Hawker Sea Hurricane
WW2 Fighter

In order to defend convoys it became necessary to find a way to shoot down the high flying Condor aircraft which would shadow convoys radioing their position to enable U-boat wolf-packs to lie-in-wait for them. The Sea Hurricane Mk. I A, (1941), fitted with catapult spools, slinging gear, arrester hook and naval radio for use from C.A.M. ships (Carrier Aircraft Merchant), was the solution, the Sea Hurricane was introduced in the spring of 1941 and soon became known unofficially as the ‘Hurricat’.

Most Sea Hurricane's were obsolete RAF Mk. 1's converted to operate from a merchantman fitted with a catapult (C.A.M. ship - Carrier Aircraft Merchant). The first enemy aircraft to be destroyed by a catapulted Sea Hurricane IA, a Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor, was shot down on August the 3rd 1941.

Unfortunately unless land was near, which was rare, a Sea Hurricane pilot had to ditch in the sea, even if the pilot survived the impact he could die of cold, also there was no guarantee any attempt to pick him up would be made, stopping a ship to attempt to rescue a pilot in areas where U-boats were operational was close to suicidal.

Hawker Sea Hurricane Mk Ib Specifications:

• Crew: Pilot only

• Engine: Single 1,030 hp Rolls-Royce Merlin III twelve-cylinder liquid-cooled engine

• Wing span: 40ft 0in (12.19m)

• Length: 31ft 4in (9.55m)

• Maximum loaded weight: 7,410 lb

• Maximum speed: 290 mph

• Service ceiling: 30,000 feet

• Range: 505 miles

Armament:

• Eight wing mounted .303" Browning machine guns

Sea Hurricane arrester hook