The RAF decides to cancel specification F.18/37 in mid 1940, deciding to concentrate on Merlin powered aircraft, with plans to move to the Giffon later on.
Meanwhile the first Typhoon prototype has just flown in February 1940. Hawker's Sydney Camm, not wanting his aircraft work to go to waste offers the Typhoon to the navy, on the premise that such unlike the recently introduced Fulmar, the Typhoon does not directly affect the RAF's supply of RR Merlin engines.
The Navy shows interest in Camm's proposal, and requests that a carrier compatible variant be prepared immediately for carrier trials. Hopefully, in the preparation of the tailhook assembly, the Typhoon's structural weakness in the tail is addressed. Beyond this, what changes do we need to make to the Typhoon to have it deployed to the fleet by late 1941 or early 1942? The range of the Typhoon is not much better than a Spitfire, so we'll need to address that (can we stuff more gas into that thick wing, or better tune the Sabre?). What is the Typhoon's landing/stall and takeoff speed like?
How will the Typhoon perform against Nagumo's Zero fighters in April/May 1942 off Ceylon? With its thick wing, at mid or low level I should think the fast, big and tough Typhoons should do nicely, provided they avoid close dogfighting and depend on their huge engines and mass to make rapid passes at the Zeros. Once the Sea Typhoon has its 3" rockets, any Japanese warship smaller than a battleship is in deep trouble.
Of course with the Typhoon in general fleet service in 1942, we may see the adoption of the Bristol Centaurus in a modified Typhoon in time for the war? Sort of an early Sea Fury.
Meanwhile the first Typhoon prototype has just flown in February 1940. Hawker's Sydney Camm, not wanting his aircraft work to go to waste offers the Typhoon to the navy, on the premise that such unlike the recently introduced Fulmar, the Typhoon does not directly affect the RAF's supply of RR Merlin engines.
The Navy shows interest in Camm's proposal, and requests that a carrier compatible variant be prepared immediately for carrier trials. Hopefully, in the preparation of the tailhook assembly, the Typhoon's structural weakness in the tail is addressed. Beyond this, what changes do we need to make to the Typhoon to have it deployed to the fleet by late 1941 or early 1942? The range of the Typhoon is not much better than a Spitfire, so we'll need to address that (can we stuff more gas into that thick wing, or better tune the Sabre?). What is the Typhoon's landing/stall and takeoff speed like?
How will the Typhoon perform against Nagumo's Zero fighters in April/May 1942 off Ceylon? With its thick wing, at mid or low level I should think the fast, big and tough Typhoons should do nicely, provided they avoid close dogfighting and depend on their huge engines and mass to make rapid passes at the Zeros. Once the Sea Typhoon has its 3" rockets, any Japanese warship smaller than a battleship is in deep trouble.
Of course with the Typhoon in general fleet service in 1942, we may see the adoption of the Bristol Centaurus in a modified Typhoon in time for the war? Sort of an early Sea Fury.
