Gloster Gamecock

Last updated

Gamecock
Gloster gamecock.jpg
Gloster Gamecock operated by the Finnish Air Force
RoleFighter aircraft
National originUnited Kingdom
Manufacturer Gloster
First flight22 February 1925
StatusRetired from service
Primary users Royal Air Force
Finnish Air Force
Number built108
Developed from Gloster Grebe
Variants Nakajima A1N

The Gloster Gamecock was a biplane fighter designed and produced by the British aircraft manufacturer Gloster.

Contents

The Gamecock was a development of the earlier Grebe Mk III, an early interwar fighter procured by the Royal Air Force (RAF). Work on the type commenced in 1924 as a response to Air Ministry Specification 37/23. The principal difference between the two aircraft was the adoption of the Bristol Jupiter radial engine for the Gamecock. in the place of the somewhat unreliable Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar. Various structural improvements were made to the fuselage, the armament was also revised to include internally-mounted machine guns. On 22 February 1925, the prototype Gamecock performed its maiden flight.

Evaluation flights at RAF Martlesham Heath resulted in considerable praise for the aircraft; few changes were made as a result. During September 1925, the Air Ministry placed an initial order for 30 production aircraft to fulfil Specification 18/25. Further orders would quickly follow; the first production Gamecock flew in March 1926 and was delivered two months later. While the type was often praised for its manoeuvrability and speed, it suffered a high rate of accidents in service, leading to a relatively brief flying career with the RAF. The aircraft served considerably longer with the Finnish Air Force; it was produced under licence for the service under the local name Kukko and saw action during the Winter War of 1939–1940 against the Soviet Union.

Development

The origins of the Gamecock can be found in the earlier Gloster Grebe. During the mid-1920s, this fighter had proven itself to be relatively popular amongst the pilots of the Royal Air Force (RAF), which typically praised it for its high maximum speed for the era and its manoeuvrability. [1] It was recognised that the Grebe also had some shortcomings, even in its later models. A prominent failing was the unsatisfactory performance of the Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar engine, which had developed a reputation with ground crews for its poor reliability as well as being difficult to service. Gloster became keenly interested in the replacement of the Jaguar with another engine and took an interest in the promising Bristol Jupiter radial engine that could deliver similar performance to the Jaguar while lighter and considerably less complex. [1]

During the summer of 1924, the Air Ministry issued Specification 37/23, which was tailored around the development of a Jupiter-powered version of the Grebe. [1] Gloster commenced work on the project immediately thereafter. Gloster's design team, headed by Henry Folland, had also identified numerous improvements, typically relating to the aircraft's structure, that could be made. The fuselage was composed almost completely out of wood, although steel tie-rods were used for internal bracing, as well as a combination of aluminium and asbestos for a fireproof bulkhead at the back of the engine bay. [2] One of the more distinctive changes on the new aircraft was the adoption of internally-mounted machine guns in place of the Grebe's external armament arrangement along the top of the fuselage. [3]

Less than six months after the specification, Gloster had completed construction of the prototype, J7497, which was fitted with the Jupiter IV engine; by this time, orders for a further two prototypes had been ordered. On 20 February 1925, it was delivered to RAF Martlesham Heath to commence a comprehensive evaluation; its maiden flight was performed two days later. [4] Within weeks of its arrival, the prototype's Grebe-style unbalanced rudder was replaced by a redesigned horn-balanced counterpart. It was determined to possess excellent manoeuvrability, in part due to its engine being placed so close to the aircraft's centre of gravity, and the trials were considered to be a clear success. [3]

By July 1925, in excess of 50 flying hours had been attained with the first prototype; no major changes were made at this stage of the aircraft's development as no major flaws or concerns were reported. [5] Having been sufficiently convinced, in September 1925, the Air Ministry placed an initial order for 30 production aircraft to meet Specification 18/25, which were given the name Gamecock; these were to be powered by the improved Jupiter VI engine, as fitted to the third prototype. During March 1926, the first production aircraft performed its maiden flight; delivered of the type commenced two months later. [6] During July 1926, a second order from the Air Ministry for 40 more Gamecocks was received by Gloster; in November of that same year, another 18 aircraft were also ordered. [6]

