Ocean; the search did not yield any results. 4 Mar 1941 HMS Hermes arrived at Colombo, Ceylon. 19 Nov 1941 HMS Hermes arrived at Simon's Town, South Africa for a refit. 31 Jan 1942 HMS Hermes completed her refit at Simon's Town, South Africa. 14 Feb 1942 HMS Hermes arrived at Colombo, Ceylon. 19 Feb 1942 HMS Hermes departed Colombo, Ceylon to receive Swordfish torpedo bombers of 814 Naval Air Squadron in the Indian Ocean. 25 Feb 1942 HMS Hermes arrived at Trincomalee, Ceylon and disembarked Swordfish torpedo bombers of 814 Naval Air Squadron. 9 Apr 1942 Japanese carrier aircraft attacked the harbor at Trincomalee, Ceylon at 0700 hours. Two hours later, empty British aircraft carrier HMS Hermes and Australian destroyer HMAS Vampire were detected 90 miles further south. At 1035 hours, Japanese carrier aircraft attacked and sank HMS Hermes (307 killed) and HMAS Vampire (9 killed); hospital ship Vita rescued survivors from both warships. At 1207 hours, 20 Japanese carrier dive bombers sank British oiler Athelstane (all aboard survived) and British corvette HMS Hollyhock (48 were killed, 17 survived) in the Indian Ocean
< Message edited by m10bob -- 5/17/2018 2:04:15 PM >
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