Alternative RAF Fighters
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1940: No Spitfire Mk I and Hurricane Mk I but Martin Baker Viper Mk I |
After Rolls
Royce could not get the Merlin Engine to work reliable, the RAF turned
to Martin Baker for its new fighter. The Napier Dagger engined Martin
Baker MB-2 was named Viper and entered service in early 1939. In the
Battle of Britain it proved inferior to the Me-109 both in speed and
climb but managed to hold back the Luftwaffe, although just barely. |
1943: No Spitfire Mk IX but Martin Baker Python Mk IV |
In the
Battle of Britain the Viper proved inferior to the Me-109. This caused
the RAF to accelerate the search for a successor to the MB-2. This
turned out to be the Martin Baker MB-3 with a Napier Sabre engine of
2000hp. This proved more than a match to the Me-109 and was on equal
footing with the new Focke Wulf FW-190.
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After the
debacle with the Merlin engine Rolls Royce put all its energy in the
Vulture. And with success. The Vulture engined Tornado proved superior
to the Napier Sabre engined Typhoon in almost every aspect.
Also this freed the Sabre
production for the Python fighter, so the RAF chose the Tornado over
the Typhoon. The Tornado was used as a fighter and an attack aircraft
over France.
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Last updated: 31/10/2017