Fairey Gannet AS Mk.4

[Stuhlfleisch 3,762]

 

The Fairey Gannet AS.4 (also referred to as "Gannet AS Mk.4") was a naval anti-submarine and reconnaissance plane, which entered service with the German Bundesmarine in 1957, to complement the Sea Hawk Mk.100 and Mk.101's strike, patrol and anti-submarine capabilities. 16 machines were adopted from Britain, a big factor of the purchase being the immediate availability of the planes. 15 of the Gannets were combat-variants, the AS Mk.4, while the last one was a trainer version, that was converted from the AS Mk.4, the Gannet T.5.

The planes were operated from the "Fliegerhorst Schleswig bei Jagel" base by the "Marinefliegergeschwader 2" and later the "Marinefliegergeschwader 3", and were mainly employed as coastal reconnaissance and patrol aircraft, but also as potential anti-submarine strike-fighters, in case of a Soviet attack.

All 16 Gannets were retired in 1966, when they were replaced by the French Breguet 1150.

 

The Fairey Gannet was generally seen as a very reliable and well liked plane, which performed admirably in most weather conditions, while conducting various tasks, such as coastal surveilance, long-range patrols and search and destroy missions. The dual-engine contra-rotating propeller setup allowed the pilot to switch one engine off during flight, which greatly reduced speed, at the advantage of more range. In case of an engine failure, the plane would also still be air-worthy and able to return the crew to safety without risk of crashing.

 

The Gannet was not a direct air to air combat plane, because of it's vastly inferior speed, compared to other contemporary military planes, such as the Sea Hawk, F-84 and other early jet planes and therefore did not need to be armed with guns, since the primary enemy it would face were submarines, although ships could also be attacked with it's vast arsenal of bombs, rockets, depth-charges and torpedos, thanks to it's carying capacity of up to 2000lb (907kg), and the presence of a large bomb-bay, which was able to carry most of the Gannet's weaponry, save for the rockets, which had to be mounted under the wings.

 

Furthermore, the Gannet came equipped with a retractable EKCO ASV Mk.19 radome, to scan the sea for ships and submarines. The following picture, depicts a RAF Fairey Gannet AS.1 with it's radar being extended behind the bomb-bay, with the bomb-bay itself being half open (the German operated AS Mk.4 was equipped with the same system):

Spoiler

 

Images:

Spoiler

 

Videos:

Spoiler

 

 

 

Specifications:

Crew: 3 (1x pilot, 1x observer, 1x radar-operator)

Length: 13,57m

Wingspan: 16,56m (wings folded: 5,94m)

Height: 4,13m (wings folded: 4,19m)

Empty weight: 6589kg

Normal weight: 8890kg

Max takeoff weight: 10750kg

Engine: 1x Armstrong-Siddeley Double Mamba ASMD-3 turbo-prop (3145hp)

Maximum speed at sea-level: 481 km/h (240kn)

Climbrate: 11m/s

Service ceiling: 7620m

Range: 1600km

Avionics: EKCO ASV Mk.19 air-to-surface vessel radar

 

Armaments:

16x RP-3 rockets (under the wings)

2x Dealer B Mk.30 passively-homing acoustic torpedos (bomb bay) max release speed: 444 km/h / max angle : 30°

4x MC Mk.18 - Mk.21 500lb bombs with Nos. 25 or 112 tails (bomb bay) max release speed: 555 km/h / max angle: 50°

6x Mk.11 250lb depth-charges (bomb bay) max release speed: 463 km/h / max angle: 30°

6x Mk.11 Mod. 2 250lb depth-charges (bomb bay)

2x Mk.7 Mine A (bomb bay) max release speed: 401 km/h (with parachute attachment No.9 Mk.5) or 481 km/h (with parachute attachment No.9 Mk.6) / max angle: straight and level

4x Mk.1 Mine O (bomb bay) max release speed: 555 km/h / max angle: 30°

1x Mk.12 Mine A (bomb bay) max release speed: 500 km/h / max angle: straight and level