Operational history

During May 1926, the Gamecock I entered service with 23 Squadron at RAF Henlow; this squadron would also be the last of the six RAF squadrons operating the fighter, flying its examples up until July 1931. [7] 3 Squadron and 17 Squadron operated Gamecocks that had been modified for these squadron's night interception duties. The type acquired a particularly attractive reputation amongst the general public for the aerobatic displays that would often be performed at air shows and other major public events during the latter half of the 1920s. [8]

Pilots typically regarded the Gamecock as being an enjoyable aircraft to fly while also being a good gun platform. [8] It was also known for a relatively high number accidents, which was a contributing factor towards its relatively brief service life with the RAF – of the 90 operated by the service, 22 were lost in landing or spin accidents, often involving structural failure. The Gamecock also shared the earlier Grebe's undesirable tendency for flutter. [8] To reduce this problem, Gloster tested alterations to improve the aircraft's flying qualities. The improved Gamecock II was introduced in 1928 with a longer upper wing and a modified tail unit, amongst other refinements. [9]

Gamecock II fitted with outward-leaning struts in 1927 Gloster Gamecock.jpg
Gamecock II fitted with outward-leaning struts in 1927

Gloster promoted the type to overseas operators and the Finnish Air Force had shown interest in the Gamecock I, resulting in an aerial demonstration being performed over Helsinki on 25 March 1927. [10] The following year, the Gamecock II won a Finnish government contest, leading to a licensing arrangement being made with Gloster, along with an order for a pattern aircraft. [11] Licensed production of the Gamecock, known locally as the Kukko (Finnish language for "rooster"), commenced at the Finnish National Aircraft Factory in 1929. The Kukko was in frontline service with the Finnish Air Force throughout the 1930s, although the type was progressively relegated to training duties towards the end of the decade. [12]

Finnish Kukkos saw combat during the Winter War of 1939–1940 against the Soviet Union. In perhaps the type's highest profile engagement, a Kukko captured a Soviet Ilyushin DB-3 bomber. On 29 January 1940, the fighter had strafed a pair of Soviet DB-3s when they landed on Finnish soil (which they mistook for Estonia) to transfer fuel from one plane to the other. The strafed crews hurried into the one plane which had enough fuel remaining and escaped, leaving the DB-3 behind to be captured by the Finns. [13] At least one Kukko remained operational with the Finnish Air Force up until September 1944, at which point the last example was scrapped. [14]

Variants

A Gamecock at RAF Hendon, 1931 Hendon-display-teamLG.jpg
A Gamecock at RAF Hendon, 1931
J7497
Prototype to Air Ministry Specification 37/23 powered by a Jupiter IV engine and first flown in February 1925.
J7756
Prototype with Jupiter IV engine.
J7757
Prototype with Jupiter VI engine.
Gamecock Mk I
Production single-seat fighter aircraft for the RAF, 90 built. [15]
Gamecock Mk II
Single-seat fighter aircraft with revised wing and tail. One new-built for RAF with another Mk I converted to Mk II standard. [16] There were three exported to Finland in 1928, with a further 15 built under licence in Finland from 1929–1930 as the Kukko. The type remained in Finnish service until 1944. [17]
Gamecock Mk III
One RAF Gamecock Mk II modified with lengthened fuselage for spin trials. [18]
Gambet
A carrier-based version of the Gamecock produced as a private venture. Manufactured under licence for the Imperial Japanese Navy as the Nakajima A1N; about 150 were operated from 1929 to 1935 and saw combat during the Shanghai incident in 1932. [19]

Operators

Fuselage wreck at Finnish Aviation Museum Finnish Aviation Museum Gloster Gamecock fuselage wreck 20090419.jpg
Fuselage wreck at Finnish Aviation Museum
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom

Survivors

Specifications (Mk. I)

Gloster Gamecock II 3-view drawing from L'Air, 15 August 1927 Gloster Gamecock II 3-view L'Air August 15,1927.png
Gloster Gamecock II 3-view drawing from L'Air, 15 August 1927

Data fromThe Era-Ending Gamecock [22]

General characteristics

Performance

145 mph (126 kn; 233 km/h) at 10,000 ft (3,000 m)

Armament

See also

Related development

Related lists

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gloster Meteor</span> Britains first jet fighter, 1943–1980s

