Tempest (fighter)

Tempest (fighter)
Name	Tempest
Caption	A Hawker Tempest V in flight, 1944
Type	Fighter aircraft
Manufacturer	Hawker Aircraft
Designer	Sidney Camm
First flight	2 September 1942
Introduced	January 1944
Retired	1953
Primary user	Royal Air Force
Number built	1,702
Developed from	Hawker Typhoon
Variants with their own articles	Hawker Sea Fury

Tempest (fighter). The Hawker Tempest was a British fighter aircraft developed during the Second World War as an advanced derivative of the Hawker Typhoon. Designed by the renowned Sidney Camm, it was intended to address the Typhoon's performance limitations at high altitude and became one of the most powerful propeller-driven fighters of the conflict. Entering service with the Royal Air Force in 1944, the Tempest excelled as a low-altitude interceptor against V-1 flying bombs and proved highly effective in ground-attack roles over Northwest Europe.

Development

The development of the Tempest was driven by the Royal Air Force's need for a high-performance fighter capable of countering new German threats like the Focke-Wulf Fw 190. Under the leadership of Sidney Camm at Hawker Aircraft, the project, initially designated Typhoon II, focused on improving the Hawker Typhoon's high-altitude performance and solving its aerodynamic issues. Key changes included the adoption of a new, thinner laminar flow wing and the integration of several powerful engine types, most notably the Napier Sabre inline engine. The prototype, powered by a Bristol Centaurus radial engine, first flew on 2 September 1942 from Langley Airfield, leading to the production of five distinct variants centered on different powerplants.

Design

The Tempest's design was a significant evolution from its predecessor. Its most critical feature was a new, thin elliptical wing with a laminar flow section, which greatly reduced drag and improved performance at high speeds and altitudes. The airframe was of all-metal, semi-monocoque construction, and the main landing gear was widely spaced for stability on rough forward airstrips. While the Tempest Mark V used the 2,200-horsepower Napier Sabre II liquid-cooled engine, later marks experimented with the Bristol Centaurus radial and the Rolls-Royce Griffon. Armament typically consisted of four 20mm Hispano-Suiza HS.404 cannons mounted in the wings, and the aircraft could carry underwing rockets or bombs for ground attack.

Operational history

The Tempest entered operational service with No. 3 Squadron RAF in January 1944. It quickly proved its worth during the Normandy campaign, where its robust performance at low altitude made it a formidable fighter-bomber against German transport and armor. The Tempest V achieved particular fame as the most successful interceptor against V-1 flying bombs during the "Diver" campaign, destroying over 800 of the pilotless weapons. In the final year of the war, Tempest units, such as those under the Second Tactical Air Force, provided crucial air superiority and ground support across Northwest Europe, engaging aircraft like the Messerschmitt Me 262 jet. Post-war, it served in roles across the British Empire until being phased out in the early 1950s.

Variants

Several main variants of the Tempest were produced, primarily distinguished by their engine installations. The Tempest V was the first and most numerous series, powered by the Napier Sabre II engine. The Tempest II featured the Bristol Centaurus radial engine and was intended for use against Japan in the Pacific War, though it entered service just after the conflict. The Tempest VI was a high-altitude model with an uprated Napier Sabre V engine, used primarily in the Middle East. Two prototype variants were also built: the Tempest I with a Napier Sabre IV and annular radiator, and the Tempest III, which tested a Rolls-Royce Griffon engine. The design lineage continued with the navalised Hawker Sea Fury.

Operators

The primary operator of the Tempest was the Royal Air Force, which equipped numerous squadrons including No. 3 Squadron RAF, No. 56 Squadron RAF, and No. 274 Squadron RAF. After the war, the aircraft was also supplied to several allied air forces. The Indian Air Force received Tempest IIs, using them in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947–1948. The Royal New Zealand Air Force and the Royal Pakistani Air Force also operated small numbers of the type. A few Tempests were transferred to the Royal Canadian Air Force for evaluation, and surplus aircraft were sold to other nations, including Belgium.

Specifications (Tempest V)

* Crew: One * Length: 33 ft 8 in (10.26 m) * Wingspan: 41 ft 0 in (12.50 m) * Height: 16 ft 1 in (4.90 m) * Wing area: 302 ft² (28.1 m²) * Empty weight: 9,250 lb (4,195 kg) * Max takeoff weight: 13,500 lb (6,123 kg) * Powerplant: 1 × Napier Sabre IIA liquid-cooled H-24 inline engine, 2,200 hp (1,641 kW) * Maximum speed: 435 mph (700 km/h) at 18,500 ft (5,640 m) * Range: 740 mi (1,190 km) * Service ceiling: 36,500 ft (11,125 m) * Armament: 4 × 20 mm Hispano-Suiza HS.404 cannon; 2 × 1,000 lb (454 kg) bombs or 8 × 3 in (76.2 mm) RP-3 rockets

Category:Fighter aircraft Category:British fighter aircraft 1940–1949 Category:Hawker aircraft