1x Mk.9 Mine O (bomb bay) max release speed: 401 km/h (with parachute attachment No.13 Mk.6) or 481 km/h (with parachute attachment No.13 Mk.7) / max angle: straight and level

 

Additional combi-loadouts:

1x Mk.30 torpedo can be carried in the bomb bay with 16x RP-3 rockets under the wings

3x 250lb depth-charges can be carried in the bomb bay with 16x RP-3 rockets under the wings

 

Approximate stalling characteristics:

At idle power, flaps and undercarriage up, weight at 8616kg (19000lb): 166-175 km/h (90-95kn)

At idle power, flaps and undercarriage up, weight at 9525kg (21000lb): 175-185 km/h (95-100kn)

At idle power, flaps and undercarriage down, weight at 8616kg (19000lb): 138-148 km/h (75-80kn)

At idle power, flaps and undercarriage down, weight at 9525kg (21000lb): 148-157 km/h (80-85kn)

At approach power, flaps and undercarriage up, weight at 8616kg (19000lb): 157-166 km/h (85-90kn)

At approach power, flaps and undercarriage up, weight at 9525kg (21000lb): 166-175 km/h (90-95kn)

At approach power, flaps and undercarriage down, weight at 8616kg (19000lb): 129-138 km/h (70-75kn)

At approach power, flaps and undercarriage down, weight at 9525kg (21000lb): 138-148 km/h (75-80kn)

 

Speed limitations:

Flaps when fully extended: 255 km/h

Landing-gear: 324 km/h

Extended radome: 555 km/h

Bomb-bay doors fully opened: 555 km/h

 

I think the Fairey Gannet AS Mk.4 would be a great addition to the German tech-tree as a low-tier naval strike-fighter, despite it's rather modern timeframe. The contra-rotating propellers would make it a completely unique plane for Germany, and the Gannet was also one of the very few combat-worthy propeller planes, that Germany operated after WW2.

The lack of guns and poor speed makes it a very easy target for ships, tanks and planes alike, however, it is packing quite a punch with the various listed bombs, depth-charges, torpedos and especially rockets.

In my view, this would be a great 3.7 or 4.0 naval strike-plane (potentially higher if the homing characteristics of the Mk.30 acoustic torpedo are modelled), which would be especially useful in naval Enduring Confrontation.

 

If you spot a mistake or want to add something, feel free to point it out on this thread, or send me a pm.

 

Cheers!

 

Sources:

Fairey Gannet AS.4 flight-manual

Thunder & Lightnings - Fairey Gannet - History (thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk)

Fairey Gannet - YouTube

Farrey Gannet (bredow-web.de)

Fairey Gannet AS.4 1/72 | Sisumodels Oy

Fairey Gannet | marine-flieger.de (marine-flieger.de)

Fairey Gannet – Wikipedia

AirHistory.net - Fairey Gannet AS.4 aircraft photos

Fairey Gannet - avionslegendaires.net

https://www.navy.gov.au/aircraft/fairey-gannet-as14

FAIREY GANNET - Aeropedia

Heritage: Fairey Gannet | Fleet Air Arm Association of Australia (faaaa.asn.au)
FAIREY GANNET - Aeropedia

Edited August 17, 2021 by Stuhlfleisch

[leroyonly 4,310]

Open for discussion. 

[Fulgrymm 52]

Sure, especially if acoustic torps ever get implemented.

[Nostadad 428]

FYI, this is Gatow museum

 

Edited February 21, 2021 by Dimitri_Rudov

[Stuhlfleisch 3,762]

I have purchased the fligh-manual for the Gannet AS.4 and have updated the post with additional informations, mainly about armament and speed-limitations.

[AVROVULCANXH558 349]

+1 as long as Britain gets it as well

[Milocat 4,848]

+1 for Britain and Germany (and anyone else who used it)

[CokeSpray 7,272]

Suggestion passed to the developers for consideration.