FAIREY SWORDFISH 5D/553, 4-TOGGLE BOMB RELEASE SWITCH

The primary weapon of Britain’s Coastal Command and Royal Navy’s Fairey Swordfish was the aerial torpedo but the low speed of the biplane and the need for a long straight approach made it difficult to deliver the torpedo against well-defended targets. 

Swordfish torpedo operations called for an approach at 5,000 feet, followed by a dive to a torpedo release altitude of 18 feet.

The maximum range of the early Mark XII torpedo was only 1,500 yards and required over 300 yards from its point of water entry to stabilise at a preset depth and arm itself.

This meant that the ideal release distance was barely 1,000 yards from the target - leaving the Swordfish perilously exposed to the ship’s massive firepower.

Located to the left of the pilot’s main flying panel, the Swordfish’s two Air Ministry mounted 5D/553, 4 - Toggle Bomb Switches operated the solenoid release clamps under its wings and fuselage for its bomb load and the Mark XII Torpedo.

This is a rare artefact of WWII Royal Navy aviation history and mounted on its 100yr old mango wood display stand complete with a highly detailed 1/72 or super detailed 1/48 custom-built scale model of this iconic WWII naval biplane bomber, plus detailed Fact Sheet - you have the perfect, original gift for any aviation enthusiast.

This Fairey Swordfish Instrument comes complete with detailed Scale Model, Mango Wood Stand & Plaque plus Printed Fact Sheet featuring photo of instrument in aircraft cockpit.

* Note that this Fairey Swordfish instrument is pictured with a 1/48 highly detailed scale model rather than the standard detailed, but smaller 1/72 scale. Click on the 'Model Upgrade' option at the top of this page for the larger 1/48 scale

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