Powerplant and Performance
Utilizing a single powerplant, the Sea Hawk (FGA.Mk 6 for our example here) was fitted with a Rolls-Royce Nene 103 series turbojet producing up to 5,200lbf of thrust. This supplied the fighter with a top speed of 600 miles per hour, a range of 480 miles and a service ceiling of 44,500 feet with a rate-of-climb equal to about 5,700 feet per minute. She maintained a maximum take-off weight of 16,150lbs but sat just 9,278lbs when empty. Her running length was 39 feet, 8 inches with a wingspan of 39 feet even and a height of 8 feet, 8 inches.
Sea Hawk Armament
The British (as well as the Germans and Soviets) learned quickly in World War 2 that the cannon was the more viable armament when compared to machine guns. Although given an inherently slower rate-of-fire and limited in ammunition due to projectile size, the cannon proved able to quickly dispatch enemy fighters and bombers alike. As such, the Sea Hawk was fitted with primary armament consisting of 4 x 20mm Hispano Mk V cannons - a practice utilized heavily by the British in other early jet fighter designs. Each gun was afforded approximately 200 rounds per cannon system. An adept marksman could bring to bear all four cannon against a target with maximum results - be the target on land or in the air.
Optional armament included various air-to-service ordnance held externally. This could include up to 16 x 5" (127mm) unguided rockets, 20 x 60lb unguided rockets or up to 4 x 500lb conventional drop bombs across six underwing hardpoints. Two hardpoints were plumbed for the carrying of fuel drop tanks for increased range and loitering times. The Sea Hawk came too early in aviation history to carry missiles and the required radar.
Hawker Sea Hawk Variants
Beyond the P.1040 prototype - of which three were ultimately produced - the Sea Hawk was fielded in nine major variants. Production fighters were denoted by the "F" marks - the F.Mk 1 and the F.Mk 2. The F.Mk 1 was the initial production model of which 95 were produced. These fitted the Rolls-Royce Nene Mk 101 series turbojet engine. Production of these units was split between the Hawker Aircraft factory at Kingston-upon-Thames (35) and the Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft facility out of Baginton, Conventry. The F.Mk 2 was produced in 40 examples, all by Armstrong Whitworth, and featured power-boosted ailerons and a revised structure.
The Sea Hawk was embodied in a fighter-bomber variant beginning with the FB.Mk 3. This model featured a reinforced wing to carry the requisite external ordnance and 116 examples were produced in all. The FGA.Mk 4 designated its ground-attack nature while retaining full fighter capabilities but also sported a broadened ground-attack role over that of the FB.Mk 3. Ninety-seven of this variant were produced. The FB. Mk 5 was essentially the FB.Mk 3 production models but fitted with the Rolls-Royce Nene Mk 103 series turbojet instead - fifty of this model were produced. The FGA.Mk 6 was the FGA.Mk 4 production model now fitted with the Nene Mk 103 turbojet. While 15 FB.Mk 3 and FGA.Mk 4 examples were conversions to the new engine standard, 86 were complete "new-build" models.
As with any successful mount, the Sea Hawk was sold to foreign markets and this required a specialized designation system. The Sea Hawk Mk 50 was essentially the FGA.Mk 6 and 22 of these were delivered to the Royal Netherland Navy. Similarly, the Sea Hawk Mk 100 were FGA.Mk 6 production models but delivered to the West German Navy in 32 examples. Additionally, these German products featured a revised vertical tail fin. Sea Hawk Mk 101 signified an all-weather export form for the West German Navy. These were nothing more than the Sea Hawk Mk 100 export models (FGA.Mk 6) though with provision for an underwing pod housing a search radar. Thirty-two examples of this model were delivered.
The Sea Hawk in Combat
The Sea Hawk was quickly put into action during the Suez Crisis. In 1956, Egyptian President Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal - this of course against the wishes of many, including both Britain and France. Britain viewed the Suez region as a vitally important strategic and economic area to its interests in the Persian Gulf, Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. As such, the British ultimately called upon a military response to settle the matter forcibly but did so through a secret military pact with Israel and France. As such, "Operation Kadesh" opened the war with a massive parachute landing and helicopter assault on key Egyptian positions across the Sinai peninsula. Both land- and sea-based aircraft were eventually called into play - these being of the de Havilland Venom, English Electric Canberra, Republic F-84 Thunderstreak, Gloster Meteor and Hawker Sea Hawk variety. The British carriers HMS Albion, HMS Bulwark and the HMS Eagle all contributed Hawker Sea Hawks to the fight and the aircraft made up six total squadrons during the conflict. Targets included the neutralization of Egyptian airfields to help thwart an aerial response as well as attacking other major ground targets of tactical importance. The latter was accomplished through use of her cannon and high-explosive, unguided, air-to-surface rockets.
While the war proved a military victory for the belligerents, it went on to prove a political failure for Britain. International responses proved critical for the acting government and diplomatic pressure ensued. As a result, British and French forces ultimately withdrew from the peninsula after much deliberation. Israel, however, kept her forces in place.
Regardless of politics, the Sea Hawk was worked through her paces and proved a viable air mount for members of the Fleet Air Arm. She was an unspectacular aircraft but exhibited excellent qualities and proved yet another solid jet-powered design put forth by the British - and the Hawker Aircraft firm itself.
Sea Hawks in the Indo-Pak Wars
Since they were partitioned from the British Empire in 1947, India and Pakistan have fought two major wars against one another - the first in 1965 and the second in 1971. Beyond these all-out affairs, the two countries have also participated in more low-intensity actions, bringing both sides to the brink of all-out war time and again. In such actions, air combat went on to play a major role in support of ground actions and the dogfight proved alive and well across the skies in this part of the world.
While Pakistan made use of mostly America-made aircraft and weapons, India purchased used Sea Hawk fighter-bombers from both Germany and Britain in 1960 and utilized them to good effect in both wars. In the 1965 campaign, Sea Hawks were launched from land bases against Pakistani targets. However, in the 1971 tussle, the Indian Navy launched their Sea Hawks from the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, attacking Pakistani ports and shipping actions in the process. Amazingly, no Indian-piloted Sea Hawks were lost in either conflict. The INS retired these mounts in 1983 after procurement of the British Aerospace Sea Harrier jump jet strike fighter.
The Sea Hawk Today
The Sea Hawk can be found in preserved condition for display in various museums across Europe including England, Scotland, Germany, Northern Ireland, Netherlands and as far away as India.
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