Tempest units carrying rockets?

[Boman]

Hi 

With the new bomb of a 1/48 Tempest Mk V coming this December, I see from the sprue shots presented on FB that it will come with both types of guns aswell as rockets. 

Does anyone know what units flying Tempests also carried the rockets during WWII? 

 

 

[Smithy]

None that I know of flew with rockets operationally during WWII. The Tempest was used as a foil against Diver attacks initially and later as a fighter usually specialising in operating at low to medium altitudes. They attacked plenty of ground targets of opportunity as well, but using their 4 x 20mm cannon during the war.

Edited November 22, 2018 by Smithy

[Boman]

Shame, as it does look good with rockets 😎

[Chris Thomas]

1 minute ago, Boman said:

Shame, as it does look good with rockets 😎

Then why not model a postwar Tempest V?  When the last Typhoons had left BAFO (as 2ndTAF had become) The remaining Tempest V squadrons took on the RP role and their aircraft were fitted with the lightweight aluminium MkIIIa rails as used on Typhoons from late 1944 (as in the kit). The units were 3, 16, 26, 33, 41, 56, 80, and 174 Sqns; by August 1946 most had renumbered or re-equipped but 3 and 80 went on to 1948 with Tempests and RP.

[Boman]

I have markings for 80sq from 1946-48ish, so definatelly a possibility 🍻😁👍

[Chris Thomas]

On 11/22/2018 at 2:10 PM, Chris Thomas said:

Then why not model a postwar Tempest V?  When the last Typhoons had left BAFO (as 2ndTAF had become) The remaining Tempest V squadrons took on the RP role and their aircraft were fitted with the lightweight aluminium MkIIIa rails as used on Typhoons from late 1944 (as in the kit). The units were 3, 16, 26, 33, 41, 56, 80, and 174 Sqns; by August 1946 most had renumbered or re-equipped but 3 and 80 went on to 1948 with Tempests and RP.

An amendment to the above.  Checking the sparse photo evidence and the ORBs for 33 and 56 Sqns (the latter was renumbered 16 Sqn at the end of March 1946) it is apparent that (while equipped with Tempest V) neither unit used RP but were equipped for and practised bombing techniques. Both 16 and 33 used RP later, on their Tempest IIs.