Country of origin:

United Kingdom

Description:

Carrier-borne anti-submarine search-and-strike aircraft

Power Plant:

One 2,200 kw (2,950 ehp) Armstrong Siddeley Double Mamba 100 turboprop

Specifications:

Armament:

Sixteen 7.62 cm (3 in) rocket projectiles; two anti-submarine torpedoes or mines, depth charges or sonobuoys

History:

Known initially as the Fairey Type Q, the prototype of the Fairey Gannet (VR546) flew for the first time on 19 September 1949, the second prototype (VR557) flying on 6 July 1950. These were two-seat, carrier-borne, aircraft powered by the Armstrong Siddeley Double Mamba ASMD.1 turboprop, which consisted of two 753 kw (1,010 ehp) Mamba ASM3 engines, modified and linked to a common gearbox, driving contra-rotating propellers. VR546 made the first landing by a turbine-powered aircraft on ‘HMS Illustrious’ on 19 June 1950. The third prototype (WE488) was flown on 10 May 1951 and, when completed, was close to production standard. It had a third cockpit, a lengthened weapons bay, and the retractable scanner mounted further aft.

Development of the type was quite protracted, and it was not until 9 June 1953 that the first production Gannet AS.1 was flown. This had the now standardised auxiliary fins on the tail, and a modified undercarriage. The first order was for 100 aircraft with serials between WN339 and WN464 (c/ns F.9111 to F.9210) being Gannet AS.1s. Subsequently new variants appeared to meet requirements. One was converted to trainer configuration, the first Gannet T.2 WN365 (c/n F.9137) being first flown on 16 August 1954, having dual controls and a periscope for the second cockpit, with the radome and radar being deleted. Deliveries of production aircraft to Royal Navy (RN) Squadrons began on 17 January 1955.

In 1955 Royal Australian Navy (RAN) crews trained with No 737 Squadron, RN at Eglington, Northern Ireland, and on 15 August 1955 two RAN units, Nos 816 and 817 Squadrons, were formed at RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall to operate the Gannet AS.1. During 1956 flying trials commenced on board ‘HMAS Melbourne’, 22 Gannets being accepted in Glasgow, Scotland in March. These comprised 20 AS.1s with serials in the range WN456 to XA434 and two T.2 trainers serialled XA514 and XA517. One (WN459) was lost when it crashed into the sea off the Isle of Wight in November 1955 before delivery to the carrier. On 11 March 1955 the carrier departed Glasgow, the aircraft being taken off on arrival at Jervis Bay, NSW on 8 May and conveyed to the naval air base at Nowra.

Subsequently the aircraft carrier deployed on exercises in South East Asia and took part in South East Asia Treaty Organisation (SEATO) exercises. Eventually it was decided Australia would have only one aircrft carrier and No 817 Squadron was disbanded, No 816 remaining on board the ‘HMAS Melbourne’. In 1957 a further four Gannets were shipped to Australia (serials XA436, XD898, XG784 and XG787). At about this time de Havilland at Bankstown, NSW converted XA333 to Gannet T.2 trainer configuration. No 817 Squadron also served on board ‘HMAS Sydney’ whilst equipped with Gannets. Both units were based at ‘HMAS Albatross’, the Naval Air Station at Nowra, NSW, with No 724 (Training) Squadron when not at sea.

On 12 March 1956 the prototype Gannet AS.4 WN372 (c/n F.9144) was flown with the up-rated 2,264 kw (3,035 ehp) Double Mamba 101 engine. Gannet T.2s were then modified to this standard and designated Gannet T.5. The first production T.5 (XG882), which was flown on 1 March 1957, had served with the RAN as a T.2 for a period. Gannet Mks AS.1, T.2 and AS.4 were withdrawn from use in the United Kingdom in 1960 but the Australian machines continued on board ‘HMAS Melbourne’ until 15 August 1967. Some Royal Navy AS.1s were modified to AS.4 standard.

The trainer variant of the AS.4 was the T.5, the first production aircraft being XG882 (c/n F.9411). A further nine Gannets were received by the RAN in September 1958 (serialled between XG785 and XG888), these being AS.1s diverted from a British upgrade batch to T.5 standard. XG888 was a T.2 and, after service in Australia with the RAN, it was returned to the United Kingdom in 1967 on board ‘HMS Victorious’ where it was upgraded to T.5 standard. In August 1995 the aircraft was presented to the RAN and shipped to Australia where it has been placed on display in the Museum of Flight at Nowra.

A total of 36 Gannets served with the RAN, comprising 33 AS.1s and three T.2s, and in fact no AS.4s were received. Total production of the Gannet was 349 aircraft.

RAN Gannet serials for AS.1s were: XA326 to XA334, XA343, XA350, XA351, XA356, XA359, XA389, XA399 and XA403; WN456 to WN459; XA434 to XA436; XD898; XA508; XG784, XG785, XG787 XG789, XG791, XG792, XG795, XG796, XG825 and XG826.

When in service ten Gannets were usually embarked on board ‘HMAS Melbourne’. As typical of Navy aircraft, code letters were carried on the tail to indicate the home base: ‘NW’ for ‘HMAS Albatross’, Nowra, ‘K’ for ‘HMAS Sydney’ and ‘M’ for ‘HMAS Melbourne’.

A number were lost in service in accidents, ten being lost in ditchings whilst operating from ‘HMAS Melbourne’, these including WB456, WN456, WN457, WN459, XA350, XA359, XA436 and SG792. A few crashed, including: WN458 at Nowra on 15 October 1959; XA330 at Nowra on 20 February 1961; XA332 on 30 January 1959 at Miranda, Sydney when the tail assembly failed; XA356 off ‘HMAS Melbourne’ on 30 November 1960; and XG796 off ‘HMAS Melbourne’ on 24 February 1966.

Of the 24 survivors at the time the type was withdrawn from service, most were scrapped, and a few were used for fire fighting instruction at Nowra. A few have survived in museums and these include XA434 at the Camden Museum of Aviation at Narellan, NSW; XG789 at National Aviation Museum, Moorabbin, VIC; XA331 at the Queensland Air Museum at Caloundra; and XA434 at the Fleet Air Arm Museum at Nowra.

Some 16 survive in the United Kingdom, four in Germany, two in Indonesia and two in the United States where one Gannet T.5 N752XT (ex XT752) has been airworthy.