Fairey Fulmar

Fairey Fulmar
Description
Role	Carrier-borne fighter
Crew	2
First Flight	January 4, 1940
Entered Service	July 1940
Manufacturer	Fairey Aviation
Dimensions
Length	40 ft 2 in	12.24 m
Wingspan	46 ft 5 in	14.14 m
Height	14 ft 2 in	4.30 m
Wing area	ft²	m²
Weights
Empty	lb	kg
Loaded	9,672 lb	4,387 kg
Maximum takeoff	lb	kg
Powerplant
Engines	1 x Rolls Royce Merlin VIII or 30 Vee type
Power	1,080 hp (Merlin VIII) 1,300 hp (Merlin 30)	805 kW 970 kW
Performance
Maximum speed	272 mph at 7,250 ft	438 km/h at 2,200 m
Combat range	780 miles	1,255 km
Ferry range	miles	km
Service ceiling	27,200 ft	8,300 m
Rate of climb	ft/min	m/min
Wing loading	lb/ft²	kg/m²
Power/Mass	hp/lb	kW/kg
Armament
Guns	8 x 0.303 in Browning machine gun 1 x 0.303 Vickers K machine gun in rear cabin
Bombs	2 x 100 lb or 250 lb bombs	2 x 45 kg or 110 kg

The Fulmar was a carrier-borne fighter of the Fleet Air Arm built by Fairey Aviation during 1940. It was based upon the Fairey Battle light bomber that had been developed in 1936. It was distinguished as the first eight-gun fighter to serve with the FAA but its performance, like that of its Battle ancestor, was lacking.

The Fulmar underwent rapid development. The design was developed to Specification O.8/38 but no prototype was built and the Fulmar went straight into production, the first plane flying on January 4, 1940. Two types of Fulmar were produced; the Mark I was powered by the Rolls Royce Merlin VIII engine and the Mark II was powered by the Merlin 30. Only 250 Mark Is and 350 Mark IIs were built during the production life of the Fulmar.

The first squadron to be equipped with the Fulmar was No.806 Squadron FAA in July, 1940 and this squadron began operating from HMS Illustrious shortly afterwards. In total, 14 squadrons were equipped with the Fulmar.

The Fulmar was not well matched with land-based fighters so was replaced by the likes of the Supermarine Seafire in 1942. It saw useful service in night-time roles as a convoy escort and intruder.

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