Fairey Swordfish

Swordfish
Swordfish LS 326 in flight in 2013
General information
Type	Torpedo bomber
National origin	United Kingdom
Manufacturer	Fairey
Built by	Fairey, Blackburn Aircraft
Primary users	Fleet Air Arm, Royal Navy Royal Air Force Royal Canadian Air Force Royal Netherlands Navy
Number built	2,391 (692 by Fairey and 1,699 by Blackburn)
History
Manufactured	1936–1944
Introduction date	1936
First flight	17 April 1934
Retired	21 May 1945

The Fairey Swordfish was a biplane torpedo bomber, designed by the Fairey Aviation Company. Originating in the early 1930s, the Swordfish, nicknamed "Stringbag", was principally operated by the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy. It was also used by the Royal Air Force (RAF), as well as several overseas operators, including the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and the Royal Netherlands Navy. It was initially operated primarily as a fleet attack aircraft. During its later years, the Swordfish was increasingly used as an anti-submarine and training platform. The type was in frontline service throughout the Second World War.

Despite being representative of early 1930s aircraft design and teetering on the edge of becoming outdated (in comparison to some alternatives), the Swordfish achieved some spectacular successes during the war. Notable events included sinking one battleship and damaging two others of the Regia Marina (the Italian navy) during the Battle of Taranto, and the famous attack on the German battleship Bismarck, which contributed to her eventual demise. Swordfish sank a greater tonnage of Axis shipping than any other Allied aircraft during the war.^[1] The Swordfish remained in front-line service until V-E Day, having outlived some of the aircraft intended to replace it.