The Cuckoo had a broadly comparable wingspan to the Swordfish but substantially lower empty and gross weights. Its 200-horsepower engine carried a single 18-inch torpedo, whereas the later aircraft had nearly three and a half times the power and space for additional crew and guns. The Swordfish also offered greater speed, range, endurance, and service ceiling while carrying its torpedo load. The comparison shows why a similar biplane silhouette is a poor guide to an aircraft's generation or combat capability.
Chapter · 25:26-30:08
Cuckoo and Swordfish dimensions reveal two different generations
A specification comparison shows the World War I Cuckoo as much lighter and less powerful than the later Swordfish despite their shared biplane form.