Monoplane Albacore

[Birgir Thorisson]

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

[Graham Boak]

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.

[Birgir Thorisson]

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