Barracuda was a British carrier-borne torpedo- and dive-bomber used during World War II. It was introduced to the Fleet Air Arm as a replacement for the biplanes Fairey Swordfish and Albacore. It is famous for its role in attacking the German battleship Tirpitz, and widely regarded as one of the ugliest aircraft to enter production.

Type

• Role: Three-seat naval torpedo-bomber.

Wings

• Design: Shoulder-wing cantilever monoplane with a center-section integrated with the fuselage and outer sections having a constant taper and rounded tips.
• Structure: Two-spar all-metal with diaphragm ribs, intercostal stringers, and stressed-skin covering.
• Flaps: Hydraulically-operated Youngman flaps below and staggered back from the trailing-edge. These flaps can be adjusted for take-off, landing, and retarding speed in a dive. They have metal frames and Alclad sheet covering.
• Ailerons: Metal-framed and fabric-covered.
• Folding Mechanism: Wings fold vertically at the rear spars, with the trailing edges folding up onto the upper surfaces for compact storage. Retractable wing holds under the wing tips.

Fuselage

• Structure: Oval all-metal with smooth metal skin and flush-riveting. The engine mounting, pilot’s cockpit framework, and rear bay are of steel tube, with the remainder being metal monocoque.

Tail Unit

• Design: Braced monoplane type with the tailplane mounted near the top of the fin, supported by single struts on each side. The framework is all-metal, with the fin and rudder covered with Alclad sheet and the elevators and rudder with fabric. Trim-tabs are present in both elevators and rudder.

Landing Gear

• Type: Retractable. The main gear consists of cantilever oleo legs with horizontal members that hinge up into the fuselage sides when retracted. The oleo shock absorber-legs and wheels stow in the wing's leading-edge ahead of the front spars. Hydraulic wheel-brakes are provided, along with a non-retracting tail-wheel. Additional features include a deck-arrester hook and catapult spools.

Power Plant

• Engine: One Rolls-Royce Merlin 32 twelve-cylinder Vee liquid-cooled engine with a Rotol four-blade constant-speed airscrew.
• Fuel System: Self-sealing tanks located in the center-section between spars.

Accommodation

• Crew: Three members in tandem arrangement under a continuous transparent canopy. The pilot's cockpit is ahead of the wing's leading-edge with a sliding canopy, while the observer/navigator and rear gunner/radio operator are positioned over the wing's center and trailing-edge, respectively. The observer/navigator and radio operator also have alternative positions within the fuselage, with the navigator having bay windows for downward vision.

Armament and Equipment

• Guns: Two .303 in. Vickers K gas-operated machine-guns on a Fairey flexible mounting in the rear position.
• Torpedo: Can carry an 18 in. torpedo externally under the fuselage.
• Bombs: Provision for bombs under the wings, or alternatively, depth-charges or sea mines. Bomb racks are designed to allow complete assemblies to be hoisted and clipped into position.
• Additional Equipment: Includes a dinghy and rescue equipment carried in the fuselage.

Dimensions

• Wingspan: 49 ft. 2 in. (15 m)
• Width folded: 18 ft. 3 in. (5.56 m)
• Length: 40 ft. 6 in. (12.35 m)
• Height: 15 ft. 5 in. (4.7 m)
• Wing area: 367 sq. ft. (34.1 sq. m)