Yes, they were very peculiar war workers, but now we will consider exclusively wheeled aircraft. For float torpedo bombers and flying boats carrying torpedoes, a separate test will have to be made, since there were more than enough original machines invented.
So - welcome to the world of headaches for everything floating. And yes, the submarines will probably follow. Indeed, how much can you talk about battleships and aircraft carriers? You might think they were the only ones who fought …
Who invented the torpedo bomber? Definitely the British. In June 1915, Lieutenant Arthur Longmore successfully dropped a 356 mm torpedo from a seaplane. The torpedo did not fall apart, nor did the seaplane. Further, an aircraft was created, which was originally sharpened for carrying and dropping torpedoes, "Short-184".
On August 12, 1915, Lieutenant GK Edmons' Short-184 from the Ben-Mai-Shri seaplane attacked and sank for the first time a real target - a Turkish transport in the Gulf of Xeros. So torpedo aircraft appeared in general, with a slight lag behind fighter and bomber aircraft.
And in the times we are considering, and in general, the torpedo bomber became a really terrible weapon. For those who were able to create appropriate aircraft for this and train pilots.
So, His Majesty is a torpedo bomber!
1. Savoia-Marchetti SM.84. Italy
The case when a good idea rested on execution at the level of "so-so" in terms of the human factor.
In general, the SM.84 torpedo bomber appeared as a result of an experiment to remake the rather decent SM.79 bomber - the first wheeled (and actually the last) torpedo bomber in Italy.
In general, we have worked on the plane significantly. But here's the result … For example: they removed the “hump” with a rifle mount and installed a Lanciani Delta E turret with a circular field of fire, providing excellent cover from the upper hemisphere. And right there, instead of one keel, a two-fin tail unit was installed, which nullified the effect of replacing the rifle turret.
Reinforced the armor - the engines had to be changed. The replacement of the reliable, but rather weak Alpha Romeo 126 (750 hp) for the more powerful, but more capricious Piaggio P. XI RC 40 (1000 hp) brought quite a small gain.
Nevertheless, the torpedo bomber passed all tests and was accepted into mass production. The order was for 309 cars, 249 were built.
The SM.84 was the first Italian land-based torpedo bomber to be built.
The combat use of the SM.84 showed that the aircraft was not without flaws. Suddenly it turned out that the new (more powerful) engines pull much worse than the old ones. The handling was also appropriate, the large load on the wing affected.
However, the SM.84 even fought a war, starting the hunt for convoys heading to North Africa. The first victory was marked on the night of November 14-15, 1941, when torpedoes sank two transport ships "Empire Defender" and "Empire Pelican" with a total tonnage of more than 10,000 brt.
Then everything was more modest, because the British, having driven aircraft carriers into the Mediterranean, actually neutralized the actions of the Italian naval aviation. The losses of the SM.84 were simply terrifying and the pilots gradually began to abandon the torpedo bombers and in 1942 began the reverse process of rearmament to the SM.79 multipurpose bombers (and from 1943 on to the SM.79bis). By the end of 1943, the SM.84 was in service with only one group, and by the end of the year, the SM.84 had ceased its service as a torpedo bomber.
2. Nakajima B5N. Japan
Yes, it was this old samurai who sank the American battleships in Pearl Harbor. But in fact, at the start of the war, it was already a very outdated aircraft.
Mechanical wing folding drive, fixed pitch propeller, archaic flap mechanism. There was no oxygen equipment. There was no armor. But very simply, by replacing the suspension units, the torpedo bomber turned into a bomber.
The pilot sat in front, moreover, it was necessary to come up with a mechanism for raising the seat during takeoff and landing in order to provide at least some view. The navigator / bombardier / observer was located in the second cockpit facing forward and had a small window in both sides of the fuselage to monitor the amount of fuel through the measuring windows in the wings. The aiming equipment was under the floor and to release the torpedo it was necessary to open the doors in the cockpit floor. The shooter / radio operator was in the compartment farthest from the pilot, along with a machine gun, which was displayed in a special window if necessary.
