Hawker Typhoon IB

*The Typhoon was Hawker's successor to the aging Hurricane. Its big, ambitious design was based on the massive 36-liter Napier Sabre flat-H engine.* *While the complex and maintenance-intensive Sabre never provided outstanding reliability, it did provide well over 2,000 horsepower, which gave the Typhoon far greater performance than anything imagined when the Hurricane was new.* *The Typhoon was rushed into service late in 1941, but some serious shortcomings prevented it from fulfilling its intended role of interceptor.* *Its thick wing made for instability at high altitudes, and its poorly designed aft fuselage caused the tail to break away during fast, steep dives.* *By late 1942 its structural problems were worked out, and the Typhoon came into its own as a powerful and heavily armed low-level fighter-bomber.* *After the Normandy invasion, Typhoons of the 2nd Tactical Air Force destroyed concentrations of German armor and made the roads of France and Belgium unsafe for enemy troops or transport."*

-In game description of the Hawker Typhoon IB

The British Typhoon is robust and well equipped fighter bomber of the Royal Air Force, and one of the best ground attacking fighter-bombers of the war. It is also the father of the Hawker Tempest.

Originally it was suppose be an high altitude interceptor equipped with a high powered engine, but design flaws such as its thick wings and tail that produced high drag and disappointing climb rate. At this time in 1941 the new Focke-Wulf Fw 190 caused problems for the RAF and the Typhoon was the only RAF that could take it head on at low altitude, before the Tempest and Gloster Meteor. This has lots of horsepower and heavy armament with four fixed 20mm cannons, but it suffers from a vulnerable liquid cooled engine and reduced potential high up, and the autocannons don't travel as fast as lower caliber guns so save your rounds for those Panzers and Junkers bombers. Remember to choose carefully when you equip heavier bombs which can impede your agility.

## Specifications

WEIGHT: 8,800/11,400 lb. (4,000/5,182 kg) SPAN: 41' 7" (12.7 m) LENGTH: 31' 10" (9.7 m)

ENGINE: One Napier Sabre IIA 24-cyl. liquid-cooled flat-H with 2,180 hp

ARMAMENT: Four 20-mm Hispano cannon with 140 r.p.g., plus two 1,000-lb. bombs or eight 60-lb. rocket projectiles

MAX SPEED @ ALTITUDE: 405 mph (652 km/h) @ 18,000 ft (5,486 m)

CEILING: 34,000 ft (10,363 m)

INITIAL CLIMB RATE: 2,540 ft/min (774 m/min)

RANGE: 510 mi (820 km) with bombs; 980 mi (1,577 km)

### Strengths and Weaknesses

**STRENGTHS**

- High speed.

- Heavy armament and ordnance load.

**WEAKNESSES**

- Poor handling and performance above 20,000 feet.

- For its power, a relatively leisurely rate of climb.

- Poor engine reliability.

## Trivia

* The original IA prototypes were armed with 12x .303 machine guns that were replaced with 4x 20mm auto cannons (two in each wing) to enhance its firepower.
* The early Typhoon IBs often got themselves into friendly fire because of the shape of it resembling a Focke-Wulf 190. To reduce these incidents the Typhoon and all other RAF planes had their noses painted white and wing painted in black and white striping commonly called "Invasion Stripes", just around D-Day (Operation Overlord).
* The top scoring Typhoon ace was was Group Captain J.R Baldwin of 609th Squadron and Commanding Officer of 198th Squadron. He shot down 15 aircraft.
* The slang word for the Hawker Typhoon was "Tiffy".

* A modern day 4th Generation jet fighter is the Eurofighter Typhoon, which was named after its' World War II ancestor, though both aircraft were manufactured by different companies.