World War Photos

Barracuda prototype P1767

The Fairey Barracuda’s development and service life were marked by a series of challenges, modifications, and mishaps, making it a controversial aircraft in the Royal Navy’s fleet during World War II. The Barracuda was essentially “continuously under development” throughout the war, with problems being addressed reactively as they arose. This approach, combined with the Admiralty’s insistence on packing as much equipment as possible into the airframe, contributed to ongoing issues with the aircraft’s performance and reliability.

Development Challenges:

1. Complexity and Delays:

   • The Barracuda’s development was fraught with delays and technical challenges. The first prototype (P1767) did not fly until December 7, 1940, despite initial plans for a mid-1940 flight. This delay was exacerbated by the switch from the Boreas engine to the Merlin 30, which caused center of gravity (CG) issues and aerodynamic problems, particularly with flap-induced turbulence causing severe tailplane buffeting.

2. Structural Modifications:

   • Early flight tests revealed that the aircraft’s tailplane was susceptible to dangerous buffeting during deck landings due to its low-set position. The solution was to redesign the tailplane, raising it higher on the fin and supporting it with struts. This modification, while necessary for safer deck landings, further complicated the aircraft’s design and did little to improve its aesthetic appeal.

3. Underpowered Engine:

   • One of the most persistent issues was that the Barracuda was underpowered. The change from the Boreas to the Merlin 30 engine did not provide the expected performance, particularly with the added weight from the Admiralty’s continuous additions of equipment. The eventual decision to fit the more powerful Merlin 32 engine, along with a four-blade propeller and redesigned air intake ducts, was a turning point, leading to the development of the Barracuda II.

Operational Problems:

1. Long Take-Off and Slow Climb:

   • The Barracuda’s take-off run was excessively long, and its climb rate was disappointingly slow, especially when fully loaded. These issues were identified during trials at the Aeroplane & Armament Experimental Establishment (A&AEE) at Boscombe Down, but solutions were limited by the aircraft’s inherent design limitations.

2. Structural Failures:

   • The Barracuda also gained a reputation for structural failures, particularly with its wings. The problem was traced to substandard wing locking pins, which were found to be below specification in over 80% of cases. This led to dangerous situations where wings could detach during high-speed maneuvers, causing catastrophic failures.

3. Sudden Dive Incidents:

   • Another alarming issue was the tendency of some Barracudas to suddenly dive without apparent reason. The Royal Aircraft Establishment (RAE) investigated this after several aircraft were lost. Lt. Eric Brown, a test pilot, identified a combination of rudder overbalance and abrupt trim changes when retracting the dive brakes as the cause. During a dive recovery maneuver, the combination could lead to an inverted dive, which was potentially fatal if it occurred at low altitude. Brown’s findings led to an immediate warning to all TSR aircrew, which significantly reduced the number of such incidents.

Persistent Issues and Reputation:

1. Cockpit Contamination:

   • Another recurring problem was carbon monoxide (CO) contamination in the cockpit, particularly from the exhaust manifold. Various attempts to redesign the exhaust system only partially mitigated this issue, contributing to the aircraft’s already poor reputation.

2. Operational Adjustments:

   • The Barracuda’s operational utility was gradually improved through these various modifications, but the aircraft never entirely shook off the stigma of its early problems. Its reputation suffered, partly due to the perception of its ungainly appearance and partly due to the numerous issues that plagued its early years of service.