In this form, the B5N1 first entered the Imperial Navy (1937) as a torpedo bomber, which it remained until 1944. The B5N1 went down in history in 1941.
The B5N1 and its modifications carried torpedoes and threw them at Allied ships throughout the Pacific Ocean from Hawaii, the Coral Sea, the Solomon Islands and across the map of the war.
By 1944, the Allied Air Force gained not only quantitative, but also qualitative superiority over Japanese aircraft. In any case, the B5N became a victim of American fighters, and there was no longer any talk of using it in its usual form.
And in October 1944 in the Philippines, the first part of the kamikaze suicides was formed, taking part in the battle in Leyte Gulf on the B5N. It turned out, and then the B5N was used in the battles for Iwo Jima and Okinawa.
3. Heinkel He-111H. Germany
Choosing between the Non-111, Ju-88 and FW-190, which were used as torpedo bombers, the Non-111 definitely looks more preferable. "Junkers" were produced in negligible quantities, and "Focke-Wulf" I personally consider the ersatz of a normal bomber / torpedo bomber.
So we have some very serious guys in a serious car. Very serious, since the Non-111 had everything it needed to be happy, that is, to complete a combat mission.
Everyone already knows what the 111th is. Armor, carrying capacity, plus it is very difficult to shoot down, since only American "fortresses" have more barrels.
The He-111 itself went into production in 1938, but its torpedo-carrying version appeared a little later and almost by accident. On the He-111H-4 modification, PVC 1006 holders were installed, which made it possible to carry not only bombs, but also LT F5b torpedoes. Naturally, the plane was tested for the transfer of torpedoes from point A to point B and dropping them in the direction of some ship.
It turned out that everything turns out just fine. For long-distance flights, one additional 835 liter gas tank was provided in the fuselage and two outboard ones of 300 liters each. With a full supply of fuel and 1000 kg of load, the aircraft had a range of about 3000 km.
But if it was not necessary to fly such a distance, then two torpedoes could be suspended. The Arctic convoys remembered this for a long time. The following modifications increased the weight of the car, it stepped over 14 tons, and the payload in the form of torpedoes - up to 2500 kg. In addition to torpedoes, the 111th could well carry bombs, and - importantly - mines.
In reality, the car was used as a day and night bomber, mine planner and torpedo bomber, less often as a transport aircraft. Not 111H-6 was popular with pilots and was distinguished by ease of control even at maximum load. It had good handling, excellent stability and maneuverability. Reservation and armament (especially in the first half of the war) made the Non-111N a very difficult target.
The aircraft fought in all maritime theaters, from the Arctic to the Mediterranean. On account of these torpedo bombers, more than one ship was sent to the bottom. True, the Heinkel pilots could not boast of victories over battleships.
4. Grumman TBF (TBM) "Avenger". USA
The paradox is that Grumman has never developed torpedo bombers before. But carrier-based fighters ranging from the FF-1 biplane to the Wildcat F4F have taken their place in the history of the US Navy.
Therefore, it is not surprising that the developed torpedo bomber acquired some features that make it similar to the aircraft of the Wildcat family.
The first prototype was lost during testing, but the second made its first flight on December 15, 1941, shortly after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, and in this regard, received its name - Avenger (Avenger). The aircraft successfully passed all stages of testing and was put into service.
Note that the Avenger was the aircraft on which the ASB radar was installed from the very first series. The antenna mast of an air-to-surface type B (ASB) radar was mounted under each wing on its outer panels. The radar equipment was installed in the radio operator's compartment, which was responsible for monitoring the space using the radar.
It cannot be said that the first combat missions of the Avengers were successful. "Zeros" calmly dealt with torpedo bombers if escort fighters could not interfere. True, it should be said that in the same way American fighters dropped Japanese torpers into the water.
A few words about the sore spot of the Avengers. Oddly enough it will sound, but the sore spot of a very successful and sophisticated torpedo bomber was … a torpedo!
