Hawker Hurricane Mk I–V

By Martyn Chorlton, Adam Tooby and Simon Smith

At the outbreak of World War II, only 111 Squadron and a handful of others were equipped with the Hurricane. Thanks to sudden massive orders and a well-organized Hawker sub-contracting production to Gloster and General Aircraft, more squadrons rapidly became operational. Cutting their teeth during the Battle of France, it was during the Battle of Britain that the type excelled and came to form the backbone of Fighter Command. While the Hurricane was steadily overtaken by the Spitfire in the fighter defence role, it remained the fighter of choice in North Africa and the Far East. Despite a large number being shot down in these far-flung conflicts, many received hasty repairs and returned to the fray while more fragile designs were permanently grounded. The Hurricane may not have been the prettiest or, the best-performing aircraft but, as Francis Mason stated: 'The Royal Air Force was glad to get the Spitfire…it had to have the Hurricane!'

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
• Release date: Feb 20, 2013
• ISBN: 9781780966045

Book preview

HAWKER HURRICANE MK I–V

INTRODUCTION

It may not have been the prettiest or the best performing plane, but the Hawker Hurricane will always be seen as the aircraft necessary at the time, and thankfully it was produced in high numbers. Its design had incorporated older, tried and tested technologies but also took fighter design a little further forward.

When George Bulman first took the prototype into the air at Brooklands on 6 November 1935, the new Hurricane was presented to the world as a modern fighting monoplane. Fitted with eight guns, a retractable undercarriage and the ability to breach 300mph with ease, many journalists of the day commented that the peak of fighter performance had finally been reached.

Despite the promise shown by the new fighter, the Air Ministry remained lethargic, even with the dark clouds of another world conflict approaching. It was thanks to the Hawker Aircraft Company beginning production without a solid contract that the RAF received the aircraft as early as it did.

With 111 Squadron leading the way, only a handful of squadrons were operational with the Hurricane on the outbreak of World War II. Thanks to sudden massive orders and a well-organised manufacturer who subcontracted production to Gloster Aircraft Company and General Aircraft, more squadrons were rapidly re-equipped, cutting their teeth during the battle of France. It was during the Battle of Britain that the type excelled and it undoubtedly formed the backbone of Fighter Command at the time.

Six Hurricanes of 111 Squadron pose for the camera with L1552 in the foreground, which only served with the unit briefly before moving on to 56 Operational Training Unit at Sutton Bridge. Beyond is L1555, which was nicknamed the ‘State Express’ after Sqn Ldr Gillan made his record-breaking flight in the Hurricane. (Aeroplane via author)

With technology advancing at high speed, the Hurricane was steadily overtaken by the Supermarine Spitfire in the fighter defence role. However, it still remained the fighter of choice in North Africa and the Far East, where it often fought against overwhelming Japanese odds. Despite a large number being shot down in these far-flung conflicts, many were returned to the air after hasty repairs while more fragile designs would have been grounded permanently. A real workhorse in all respects, the Hurricane was adapted for the ground attack role with a modified wing that could carry bombs, high calibre cannon, or drop tanks. The airframe’s ability to take a great deal of punishment while flying these low-level operations meant that more pilots returned to base with heavy battle damage rather than having to face bailing out over occupied territory. While many were relegated to a host of second line units during the later stages of World War II, the Hurricane fought on in the Far East, especially Burma, where the fighter wreaked havoc amongst the Japanese forces.

George Bulman, the Hawker Aircraft Company’s chief test pilot from 1925 to 1945, with Sir Thomas Octave Murdoch Sopwith at Brooklands in the early 1930s. Bulman flew a host of aircraft that were designed by the Sydney Camm team including the Heron, Horsley, Hart, Tomtit, F.20/27, Demon 1933 and Hector. (Aeroplane via author)

DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT

First of the Many: A Fighter with Pedigree

The Sopwith Aviation Company had made a great contribution during World War I with regard to fighter aircraft. Its excellent designs included the Tabloid, 1½ Strutter, Pup, Triplane and of course the iconic Camel. Tommy Sopwith was quite a visionary when it came to fighter design, and even the monoplane version of the Camel, the Swallow, was attempted, but its performance did not warrant any further development.

