dogsbody 9,095 Posted August 4, 2020 Share Posted August 4, 2020 On another forum, this question was recently asked. What is the purpose of the wires between the undercarriage legs on this Swordfish? I have looked through various sources and in most photos, the wires are not visible. But they are there in some and they are usually seen on later aircraft with the white undersurfaces and no torpedo. Chris 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Russell 3,061 Posted August 5, 2020 Share Posted August 5, 2020 Video here too https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/72nd_aircraft/fairey-swordfish-mk-ii-what-s-between-the-legs-t11536.html Link to post Share on other sites
dogsbody 9,095 Posted August 5, 2020 Author Share Posted August 5, 2020 1 hour ago, Ed Russell said: Video here too https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/72nd_aircraft/fairey-swordfish-mk-ii-what-s-between-the-legs-t11536.html That's where I first saw the wires. Chris Link to post Share on other sites
Lee Howard 24 Posted August 5, 2020 Share Posted August 5, 2020 They were added to help brace the undercarriage. Link to post Share on other sites
Blimpyboy 773 Posted August 5, 2020 Share Posted August 5, 2020 (edited) Maybe to add more drag. There clearly wasn't enough going on there in the first place. In most photos I've seen, it always looks to be loose. Could it be that it prevents the undercarriage from spreading too much on landing (my preferred guess)? A message pick-up mechanism? A radio antenna? A supplemental arresting mechanism (a-la some pre-war USN undercarriage)? Edited August 5, 2020 by Blimpyboy 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Tim R-T-C 1,426 Posted August 5, 2020 Share Posted August 5, 2020 If the pilot pulled hard on a cord on the cockpit floor, the undercarriage would pull in slightly - useful for fitting through very narrow gaps. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Paul Thompson 360 Posted August 5, 2020 Share Posted August 5, 2020 Looking at the Dutch video from the link above, the wire is taught once the aircraft has landed, so yes, I'd say it was to stop the legs moving too far out on touchdown. Perhaps only used if there was an extra-heavy payload? Paul. 3 Link to post Share on other sites
dogsbody 9,095 Posted August 5, 2020 Author Share Posted August 5, 2020 But were the wires fitted to earlier Mk.1 torpedo carriers? Those wires would be torn out when the torpedo was dropped. The Mk.II's that had the radar pod between the legs don't seem to have the wires fitted. Chris Link to post Share on other sites
Aeronut 1,137 Posted August 5, 2020 Share Posted August 5, 2020 Were they only fitted to aircraft that were operated off the smaller escort and MAC Carriers? These ships pitched and heaved a lot in the rough seas of the Atlantic and Arctic convoys and the Swordfish were operated off the decks in these conditions. Many a Swordfish undercarriage was taken off by the ship's deck coming up to meet it. Being able to operate off these ships in these conditions was the main reason the Swordfish was kept in production. 4 Link to post Share on other sites
JWM 13,684 Posted August 5, 2020 Share Posted August 5, 2020 Looks like some in field modification. The most probable for me is idea that it was an aerial for some specific radio equipment. As for a mechanical purpose it looks too delicate. J-W 1 Link to post Share on other sites
ClaudioN 432 Posted August 5, 2020 Share Posted August 5, 2020 Like several posts here say, it is reported in "From the Cockpit No. 10 - Swordfish" that the transversal wire was added to help prevent the wheels from splaying out too much on landing. The book includes a photo of a Mk. III with the wire stretched between the wheels, showing that it did not interfere with the radar pod. Of course, the wire could not be employed as long as the Swordfish was used as a torpedo bomber. 3 Link to post Share on other sites
Mark Proulx 31 Posted August 5, 2020 Share Posted August 5, 2020 Probably ensures that a prop strike wouldn't happen as the wheels absorbed the landing. Mark Proulx Link to post Share on other sites
dogsbody 9,095 Posted August 5, 2020 Author Share Posted August 5, 2020 Thank's Claudio! Chris 1 Link to post Share on other sites
fubar57 1,060 Posted August 5, 2020 Share Posted August 5, 2020 I went through seven Swordfish specific books and the cord is rarely shown and when it is shown, there is no explanation of what its for. Many, many photos of Swordfish on carriers and the cord isn't shown. Sorry Chris, best I can do. George Link to post Share on other sites
dogsbody 9,095 Posted August 5, 2020 Author Share Posted August 5, 2020 10 minutes ago, fubar57 said: I went through seven Swordfish specific books and the cord is rarely shown and when it is shown, there is no explanation of what its for. Many, many photos of Swordfish on carriers and the cord isn't shown. Sorry Chris, best I can do. George Hey, I just the same thing this morning and got the same. Nada! It only appears on later Swordfish with the white undersurface and usually armed with rockets. It might have something to do with them being onboard smaller escort carriers. Chris 1 Link to post Share on other sites
tonyot 33,931 Posted August 5, 2020 Share Posted August 5, 2020 Usually seen on Swordfish operating from small Escort or MAC Carriers and as others including Claudio have said, it was added as bracing for the undercarriage to prevent it from splaying out upon a hard landing,...... as quite a few were damaged or lost when one or both uc legs collapsed. Cheers Tony 3 1 Link to post Share on other sites
dogsbody 9,095 Posted August 5, 2020 Author Share Posted August 5, 2020 Thanks, Tony! Chris 1 Link to post Share on other sites
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