Standard, fixed armament became 4 x 20mm Hispano V series cannons mounted in the lower fuselage (under the cockpit floor) with each gun was afforded 190 rounds of ammunition - holding considerably lethality in controlled, burst firing against any target in the sky or on the ground. The wings were cleared to carry 8 x 60lb RP-3 unguided rockets in later production models and 2 x 1,000lb conventional drop bombs could be supported at hardpoints outboard of the engine nacelles giving the Hornet a multi-role capability.
In its prototype form, designated RR915, the Hornet went airborne for the first time on July 28th, 1944. At speeds nearing 500 miles per hour in testing, the design was already proving a promising successor to the storied Mosquito. However, the war in Europe ended in May of 1945 followed by the Japanese surrender of August while the Hornet line was not formally introduced into service until 1946, missing its chance to make its presence in the war truly felt.
No matter, the design was allowed to live on and No.64 Squadron was its first proud recipient. Ultimately eight total RAF squadrons were outfitted with fixed-wing Hornets from 1946 until 1955 and this was strengthened through the fourteen Royal Navy (Fleet Air Arm) squadrons that used the navalized version as the "Sea Hornet" formed from the PX212 prototype. Total production reached 383 aircraft to include both variant forms. The type was never exported though Australia and Canada both evaluated sole examples.
The initial production model became fixed-wing Hornet F.Mk 1 and sixty of this were produced. Hornet PR.Mk 2 followed in five examples representing a photo-reconnaissance platform appropriately outfitted with cameras and lacking their cannon armament.
Hornet F.Mk 3 (born from prototype PX366) was the definitive fighter-bomber form to which 132 examples arrived and quickly superseded F.Mk 1 models in service. These models were differentiated by the addition of a dorsal fillet, increased fuel capacity (and therefore extended operational ranges), and brought along hardpoints for drop bombs or fuel drop tanks.
Hornet FR.Mk 4 was a mixed fighter/reconnaissance version and twelve were produced to this standard. These featured reduced fuel stores (and therefore range) and a lack of cannon armament in favor of camera equipment.
Royal Navy marks (Sea Hornets) were led by the folding wing PX212 prototype which first flew on April 19th, 1945. The production Sea Hornet F.Mk 20 (based on the Hornet F.Mk 3) appeared in 79 examples. These were followed by Sea Hornet NF.Mk 21 which were dedicated, twin-seat navalized night-fighter forms outfitted with Merlin 133/134 series engines and ASH radar equipment (in the nose). 72 total examples were delivered to this standard. Sea Hornet PR.Mk 22 appeared as a photo-reconnaissance variant in 23 examples.
The F.Mk 3 was the only service mark to see combat actions before retirement. This was during the Malayan Emergency (1948-1960) which pitted British Commonwealth elements against communist forces. In these skies, the Hornet acquitted itself rather well, capable of undertaking a mix of missions designed to assail enemy positions through rocket and cannon fire or more precision strikes through bomb sorties. The aircraft were remembered for their strong loitering capabilities as well as operational ranges while their Merlin engines did well in the tropical environment (this being by design for the Hornet was specifically developed to a Pacific Theater fighter requirement). At the end of the campaign, the Hornet accounted for thousands of sorties - the last Hornet mission coming in May of 1955.
All Hornets / Sea Hornets were retired in 1956. Performance specs of the Hornet F.Mk 1 included a maximum speed of 475 miles per hour, a cruising speed of 270 miles per hour, a range out to 1,480 miles and a service ceiling reaching 41,500 feet. Rate-of-climb was about 5,000 feet per minute. The 2 x Rolls-Royce Merlin 130/131 engines in play offered 2,070 horsepower output and drove four-bladed propeller units.
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