| Sea Venom / Aquilon | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Sea Venom (WZ931) at the South Australian Aviation Museum, Port Adelaide | |
| Role | Fighter-bomber |
| National origin | United Kingdom |
| Manufacturer | de Havilland Aircraft Company SNCASE |
| First flight | 19 April 1951 |
| Primary users | Royal Navy French Navy Royal Australian Navy |
| Developed from | de Havilland Venom |
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Design and development
The Sea Venom was the navalised version of the Venom NF.2 two-seat night fighter, and was used as an all-weather interceptor by the FAA. The necessary modifications for use on the Royal Navy's aircraft carriers included folding wings, a tailhook (which retracted into a characteristic "lip" over the jetpipe) and strengthened, long-stroke undercarriage. The canopy was modified to allow ejection from underwater. The first prototype made its first flight in 1951, and began carrier trials that same year. A further two prototypes were built.[1] The first production Sea Venom took the designation FAW.20 (Fighter, All-Weather). It was powered by a single de Havilland Ghost 103 turbojet engine and its armament was the same as the RAF version. The next variant was the FAW.21, which included the modifications introduced in the Venom NF.2A and NF.3. Some of these modifications included the Ghost 104 engine, a clear-view canopy and American radar. The final Royal Navy variant was the FAW.22 powered by the Ghost 105 engine. A total of 39 of this type were built in 1957–58. Some were later fitted out with the de Havilland Firestreak air-to-air missile.Seven FAW.21s were modified in 1958 for Electronic countermeasures (ECM) purposes, with the cannon replaced by the ECM equipment. These became the ECM.21. 831 Naval Air Squadron, the sole squadron to be equipped with it, was shore-based at RAF Watton from 1963 and disbanded in 1966. Converted FAW.22s were similarly known as the ECM.22.
A modernised Sea Venom project, the DH.116 with swept wings and upgraded radar was considered, but cancelled as the Royal Navy believed that any replacement needed two engines. The de Havilland Sea Vixen ultimately replaced the Sea Venom.
Operational history
The Sea Venom saw much service during its time with the Royal Navy. In 1956, they, alongside RAF Venoms, took part in the Suez War which began on 31 October. They were part of Nos. 809, 892 and 893 Naval Air Squadrons based on the light fleet carrier HMS Albion and fleet carrier HMS Eagle. The Anglo-French invasion, codenamed Operation Musketeer, took place in response to the nationalisation of the Suez Canal by Egypt's leader, General Nasser. The air war began on the 31 October 1956 signalling the beginning of the Suez War. The Sea Venoms launched many sorties, bombing a variety of targets in Egypt in the process.
In 1958, during the Cyprus Emergency, Sea Venoms of 809 NAS, operating off Albion, flew a number of sorties against the Cypriot terrorists. The type also saw service during conflicts in the Middle East.
By 1959, the Sea Venom began to be replaced in Royal Navy service by the de Havilland Sea Vixen, an aircraft that also had the distinctive twin-boom tail. The Sea Venom would be withdrawn from frontline service soon afterwards.
Service with other nations
Variants
Sea Venom
- Sea Venom NF.20
- Prototype Sea Venom, based on Venom NF.2.[2][3]
- FAW.20
- Initial production aircraft, based on Venom NF.2A. 4,850 lbf (21.6 kN) Ghost 103 turbojet engine, AI Mk 10 (US SCR 720) radar.[4] 50 built.[2]
- FAW.21
- Improved version, equivalent to Venom NF.3. 4,950 lbf (22.1 kN) Ghost 104 engine, AI Mk 21 (US APS-57) radar, strengthened long-stroke undercarriage.[5][6]
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- ECM.21
- Six FAW.21s modified from 1957 for ECM purposes. No armament.[7]
- FAW.22
- More powerful (5,300 lbf (23.6 kN)) Ghost 105 engine, giving improved high-altitude performance.[8] 39 new built.[6]
-
- ECM.22
- Equivalent of ECM.21, based on FAW.22
- FAW.53
- Australian designation for the Sea Venom FAW.21. 39 built.[4]
SNCASE Aquilon
SNCASE (Sud-Est) licence-built 121 Sea Venom FAW.20 as the Aquilon for the French Navy.- Aquilon 20 - Assembled from the parts provided by de Havilland
- Aquilon 201 - Single prototype built in France.
- Aquilon 202 - Two-seat version with ejector seats, an American AN/APQ-65 radar and air-conditioning.
- Aquilon 203 - Single-seat version with an American AN/APQ-94 radar and equipped with racks for air-to-air missiles.
- Aquilon 204 - Two-seat training version without guns.
Operators
Sea Venom operators
- Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm
- 700 Naval Air Squadron
- 736 Naval Air Squadron
- 738 Naval Air Squadron
- 750 Naval Air Squadron
- 766 Naval Air Squadron
- 787 Naval Air Squadron
- 800 Naval Air Squadron
- 808 Naval Air Squadron
- 809 Naval Air Squadron
- 810 Naval Air Squadron
- 831 Naval Air Squadron
- 890 Naval Air Squadron
- 891 Naval Air Squadron
- 892 Naval Air Squadron
- 893 Naval Air Squadron
- 894 Naval Air Squadron
Aquilon operators
Survivors
- In Australia, a number of Sea Venom FAW.53s have survived.[citation needed]
- Sea Venom FAW.22 - XG680 on display at North East Aircraft Museum, Sunderland, United Kingdom.
Specifications (Sea Venom FAW.22)
Data from De Havilland's Sea Vixen[9]Jackson 1978, pp. 481–482
General characteristics- Crew: 2
- Length: 36 ft 7 in (11.15 m)
- Wingspan: 42 ft 10 in (13.06 m)
- Height: 8 ft 6¼ in (2.60 m)
- Wing area: 279.8 ft² (25.9 m²)
- Max takeoff weight: 15,800 lb (7,167 kg)
- Powerplant: 1× de Havilland Ghost 105 turbojet, 5,300 lbf (23.6 kN)
- Maximum speed: 575 mph (500 knots, 927 km/h) at sea level
- Range: 705 mi (613 nmi, 1,135 km)
- Service ceiling: 39,500 ft (12,040 m)
- Rate of climb: 5,750 ft/min (29.2 m/s)
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