Hawker Hurricane variants
The fuel was pumped from these into a reserve gravity-feed tank which held an additional 28 gal (127 L) in the forward fuselage, just ahead of the cockpit.
[citation needed] The aircraft handling qualities during take-off and landings that were deemed excellent due to a wide-track undercarriage with relatively wide low-pressure tyres.
Because of this wide, stable platform, the Hurricane was an easier aircraft to land, with less fear of nose-overs or "ground-loops" than its RAF Fighter Command counterpart the Supermarine Spitfire.
The powerplant was changed to the Merlin III driving a de Havilland or Rotol[2] constant speed metal propeller.
Although the added weight and the aerials reduced maximum speed by about 2 mph (3 km/h), it allowed the aircraft to be identified as "friendly" on radar.
[5] Although some of the basic design elements of the aircraft were from an earlier generation, the Hurricane proved to be a match, to an extent, for the German Messerschmitt Bf 109E.
85 Squadron RAF during the Battle of Britain, provides examples demonstrating how the Hurricane's superior turning ability could offset the Bf 109's higher speed.
Working against the Hurricane was the aircraft's relatively slow acceleration and a top speed some 10–30 mph (16–48 km/h) slower, depending on altitude.
The Merlin's only major drawback was a tendency to cut out during negative-g manoeuvres and inverted flight, on account of fuel starvation from the carburettor.
[citation needed] When attacking Luftwaffe bombers, it was discovered that the Hurricane's fuel tanks were vulnerable to defensive machine gun fire.
This issue was of such concern to Air Vice Marshal Hugh Dowding that he had Hawker retrofit the fuselage tanks of Hurricanes with a fire-resistant material called "Linatex" as a matter of priority.
[7] The biggest advantages of the Hurricane were that it was a relatively easy aircraft to fly, which was a boon when it came to squadrons being flooded with inexperienced pilots, and it was a steady gun platform.
The closely grouped .303 in (7.7 mm) Brownings created a superior pattern of fire to those of the Spitfire, which were spaced out along the wings, and the armament was more quickly serviced.
Many of these aircraft were ferried to North Africa and Malta via France and the Mediterranean using fixed, cylindrical 40-gallon fuel tanks under each wing to extend the range.
[citation needed] The improved Merlin XX (Mk.20) engine appeared in 1940 featuring a new two-speed supercharger that could have its impeller speed changed by the pilot depending on the outside air pressure (altitude).
The result was more power at both lower and higher altitudes, dramatically increasing the overall performance of the engine with it peaking at 1,280 horsepower (950 kW).
[citation needed] Although, by this time, production of the Spitfire had started to increase, a prototype of a Merlin XX-powered Hurricane Mk I was built and first flew on 11 June 1940.
A more reliable fit was made with four 20 mm (0.79 in) Hispano Mk II cannon, two in each wing, but the weight was enough to seriously reduce performance.
[citation needed] The Hurricane Mk II armed with four 20 mm (.79 in) Hispanos became the Mark IIC,[10] using a slightly modified wing.
A new-build version of what was known as the Mk IID started in January 1942, including additional armour for the pilot, radiator and engine.
[citation needed] The IID was used in anti-tank operations in limited numbers during the North African campaign where, provided enemy flak and fighters were absent, they proved accurate and highly effective against armoured vehicles and all motor transport.
type guns, two SBC (small bomb containers), SCI (smoke curtain installation), two 45 or 90 gallon drop tanks, or eight "60 pounder" RP-3 rockets.
The individual aircraft cards held by the RAF museum reports the final Mark IV had a Merlin XX.
[citation needed] They were equipped with dust filters for desert operations and an additional 350 lb (159 kg) of armour plating was added to the radiator housing, cockpit, and fuel tanks.
[citation needed] The Mk IV was used in ground-attack missions in the European theatre until the early days of 1944, before being replaced by the more modern Hawker Typhoon.
The majority of the aircraft modified had been worn out in front-line squadrons, so much so that at least one example used during trials broke up under the stress of a catapult launching.
[15] The first Sea Hurricane IA kill was a German Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor long range patrol aircraft, shot down on 2 August 1941.
[citation needed] The Hurricane Mk I version equipped with catapult spools, an arrester hook and the four-cannon wing.
Some Sea Hurricanes reportedly had their Merlin III engines adjusted to 16 lb maximum boost which would mean more than 1,400 hp at low altitude (5,000 ft).
[21] The Hurricane Mk IIC version equipped with catapult spools, an arrester hook and full naval avionics.
