When Marcel Lobelle designed the Fairey Battle in 1936 it was an advanced design but due to the rapid advances in aircraft design driven by the threat of war it was obsolete by the outbreak of WWII, it was to big and heavy for the power developed by the early Merlin engine it was an easy target for the latest Axis fighters such as the superb Messerschmitt BF 109E. Due to a total lack of any other front-line strike bomber in the RAF the aircraft remained in front line service resulting in horrific losses of aircraft and air-crews. The most notable Fairey Battle action was the Heroic, if not suicidal, attack on the two road bridges over the Albert Canal near Maastricht, all six aircraft were lost and the Victoria Cross was posthumously awarded to Flying Officer Garland and Sgt Gray. The Fairey Battle remained in RAF service until 1949 but were only used in training and target tug roles after September 1940, much to the relief of the air-crews who had been flying them! The RAF was not to have a practical replacement for the Fairey Battle until the introduction of the excellent the de Havilland Mosquito in 1942. Fairey Battle Mk.II Specifications: - Crew: Pilot, navigator and gunner
- Length: 42 ft 2 in (12.85 m)
- Wingspan: 54 ft 0 in (16.46 m)
- Height: 15 ft 6 in (4.72 m)
- Empty weight: 6,647 lb (3,015 kg)
- Loaded weight: 10,792 lb (4,895 kg)
- Engine: Single 1,030 hp (770 kW) liquid cooled Rolls-Royce Merlin II V-12
- Maximum speed: 257 mph (414 km/h)
- Range: 1,000 mi (1,609 km)
- Service ceiling: 25,000 ft (7,600 m)
Armament: - Single .303 in (7.7 mm) Browning machine gun in starboard wing
- Single .303 in (7.7 mm) Vickers K machine gun in rear cabin
- Four 250 lb (110 kg) bombs internally stored
- 500 lb (227 kg) of under-wing mounted bombs
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