Naval Torpedo Dive Bombers

[PMN1]

Does anyone know why the RN went for external carriage of torpedoes or bombs for its Barracuda while other countries were going for internal carriage (Avenger, Helldiver, B7A1 Grace). The Barracuda was a bit earlier than the other aircraft but apparently only about a year or so in the case of the Helldiver and internal carriage was already in use with the Devastator.

The aircraft would have a deeper fuselage but would that outweigh the drag of external carriage and could the Barracuda have had an internal bay on the length it was – looking at picture, it looks like it could.

Was carriage of the USN 22.4” possible in place of the RN 18”?

[robert]

quote:Originally posted by PMN1

The aircraft would have a deeper fuselage but would that outweigh the drag of external carriage and could the Barracuda have had an internal bay on the length it was – looking at picture, it looks like it could.


David Brown's Fairey Barracuda Mks. I-V does not specifically address that issue, but notes, "width and length had to be kept with Specification limits - the width being limited by the need to fit the aircraft to a catapult trolley."

Whether this would preclude an internal weapons bay, I don't know.

[PMN1]

Anyone know what the production RATE for Barracudas was?

[amigojeff]

The cutaway drawing shows that there's not enough room for a internal bay,the seats of both navigator and radio operator are very low,close to the bottom decking.
According to BRITISH WARPLANES OF WORLD WAR II(edited by Daniel J.March),30 Fairey Barracuda Mk Is, 1688 Mk IIs,852Mk IIIs,30 Griffon-engined Mk Vs, plus two prototypes were built.