page_title: Fairey Swordfish
section_title: Variants
hierarchical_section_title: Fairey Swordfish / Variants
caption_attribution_description: English: Royal Air Force Coastal Command, 1939-1945. RAF and Royal Navy ground crew refuel a Fairey Swordfish Mark III of No. 119 Squadron RAF Detachment at B65/Maldeghem, Begium.
context_page_description: The Fairey Swordfish is a biplane torpedo bomber designed by the Fairey Aviation Company. Originating in the early 1930s, the Swordfish, nicknamed "Stringbag", was operated by the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy, it was also used by the Royal Air Force, as well as several overseas operators, including the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Royal Netherlands Navy. It was initially operated primarily as a fleet attack aircraft. During its later years, the Swordfish became increasingly used as an anti-submarine and training platform. The type was in frontline service throughout the Second World War.
  Despite being obsolete by 1939, the Swordfish achieved some spectacular successes during the war. Notable events included sinking one battleship and damaging two others of the Regia Marina during the Battle of Taranto, and the famous attack on the Bismarck, which contributed to her eventual demise. By the end of the war, the Swordfish held the distinction of having caused the destruction of a greater tonnage of Axis shipping than any other Allied aircraft.
context_section_description: Swordfish I
  First production series.
  Swordfish I
  Version equipped with floats, for use from catapult-equipped warships.
  Swordfish II
  Version with metal lower wings to enable the mounting of rockets, introduced in 1943.
  Swordfish III
  Version with added large centrimetric radar unit, introduced in 1943.
  Swordfish IV
  Last serial built version (production ended in 1944) with an enclosed cabin for use by the RCAF
caption: A Swordfish III of RAF 119 Squadron being refueled at Maldegem, Belgium, (1944–1945). The fairing of the aircraft's centimetric radar can be seen below the engine
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