A huge surplus of military aircraft following the Armistice put paid to any further serious role in aviation for Sopwith Aviation. An attempt to broaden the company’s horizons by purchasing ABC Motorcycles and ABC Motors was a failed venture and Sopwith was liquidated in 1920. Undeterred, Tommy Sopwith, along with Harry Hawker, Fred Sigrist and Bill Eyre, immediately formed H. G. Hawker Engineering.

Being based at the traditional home of British aviation, Brooklands, would prove to be particularly advantageous, thanks to it being the home of Vickers Ltd, another aviation manufacturer. Hawker’s first aircraft, the Duiker, was designed by the fledgling company’s first chief designer, Capt Thomson, who would rely heavily on equipment and parts loaned and manufactured by Vickers to complete the project. Designed to meet a Corps Reconnaissance requirement to support the British Army, the Duiker made its first flight in July 1923. No orders were forthcoming, but it did teach Hawker a great deal and the next design would progress considerably further than a single prototype.

While the Duiker may have been Hawker’s first design, it was not the company’s first aircraft to fly. In 1922, the company responded to Specification 25/22, which called for a night fighter. Once again designed by Capt Thomson, the first Woodcock, J6987, was flown in March 1923 by F. P. Raynham. The prototype was rejected, along with Capt Thomson, who was replaced by W. G. Carter. Carter redesigned the aircraft into the successful Woodcock II, of which the RAF eventually ordered 62. The design also gave the company its first overseas sales, as three examples of a version called the Danecock were sold to the Danish Air Force. A construction licence was later applied for as well and the Danes built a dozen aircraft under the name Dankok. Hawker was on its way.

Throughout the 1920s and into the early 1930s, Hawker achieved varying success not only with fighter designs but also with torpedo and light bombers, especially the Hart, which became a mainstay type for the RAF from 1930 and into World War II. From 1925, Hawker’s chief designer was Sydney Camm. Camm’s aviation career began as a carpenter’s apprentice with Martinsyde before progressing to Hawker in 1923 as a senior draughtsman.

Key

1. Rotol three-bladed propeller

2. Propeller pitch change mechanism

3. Propeller reduction gearbox

4. Rolls-Royce Merlin III V12 liquid-cooled engine

5. Coolant pipes

6. Generator (engine driven)

7. Ignition control unit

8. Starboard main wheel

9. Carburettor intake

10. Inertia starter

11. Single stage supercharger

12. Port main wheel undercarriage fairing

13. Footboards

14. Port 34½ Imperial Gallon fuel tank

15. Coolant header tank

16. Reserve 28 Imperial Gallon fuel tank

17. Bullet-proof windscreen

18. Machine-gun muzzles

19. Port landing light

20. Port navigation light

21. Rear view mirror

22. Pilot’s seat

23. Armoured head rest

24. Identification light

25. Aerial mast

26. Wooden dorsal formers

27. Port .303in Browning machine guns x4

28. Inboard ammunition magazines

29. Oxygen cylinder

30. TR 9D radio transmitter/receiver

31. Upper longeron

32. Fixed, castoring tail wheel

33. Navigation light

34. Rear aerial mast

35. Fabric-covered rudder

The beautiful and rapid High Speed Fury, which as the Fury Mk II gave the RAF the high-performance fighter it had been looking for. K3586 served with Rolls-Royce, the RAE and briefly with 43 Squadron for service trials. (Via author)

The Hurricane’s lineage began in the late 1920s, beginning with Air Ministry Specification F.20/27 for an ‘interception single-seat fighter’, which the manufacturers Armstrong Whitworth, Bristol, de

Reviews for Hawker Hurricane Mk I–V

[luftwaffe_flak · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Good snapshot of the Hurricane, its development and combat history. Excellent artwork as well.