In order to defend convoys it became necessary to find a way to shoot down the high flying Focke-Wulf Fw 200 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 Hawker 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 or an allied aircraft carrier 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 that any attempt to pick him up would be made by any ship in the convoy, stopping a ship to attempt to rescue a pilot in areas where U-boats were operational was close to suicidal and the Hawker Sea Hurricane volunteer fighter pilots were fully aware of this fact...
The Sea Hurricane pictures on this page depict the only surviving ‘Hurricat’ which is carefully maintained in airworthy condition by the Shuttleworth Collection and regularly displayed at air-shows held at their Old Warden Aerodrome in Bedfordshire.
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
Hawker Sea Hurricane Mk Ib Armament:
Eight wing mounted .303" Browning machine guns
Sea Hurricane arrester hook
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Hawker Sea Hurricane WW2 Fighter Picture and Information
