Sea Hurricanes - second only to the Fulmar

[keith A]

I have been delving into my books and have discovered that apart from Fulmars, the Sea Hurricane scores as many victories as Wildcats or Hellcats and more than Corsairs. Not only that but in 1942 the Sea Hurricane claimed fourteen kills in Harpoon, twenty-four and a half on Pedestal, five (at least) on the PQ18 convoy and finally six during Operation Torch.

It's first one is claimed in 1941 (I do not include the CAM-ship victory or those credited to the RNFS in the Western desert). It's last two occur AFAIK with 835 squadron in 1944.

The Sea Hurricane has been unfairly bracketed with the Seafire in terms of naval operations but the Sea Hurricane was the supreme FAA fighter of 1942 (replacing the Fulmar) and it's tally was only matched after it had been withdrawn from front-line service.

I realise that the Sea Hurricane saw action in the most target-rich environments of 1942, but even when sharing airspace with Fulmars in Harpoon and with Fulmars and Martlets in Pedestal, and Martlets and Seafires in Torch it still performed exceptionally. It was the highest scorer in all of these. The Wildcat/Martlet comparable claims stretch from 1940 until 1945, with about half occurring against "shadowers" (lone flying boats or recce aircraft) in 1944-45.

Just a thought....

[Stig Jarlevik]

Keith
Our friend Geoffrey Sinclair has the following to say

Ignoring unknown location aircraft, RN strength in first line units, 31
August 1942

United Kingdom
53 Albacore
44 Swordfish
28 Fulmar
31 Sea Hurricane
9 Martlet
13 Seafire
33 Walrus
1 Seafox
6 Kingfisher

East Indies
17 Albacore
28 Swordfish
15 Fulmar
23 Martlet
24 Walrus
1 Seafox

Western Mediterranean
12 Swordfish
3 Walrus

Eastern Mediterranean
15 Albacore
11 Swordfish
14 Fulmar
8 Martlet
10 Walrus

Australia and New Zealand
2 Walrus

America and West Indies
14 Swordfish
1 Martlet
1 Walrus
2 Seafox

South Atlantic
1 Walrus
3 Seafox

Total 423 aircraft.

US supply, arrivals, ignoring any moves as parts of units.
Aug-40 6 Martlet I into UK
Sep-40 38 Martlet I into UK
Oct-40 6 Martlet I into UK
Nov-40 15 Martlet I into UK
Dec-40 6 Martlet I into UK
May-41 9 Martlet II into UK
Jul-41 27 Wildcat into Middle East (ex Greek order)
Oct-41 3 Wildcat into Middle East (ex Greek order)
Jan-42 32 Martlet II into UK
May-42 1 Martlet II into UK
May-42 12 Martlet II into Mombasa
Jun-42 7 Martlet II into Mombasa
Jul-42 1 Martlet II into UK
Aug-42 10 Martlet IV into UK
Aug-42 13 Martlet II into Mombasa

150 Fulmar I April to December 1940, 450 mark II December 1940 to
February 1943.

http://www.airhistory.org.uk/Hurricane/Marks.html for Sea Hurricane
serials, including those that served with the Merchant Ship Fighter Unit.

Nov-42 Gladiator, Lerwick, London and Stranraer are obsolete
Apr-43 Sea Hurricane, Martlet I, Martlet II and Spitfire Vb are now
classified as non operational types
Aug-43 East Indies became Eastern Theatre
Oct-43 Fulmar, Fulmar Night Fighter, Martlet II and Seafox are now
classified as non operational types.
Nov-43 Corsair I are now classified as a non operational type.