The standard naval aircraft torpedo, the Mk 13, was too slow and unreliable. It was because of her that the attacks of the torpedo pilots were very often unsuccessful. Failures and interruptions in work are common, but the main headache for the pilots of the Avengers was that the torpedo had to be dropped from a height of no more than 100 feet (30 meters) and at a speed of no more than 200 km / h.
It is clear that under such conditions, the crews of the Avengers became easy prey for the anti-aircraft gunners of the ships they attacked.
In addition, the Mk 13 torpedo was so slow (33 knots) that, perhaps, only a battleship or an aircraft carrier could not evade it. For more maneuverable ships, this maneuver was not a problem.
But on the whole, the Avenger was a very practical aircraft. Its equipment was impressive. An oxygen system that could be used by any crew member, autonomous petrol heaters, an excellent emergency kit from the Mark 4 type D rescue boat, which was stored in the upper part of the fuselage between the navigator's cabin and the gun turret, a first aid kit, a rescue radio, drinking water containers, sea flares, M-8 smoke grenades, a cable to hold them, an emergency hand pump, two oars, a fishing set, lighters, a knife, a rope coil, a chrome plate for reflecting light and much more, up to shark deterrent tablets.
The Avenger has been involved in all US Navy operations since 1942. It was the Eveger torpedoes that tore the sides of the Yamato and Musashi, and many ships of the lower class also got it.
It turned out, judging by the LTH, a very good sea horse.
5. Fairey "Swordfish". United Kingdom
Probably, the "experts" have already prepared to laugh. What has this archaic biplane forgotten here?
Well, only that he is rightfully presented by me as the best torpedo bomber of the allies of the Second World War. Yes, no matter how amazing it sounded, but these biplanes sank so many ships … More than any of the allied aviation.
"Suordfish" fought the entire war, no matter how wild it may seem. But this is a fact. And he became the best destroyer of ships.
Prior to the outbreak of the war, the firm had built 692 aircraft based on the Ark Royal, Corajes, Eagle, Gloris and Furies aircraft carriers. It couldn't have been better anyway, so the stubborn British fought as they were.
Already on April 5, 1940, the Suordfish from Furies launched the first air-torpedo attack on German destroyers in the Bay of Trondheim in World War II. One of the torpedoes hit the target, but did not explode.
A week later, the crew of Lieutenant Rais destroyed the U-64 submarine in Berwick Fjord with high-explosive bombs.
In general, the "swordfish" fought in all theaters where the British aircraft carriers were.
There were also losses. The Germans more than took revenge when the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau sank the aircraft carrier Gloris, with which two Swordfish divisions went under water.
Taranto, the forerunner of Pearl Harbor, was also organized by the Suordfish. The crews of these very machines inflicted a decisive blow on the main forces of the Italian fleet concentrated in the harbor of the port of Taranto on November 11. Torpedoes hit three battleships, two cruisers and two destroyers. The battleships Conte di Cavour and Littorio, having collected water, settled on the ground. The rest of the ships "got off" with large holes and many months of repairs in dry docks. The British lost two aircraft, while Italy had superiority in the Mediterranean.
It was the torpedoes of the Swordfish that hit the Bismarck and deprived him of control, and then of the course.
But by 1942 the plane was catastrophically outdated and in 10 cases out of 10 it fell prey to enemy fighters. And then something happened that should have happened: "Suordfish" turned from a torpedo bomber into an anti-submarine aircraft, in the capacity of which it fought until the very end of the war, hunting German submarines.
It was very difficult to stuff the radar into this plane. But the British coped, and placed a radio-transparent radar for the radar antenna was placed on the Mk. III between the main landing gear, and the radar itself was in the cockpit, instead of the third crew member.
The most impressive accomplishments of the Suordfish were recorded while guarding the RA-57 convoy to Murmansk. The biplanes, which have a place in the museum, were most reliably sent to Neptune by three German submarines: U-366, U-973 and U-472.
It was a wonderful aircraft … Despite its complete lack of strengths, it was a very efficient aircraft.
