Hawker Hurricane (1937 - 47)

Preserved Hurricane XIIA Z7381 as XR-T of 71 Sqn

Although not as long-serving as its Battle of Britain partner, the Spitfire, the Hurricane did remain in service at the end of the war for about eighteen months, albeit with only one front-line unit. Both aircraft were powered by the Rolls Royce Merlin and were initially armed with eight .303 in Browning machine guns. But while the Hurricane was robust and manouvreable it lacked the Spitfire's overall potential for development. Like the Spitfire the Hurricane was built to specification F.36/34 calling for an eight-gun monoplane fighter. In due course the specification for the Hurricane evolved as F.15/36 and the first prototype, K5083, was flown on 6 November 1935.

Prototype K5083 on its first flight 6 November 1935

The first squadron to operate the type was 111 at Northolt from November 1937. By the outbreak of war nearly 500 had been completed and they equipped eighteen squadrons. The Mark I was out of service by the War's end.

Mk I P3039 PA-J of 3 TEU

Tropical Mk I Z4641

Mark II The Mark II employed the Merlin XX and the prototype, P3269 flew on 11 June 1940. This version was about 20 mph faster than the Mark I and in due course it came in four sub-types mainly indicated by armament fit. The IIA retained the eight gun fit while theIIB had no less than twelve machine guns all in the wings. The IIA entered service with 111 Sqn in September 1940.

Mk IIB BE485/AE-W of 402 Sqn RCAF

The IIC was the most commonly used, mainly in the ground attack role where its four 20mm cannon could cause maximum impact.

Mk IIC BD867/QO-Y of 3 Sqn

The IID was used in limited numbers as a tank-buster fitted with a 40mm Vickers 'S' gun under each wing. Over time the Mark II was fitted to carry two 250lb or two 500lb bombs under the wings and from 1942 eight 3 inch rocket projectiles. By 1946 only the Mark IIC remained in service with a number of second-line units.

Service Meteorology 1402 Flt Communications Eastleigh SF Training BCIS; 1686, 1687, 1688 BDTF; 10, 17, 21, 26 OTU; 5 (P)AFU

Mk IID BP188/JV-Z of 6 Sqn

The Mark III was to have used the Packard Merlin 28 but in the event sufficient British engines were available although the Packard was used on the Canadian built Marks X, XI and XII. These variants were equivalent to the Mark I (X) and II (XI and XII).

Mk X AG162/EH-W of 55 OTU

Ski-equipped Mk XII 5624 of the RCAF

Mark IV The penultimate variant was fitted with the Merlin 24, 27 or 32 and it differed from the Mark II primarily in having a universal wing and additional armour protection. The prototype Mark IV, KX405, flew on 14 March 1943 and it was introduced into the production line between Mark IIs. The variant was used extensively in the Middle and Far East towards the closing stages of the war with great effect.

Service Ground attack 6 Meteorology 520, 521

Mk IV BP173 fitted with rockets

The Mark V was a developed Mark IV with a Merlin 32 (1,700hp) driving a four-bladed propellor; prototype was KZ193. Development was not pursued after engine maintenance problems.

Specification and production

Mark	Role	Engine	HP	Weight lbs	Speed mph	Numbers
I	Fighter	Merlin II	1,030	6,447	316	3,844
II	Fighter	Merlin XX	1,260	7,544	339	8,287
III	Fighter	P Merlin 28	1,260	not built
IV	Fighter	Merlin 24,32	1,620	8,462	330	580
V	Fighter	Merlin 32	1,700	8,500	330	1*

Note

* Mk IV conversion

Further reading

Bishop, E Hurricane Airlife, Shrewsbury,1986 Hurricane at War Franks, N Ian Allan, Shepperton,

Jackson, R Hawker Hurricane, The Arms and Armour Press, London, 1988

Mason, F K Hawker Hurricane, The Macdonald, London 1962

Mason, F K Hawker Hurricane I (Profile 111) Profile Publications, Leatherhead, 1965

Mason, F K Hawker Hurricane IIC (Profile 24) Profile Publications, Leatherhead, 1963

Robertson, B and Scarborough, G Classic Aircraft No 4; Their History and How to Model Them - Hawker Hurricane PSL, Cambridge, 1974

Shores, C F and Ward, R Hawker Hurricane Mk I/IV in RAF and Foreign Service Osprey, London, 1971

Photographs

Hurricane IIC PZ865 as H3424/MI-G at Bovingdon 1969 after filming the Battle of Britain

Hurricane IIC PZ865 as J in desert camouflage Duxford 1997

Sea Hurricane Z7015 Duxford 1997

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