Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 3:37:25-3:37:48

Why Swordfish were lost during the Channel Dash

The Channel Dash put Swordfish making an unescorted torpedo attack against very heavy Bf 109 cover, where low-speed agility could not offset the tactical disadvantage.

Channel DashFairey SwordfishFighter EscortMesserschmitt Bf 109
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Question

Did Bf 109s shoot down Swordfish during the Channel Dash?

Short answer

Yes. The Swordfish were attacking with torpedoes under very heavy fighter cover and lacked fighter protection of their own.

Notes

Bf 109s did shoot down Swordfish during the Channel Dash. The tactical setting mattered because the biplanes were committed to a torpedo attack and faced very heavy German fighter cover. That episode differs from the earlier humorous scenario in which a fast fighter overshoots a slow Swordfish. Low-speed handling could not compensate for an unescorted strike aircraft's exposure to numerous fighters while it was constrained by its attack mission.