The Gloster Meteor was the first British jet fighter and the Allies' only jet aircraft to engage in combat operations during the Second World War. The Meteor's development was heavily reliant on its ground-breaking turbojet engines, pioneered by Frank Whittle and his company, Power Jets Ltd. Development of the aircraft began in 1940, although work on the engines had been under way since 1936. The Meteor first flew in 1943 and commenced operations on 27 July 1944 with No. 616 Squadron RAF. The Meteor was not a sophisticated aircraft in its aerodynamics, but proved to be a successful combat fighter. Gloster's 1946 civil Meteor F.4 demonstrator G-AIDC was the first civilian-registered jet aircraft in the world. Several major variants of the Meteor incorporated technological advances during the 1940s and 1950s. Thousands of Meteors were built to fly with the RAF and other air forces and remained in use for several decades.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gloster Gladiator</span> 1930s fighter aircraft

The Gloster Gladiator is a British biplane fighter. It was used by the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) and was exported to a number of other air forces during the late 1930s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gloster Javelin</span> British interceptor aircraft

The Gloster Javelin is a twin-engined all-weather interceptor aircraft that served with Britain's Royal Air Force from the mid-1950s until the late 1960s. It was a T-tailed delta-wing aircraft designed for night and all-weather operations and was the last aircraft design to bear the Gloster name. Introduced in 1956 after a lengthy development period, the aircraft received several upgrades during production to its engines, radar and weapons, including support for the De Havilland Firestreak air-to-air missile.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bristol Bulldog</span> 1927 fighter aircraft family by Bristol

The Bristol Bulldog is a British Royal Air Force single-seat biplane fighter designed during the 1920s by the Bristol Aeroplane Company. More than 400 Bulldogs were produced for the RAF and overseas customers, and it was one of the most famous aircraft used by the RAF during the inter-war period.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Armstrong Whitworth Siskin</span> Type of aircraft

The Armstrong Whitworth Siskin was a sesquiplane single-seat fighter aircraft developed and produced by the British aircraft manufacturer Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft. It was also the first all-metal fighter to be operated by the Royal Air Force (RAF), as well as being one of the first new fighters to enter service following the end of the First World War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boulton Paul Sidestrand</span> Type of aircraft

The Boulton Paul P.29 Sidestrand was a twin-engine biplane medium bomber of the Royal Air Force. Designed for daylight operations, it was manoeuvrable and provided with three defensive gun positions. Named after a village on the Norfolk coast near Boulton & Paul's factory in Norwich, the Sidestrand first flew in 1926 and entered service in 1928. It remained in service until 1936, equipping No. 101 Squadron RAF. It was an agile and relatively fast aircraft that was capable of aerobatic manoeuvres such as loops, rolls and spins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fairey Flycatcher</span> Type of aircraft

The Fairey Flycatcher was a British single-seat biplane carrier-borne fighter aircraft made by Fairey Aviation Company which served from 1923 to 1934. It was produced with a conventional undercarriage for carrier use, although this could be exchanged for floats for catapult use aboard capital ships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gloster Grebe</span> Type of aircraft

The Gloster Grebe was developed by the Gloster Aircraft Company from the Gloster Grouse, and was the Royal Air Force's first post-First World War fighter aircraft, entering service in 1923.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vickers Vildebeest</span> Type of aircraft

The Vickers Vildebeest and the similar Vickers Vincent were two very large two- to three-seat single-engined British biplanes designed and built by Vickers and used as light bombers, torpedo bombers and in army cooperation roles. First flown in 1928, it remained in service at the start of the Second World War, with the last Vildebeests flying against Japanese forces over Singapore and Java in 1942.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vickers Victoria</span> Type of aircraft

The Vickers Type 56 Victoria was a British biplane freighter and troop transport aircraft used by the Royal Air Force. The Victoria flew for the first time in 1922 and was selected for production over the Armstrong Whitworth Awana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vickers Virginia</span> Type of aircraft

The Vickers Virginia was a biplane heavy bomber of the British Royal Air Force, developed from the Vickers Vimy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hawker Woodcock</span> British 1920s military aircraft

The Hawker Woodcock was a British single-seat fighter built by the Hawker Engineering Company as the first fighter to be produced by Hawker Engineering. It was used by the RAF as a night fighter in the 1920s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gloster Gauntlet</span> Type of aircraft

