Hawker Sea Hurricane

With shipping losses rising in the Battle of the Atlantic in early 1940, and with the lack of air cover over the Atlantic contributing highly to this, the Royal Navy were keen to acquire the Hawker Hurricane due to it's early success in the RAF.

With the addition of catapult spools to Hawker Hurricane Mk I's the first Sea Hurricane IA's appeared. These were carried by Catapult Aircraft Merchantmen (CAM) ships. However with nowhere to land the pilot, either Fleet Air Arm (FAA) or Royal Air Force (RAF) had to ditch his aircraft or bale out near the convoy and hope to be picked up. This situation was improved during August 1941 with the introduction of external fuel tanks.

Shortly afterwords the Sea Hurricane IB appeared, these included a V-frame arrester hook along with the catapult spools. In October 1941 these planes began to go aboard large merchant ships which had a small flight deck added (MAC-ships). These aircraft were kept on deck as there was no accommodation aboard.

February 1942 saw the arrival of the Sea Hurricane IC, and as with the IA and IB catapult spools and arrester hooks were installed, but with an armament of four cannons. The IIC appeared but without catapult spools as they were intended for aircraft carriers. The Sea Hurricane IIC was also installed with FAA radio equipment and the Merlin XX engine.

The last Sea Hurricane was the Mk XIIA, used in both the Mediterranean and North Atlantic.

Also see Hawker Hurricane

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