Armament:

One 7.7 mm (0.303 in) fixed Browning machine gun in starboard wing; one 7.7 mm (0.303in) Vickers K machine gun on flexible mounting in rear cockpit; max bomb load 452 kg (1,000 lb)

History:

The Fairey Battle was designed as a two-seat single-engine monoplane day-bomber able to carry 452 kg (1,000 lb) of bombs for 1,609 km (1,000 miles) at 322 km/h (200 mph). However, in the event it was operationally obsolete by the beginning of World War II, and its main claim to fame was operations against bridges and German columns advancing into Belgium and France in 1940.

Designed by Marcel Labelle, the prototype Battle (K4303) flew for the first time on 10 March 1936. Service trials revealed a performance far in advance of any contemporary day-bomber. The initial production contract was for 155 aircraft, this being placed before the prototype had flown. Provision was made in production aircraft for a crew of three, a radio-operator/air-gunner being added to the pilot and observer.

Bomb load was usually 452 kg (1,000 lb) made up of four 113 kg (250 lb) general- purpose bombs in an internal bomb-bay and, when released in level bombing, they fell through specially designed trap doors. However, when dive-bombing, hydraulic jacks, on which bombs were carried, were lowered below the wing surfaces in order to avoid the propeller; and provision was made for an overload of 227 kg (500 lb), these being carried on wing racks.

Although an extremely robust aircraft, it was found the Battle could not operate in daylight without fighter escort and, after the collapse of France, it was withdrawn from operations and relegated to the training role.

A total of 2,419 Battles was ordered, 2,185 being completed, 1,156 by the Fairey Aviation Company and 1,029 by Austin Motors. In addition, 18 were built by Avions Fairey in Belgium for the Belgian Air Force. The type also saw service with the South African, Canadian and Australian air forces in the training role. In Canada one (R7439) was fitted with a 627 kw (840 hp) Wright Cyclone GR-1820-G3B radial engine by Fairchild in Quebec in case Merlin engines became unavailable but in the event no further aircraft were converted.

In Australia the A22- prefix was allotted to the series, but in the event all 365 aircraft supplied retained their Royal Air Force serials. The first (P5239), after assembly, was tested on 29 June 1940, and the last (V1202) was received on 7 December 1943. Variants included bombers, target tugs, and dual control trainers, the latter having two separate cockpits. Most saw service with Bombing and Gunnery Schools, including No 1 at Evans Head, NSW, No 2 at Port Pirie, SA, and No 3 at Sale, VIC. In addition a number were attached to No 1 Operational Training Unit (OTU) at West Sale, this unit later moving to East Sale, where the Battle was operated in the target towing role.

A number supplied to the RAAF have no record of being used by that service and presumably were used for instructional airframe purposes, or were converted to spares. The Australian aircraft comprised three variants: 30 Battle TTs, these being target tugs; a number with dual controls for pilot training; and the remainder all being the bomber variant. They operated in a variety of colour schemes. Ex-RAF bombers had standard RAF green and brown upper surfaces and pale blue underside. The target towing aircraft had yellow and black diagonal stripes; whereas the trainers were generally overall yellow. They were assembled at No 1 Aircraft Park, which was the International Harvester facility at Geelong, VIC, then being delivered to No 1 Aircraft Depot (AD) at Laverton, VIC from where they were sent to RAAF bombing and gunnery units around the country.

Two examples of the Battle found their way to New Zealand. One (P6673) was supplied as Instructional Airframe No 42 in July 1941 but was found unsuitable and only saw limited use. Another found its way to New Zealand in February 1943, this becoming Instructional Airframe 59.

Although used mainly in the training role, Battles almost saw action on 13 January 1941 when an aircraft on a bombing exercise from No 1 Bombing and Gunnery School (BAGS) observed a submarine near Snapper Rock but it submerged before a successful attack could be mounted. Later ten Battles made a search of the area without success.

Following the attack by Japanese forces on Pearl Harbour in Hawaii, No 52 (Reserve) Squadron was formed at No 1 BAGS in December 1941, comprising three flights of Battles manned by existing personnel. Some patrols were made along the New South Wales coast but, as the situation in the Pacific changed, the unit was disbanded in June 1942. The type was phased out of service in 1949 and most were broken up.

In March 1974 the remains of a Mk I (serial N2188), which had force landed west of Port Pirie aerodrome, on 7 May 1943, were located and conveyed to the South Australian Aviation Museum in Adelaide, and, using parts of other aircraft, including a pair of wings obtained from the RAF Museum at Hendon, was being restored for static display.

During 1995 the remains of another Fairey Battle were located in the New South Wales southern highlands near Moss Vale where it crashed and this has been recovered for restoration.

Only a couple of Battles has survived: one Battle Mk I (L5343) having been restored using parts from a number of wrecks and having been placed on display at the RAF Museum at Hendon; and another (R2950) having been displayed at the Brussels Air Museum in Belgium.