Hawker Tempest (1945 - 1955)

Tempest Mk II PR536 preserved at the RAF Museum

The Tempest was a natural development of the Typhoon built to specification F.10/41 and originally named Typhoon Mark II. The main differences were in the wing which was to a new elliptical plan and much thinner, and the fuselage which was longer to accommodate the fuel no longer carried in wing tanks. A dorsal fillet was also incorporated. Because of problems with the early Sabre engines prototypes were ordered to be fitted with a variety of engines - Mark I Sabre IV, Mark II Centaurus IV, Mark III Griffon IIB, Mark IV Griffon 61 and Mark V Sabre II. In the event the Mark V flew first, followed by the Mark I (HM599) on 24 February 1943. The Mark III and Mark IV were never flown due to a shortage of Griffons while the Mark II was last on the scene. The Mark I was clean cowled and had wing leading edge radiators but due to problems with the Sabre IV the version was abandoned.

Sabre-engined protoype Mk I HM599

Mark II The Mark II first flew on 28 June 1943 powered by the Centaurus V but engine teething troubles resulted in delayed introduction into service. The Tempest was armed with four 20mm cannon and it could carry two 500lb or 1,000lb bombs under the wings or eight rocket projectiles. The fighter was optimised for the war in the Far East with long range and heavy armament. The prototype (LA602) flew on 28 June 1943 but it did not enter service (with 183 Sqn) until June 1945.
Service (post 1945) Fighter 5, 16, 20, 26, 30, 33, 54, 152, 247 Training 226 OCU; 13 OTU Communications BAFO CW; 1, 3 FP; 16 FU; Buckeburg SF Other CFE; ETPS

F Mk II MW798/HF-M of 183 Sqn

Mark V The Mark V was the first variant to fly. Unlike the later radial-engined Mark II the Mark V shared the distinctive deep chin radiator of the Typhoon. In other respects it was similar to the Mark II but was 5 mph slower. The prototype (HM595) flew on 2 September 1942 and the first squadron equipped with the type was 486. Post war the Mark V served in Europe while the Mark II was used additionally in the Far East. Service (post 1945) Fighter 3, 16, 26, 33, 41, 56, 80, 174, 287 Training 226, 233 OCU; 56 OTU; Communications 1689 Flt; 84 GCS Other CFE TT Mark 5 In the target towing conversion of redundant Mark Vs the armament was removed and a Malcolm G type winch fitted under the port wing. The first conversion was SN329 which first flew in October 1947.
Service Target towing AMSDU; APS Acklington, Sylt; CGS; 226, 229, 233 OCU

Mk V JN802

Tempest TT Mk 5 SN261/FJU-? of the CGS in 1949

Mark VI The Mark 6 was a tropicalised version similar in most respects to the Mark V; indeed the prototype was HM595 flying in this guise on 9 May 1944. However, it was powered by the Sabre V and had the air intakes moved from the radiator to the wing. The version served exclusively in the Middle East and India (one squadron), joining 6 and 249 Sqns concurrently in December 1946. Two aircraft were stripped of armament and fitted with underwing winches as the TT Mark 6.
Service Fighter 6, 8, 39, 213, 249

F Mk 6 NX126/GN-A of 249 Sqn

Specification and production

Notes

* Mark V conversions

+ Mark VI conversions

Further reading

Mason, F K Hawker Tempest 1-VI, The (Profile 197) Profile Publications, Leatherhead, 1965

Thomas, C and Shores, C Typhoon and Tempest Story, The Arms and Armour Press, London, 1991