The Gloster Gauntlet was a single-seat biplane fighter designed and produced by the British aeroplane manufacturer Gloster Aircraft in the 1930s. It was the last fighter to be operated by the Royal Air Force (RAF) to have an open cockpit, and also the penultimate biplane fighter in its service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nakajima A1N</span> Japanese carrier-based fighter

The Nakajima A1N, or Navy Type 3 Carrier Fighter, was a Japanese carrier-based fighter of the late-1920s and early-1930s. It was a licensed copy of the British Gloster Gambet fighter, built by the Nakajima Aircraft Company for the Imperial Japanese Navy. Approximately 150 were built in two versions, the A1N1 and A1N2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Westland Wapiti</span> British general-purpose military aircraft of the interwar era

The Westland Wapiti was a British two-seat general-purpose military single-engined biplane of the 1920s. It was designed and built by Westland Aircraft Works to replace the Airco DH.9A in Royal Air Force service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fairey Hendon</span> Type of aircraft

The Fairey Hendon was a British monoplane, heavy bomber of the Royal Air Force, designed by Fairey Aviation in the late 1920s. The aircraft served in small numbers with one squadron of the RAF between 1936 and 1939. It was the first all-metal construction low-wing monoplane to enter service with the RAF.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boulton Paul Balliol</span> Type of aircraft

The Boulton Paul Balliol and Sea Balliol are monoplane advanced trainer aircraft designed and produced by the British aircraft manufacturer Boulton Paul Aircraft. On 17 May 1948, it became the world's first single-engined turboprop aircraft to fly. The Balliol was operated primarily by both the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm (FAA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fairey Fawn</span> Type of aircraft

The Fairey Fawn was a British single-engine light bomber of the 1920s. It was designed as a replacement for the Airco DH.9A and served with the Royal Air Force between 1924 and 1929.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nieuport Nighthawk</span> Type of aircraft

The Nieuport Nighthawk was a British fighter aircraft developed by the Nieuport & General Aircraft company for the Royal Air Force towards the end of the First World War. Although ordered into production before the aircraft first flew, it did not enter large scale service with the RAF owing to unreliable engines. Re-engined aircraft did see service in Greece, serving from 1923 to 1938.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gloster Grouse</span> Type of aircraft

The Gloster Grouse was a British biplane of the 1920s developed by the Gloster Aircraft Company. Often referred to as the prototype to the Gloster Grebe, the Grouse originally built as an experimental aircraft and then later developed as a trainer. Despite its compact design and maneuverability, the Grouse was not in itself a commercial success, although it formed the basis for the Gloster Grebe and Gamecock fighters which were used by Britain's Royal Air Force into the 1930s.

References

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 James 1971, p. 110.
  2. ↑ James 1971, p. 111.
  3. 1 2 James 1971, p. 112.
  4. ↑ James 1971, pp. 111-112.
  5. ↑ James 1971, pp. 112–113.
  6. 1 2 James 1971, p. 113.
  7. ↑ "Aircraft of the Month: Gloster Gamecock". www.tangmere-museum.org.uk. Tangmere Military Aviation Museum. September 2008. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  8. 1 2 3 James 1971, p. 115.
  9. ↑ James 1971, pp. 115–119.
  10. ↑ James 1971, p. 120.
  11. ↑ James 1971, pp. 120–121.
  12. ↑ James 1971, p. 121.
  13. ↑ Keskinen, Stenman, Niska: "Venäläiset pommittajat /Soviet bombers".
  14. ↑ James 1971, p. 122.
  15. ↑ James 1971, p. 350.
  16. ↑ James 1971, p. 119.
  17. ↑ James 1971, pp. 121-122.
  18. ↑ James 1971, p. 118.
  19. ↑ Gustavsson, Håkan. "Nakajima (A1N) Type 3". Håkans Aviation page. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  20. 1 2 3 Green and Swanborough 1983, p. 62.
  21. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Lumsden and Thetford 1993, p. 113.
  22. ↑ Green and Swanborough 1983, p. 7.
  23. ↑ Thetford 1957, p. 223.
  24. ↑ Taylor 1989, p. 421.

Bibliography

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.