6. Handley Page "Hampden". United Kingdom
If "Suordfish" can be safely called a fossil monster, then "Hampden" is also a monster. But not a fossil. Just a monster, although it was invented, as it were, to replace the Swordfish. It didn't work, if in my opinion. But this evolutionary error fought on our side, so I decided to put it on the same level with other aircraft.
"Flying Suitcase", "Sokvorodki Handle", "Tadpole" - there is nothing pleasant in these nicknames. Alas, the plane was a match. He was supposed to replace "Suodfish", and become faster, stronger and so on. In fact, what happened is this: trying to drive it into the framework of the Washington agreements, the British designers created this. Narrow, long and thin.
Of course, there was something to criticize for, but there were also positive aspects. The plane had an unmatched view for both the pilot and the navigator. But the arrows were literally squeezed into where the developers could not insert the towers. Therefore, shooters with paired 7, 7-mm Vickers made up the entire defense of the Hampdens. If we add that the shelling sectors were so-so, then it is probably not surprising that out of 1,430 aircraft, 709 were lost.
Hampden fought. At all theaters, and without any noticeable success. Even we checked in. A number of aircraft from the 144th and 455th squadrons were sent to the USSR to the Vaenga airfield near Murmansk to provide escort for the PQ-18 convoy.
And British pilots fought, and some were even awarded orders and medals of the USSR. Then the pilots returned back to Great Britain, and the planes were donated to the Allies. That is to us. 23 Hempdens entered service with the 24th mine and torpedo aviation regiment and fought there from October 1942 to July 1943.
And also without any special achievements, to be honest.
7. Ilyushin Il-4T
Let's be honest: the IL-4, aka DB-3F, was a very good, albeit difficult machine to control. It is a fact. And the fact that for this torpedo aircraft we did not have crews who could realize its advantages in battle is also worth noting.
Yes, before the war we had torpedo bombers. But the training of the crews was not carried out at all, so the presence of 133 DB-3 and 88 DB-3F / Il-4 in our fleets by the start of the war with the complete unpreparedness of the crews is simply not serious.
Unfortunately, the laying of mines and the launch of torpedoes began to work out only in April 1941, with all the consequences that emerged. And with the beginning of the war, mine and torpedo regiments began to be used as conventional bombers for strikes against coastal targets. The planes bombed accumulations of enemy personnel and equipment, bridges and ferries, airfields, ports.
In the first two months, mine and torpedo regiments in the Baltic and the Black Sea lost 82 aircraft, that is, more than half of their pre-war composition.
From the end of 1942, American A-20 bombers began to enter the naval aviation, which we converted into torpedo bombers. The machines were serious, albeit designed for other purposes. But when was it so embarrassing in our area?
These vehicles, more heavily armed and modern, gradually began to be transferred to the regiments in the Baltic and Northern Fleets. But the Americans could not completely replace the IL-4. Our aircraft also had advantages in the form of a longer flight range. On January 1, 1944, 58 Il-4 and 55 A-20 were in service in the western fleets.
In addition, the rather voluminous fuselage of the Il-4 calmly accommodated the radar. In general, the Il-4 became the first Soviet aircraft equipped not only with a search radar, but also with a domestic one.
In 1943, the Research Institute of the Radio Industry, based on American designs, created the Gneiss-2M radar, which was tested and used on the Il-4. A flat transmitting antenna was located in place of the bow machine gun, receiving antennas were placed along the sides of the fuselage. The operator sat in the place of the radio operator.
In general, I repeat, the successes of the mine and torpedo aviation regiments in the Second World War were more than modest. However, this does not detract from the merits of the Il-4T, which was no worse than world analogues. Bad luck with the training of the crews, alas.
It is really very difficult to say which of the aircraft was the coolest. I think that here it was precisely in the preparation and frostbite of the crews. What the Japanese and Americans did in the Pacific Ocean is generally very difficult to equate with the very modest successes of the naval pilots of other countries. But let's see what the readers have to say …
