Monoplane Albacore
 

What could have been.

When it came to selecting a replacement for the Fairey Swordfish, the Admiralty turned down Fairey´s monoplane proposal in favour of the biplane the became the Albacore.

Does anyone have information about the monoplane project?

Drawings, engine, weights, estimated performance etc.

Thanks in advance.

Birgir Thorisson

Re: Monoplane Albacore
 

There are drawing(s) available of the design that became the Barracuda, looking basically a three-seat Fulmar carrying a torpedo (or a Barracuda with a low wing and tail). Given that the Battle came before the Albacore, I suspect this design is similar if not identical to what Fairey's would have proposed earlier.

Re: Monoplane Albacore
 

Thank you for the information.

I have always suspected that the proposal was basically the P4/34, that eventually became the Fulmar, rather than a Taurus engined monoplane Albacore.
The TSR specification that became the Albacore was M7/36. P4/34 was a light bomber, superior to the Battle, and the derivation that became the Fulmar fighter/reconnaisance was O8/38.
The Barracouta specification was S24/37. Do the drawing you referred to have any of these designations?


Birgir Thorisson