Hawker Sea Eagle The Hawker Sea Eagle S.2 was a British, single-seat, jet, day, ground attack aircraft formerly of the Fleet Air Arm (FAA), the air branch of the Royal Navy (RN), built by Hawker Aircraft. The Sea Eagle’s design was heavily influenced by that of the Sea Hawk, the company's first jet aircraft and was intended as a heavy counterpart.
Following acceptance in the RN, the Sea Eagle proved to be a reliable and sturdy workhorse. When eventually replaced in RN service by the Supermarine Scimitar, the Royal Air Force (RAF) took over all of the remaining aircraft as the Hawker Eagle FGA.1. The last operational Eagles, operated by the RAF, were retired in 1972 with the introduction of the Harrier GR.1.
DesignThe S.1 was powered by two 4,000lbf (18kN) thrust Metroplitan-Vickers Beryl MVB.2 turbojets, the same engines that had been developed for the Saunders-Roe SR.A/1 flying boat fighter. It had a maximum speed of 599mph (964km/h) at sea level and a range of 750mi (1,200km) on internal fuel. The S.1 was armed with four 20mm (.79in) Hispano Mk V cannons whilst the twin engine arrangement allowed for a 2000lbs (908kg) payload, internal bomb bay located under the fuselage mounted fuel tanks. Interestingly, the bomb bay’s dimensions were based on the somewhat anarchic requirement for the Sea Eagle to carry two Mk30 anti-submarine (AS) torpedoes.
A more refined ground attack variant was the S.2, which introduced the 4,200lbf (18.9kN) thrust Armstrong Siddeley Beryl MVB.3 turbojets and had its structure strengthened to allow it to carry a wider array of weaponry on its wing mounted hard points. The internal bomb by was retained although AS weapons were rarely carried.
Like its sister, the Sea Eagle adopted a fairly conventional design, being built with straight wings while a number of other contemporary aircraft, such as the F-86 Sabre, had adopted swept wings. The Sea Eagle was a reliable and elegant aeroplane, though its cautious design meant it would only be in production for a short period before being superseded by more advanced aircraft.
Operational HistoryThe first production Sea Eagle S.2 flew in 1951 and entered service two years later with 813 Squadron, first based at Brawdy, then transferred to HMS Eagle - eventually 200 aircraft were built.
The Sea Eagle S.2 saw extensive service during the Suez Crisis, when joint Anglo-French forces invaded Egypt on 31 October 1956 in Operation Musketeer. Four Sea Eagle squadrons took part, two aboard the fleet carrier HMS Eagle and one each aboard the light fleet carriers HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark. Due to aircraft such as the Hunter lacking the range or clearance to deliver munitions, the British ground attack capability during the conflict comprised primarily of Sea Eagles supported by Sea Hawks and escorted by de Havilland Sea Venom fighters.
Sea Eagles launched many attacks upon Egyptian shore-based targets, often against massed anti-aircraft fire, resulting in several aircraft being severely damaged. The Suez Crisis was to be the last Sea Eagle combat operation with the Royal Navy, as new strike aircraft such as the de Havilland Sea Vixen and the Supermarine Scimitar were introduced after the conflict.
Specifications: (Hawker Sea Eagle S.2) circa 1956General CharacteristicsCrew: 1
Length: 42’ 8” (13.0m)
Wingspan: 45’ 10” (13.97m) 18’ 10” (5.76m) when folded.
Powerplant: 2 x Armstrong Siddeley Beryl MVB.3 turbojets, 4,200lbf (18.9kN) thrust each
PerformanceMaximum Speed: 520mph (992km/h)
Range: 900mi (1440km)
ArmamentGuns: 4 × 20mm (0.79in) Hispano Mk V cannons with 200rpg
Bomb bay:
- 2 x Mk 30 AS torpedoes 646lb (293kg) (or)
- 2 x US Mk 43 AS torpedoes 265lb (120kg) (or)
- 2 x 1000lb (454kg) MC bombs (or)
- 4 x 500lb (227kg) MC bombs
Hardpoints: Total of 10: 8 on outboard wings, 2 on inboard wings; holding up to 3600lbs (1590kg) of payload
Air-to-Surface Missiles:
- 16 x RP-3 rockets on double launchers, outboard hardpoints only
Bombs: inboard hardpoints only
- 2 x 1000lb (454kg) MC bombs (or)
- 4 x 500lb (227kg) MC bombs
Other: For ferry tasks, additional fuel tanks could be fitted in the bomb bay
RAF ServiceWhilst the RAF had not been enamoured with either the Sea Hawk or the Sea Eagle when their designs were initially proposed, the Sea Eagle’s performance during the Suez Crisis drew considerable interest as well as pressure from the Army for a dedicated close support, ground attack aircraft.
Although the Hawker Siddeley Kestrel was already in development and would later enter service in 1969 as the Harrier GR.1, a capability gap existed; a gap that the RN’s retired Sea Eagles could fill on a budget. Becoming the Hawker Siddeley Eagle FGA.1, all remaining Sea Eagles were transferred to the RAF in 1960.
In 1962, the FGA.1 was brought up to FGA.2 standard with the introduction of 4,500lbf (20kN) thrust Armstrong Siddeley Beryl MVB.4 turbojets, a new layout of the wing-mounted hard points and the replacement of the four original 20mm Hispano cannons with two 30mm (1.18in) Aden cannons.
The last operational Eagles, operated by the RAF, were retired in 1972 with the introduction of the Harrier GR.1
Specifications: (Hawker Siddeley Eagle FGA.2) circa 1968General CharacteristicsCrew: 1
Length: 42’ 8” (13.0m)
Wingspan: 45’ 10” (13.97m) 18’ 10” (5.76m) when folded.
Powerplant: 2 x Armstrong Siddeley Beryl MVB.4 turbojets, 4,500lbf (20kN) thrust each
PerformanceMaximum Speed: 630mph (1008km/h)
Range: 900mi (1440km)
ArmamentGuns: 2 × 30mm (1.18in) Aden cannons with 200rpg
Bomb bay:
- 2 x 1000lb (454kg) GP bombs (or)
- 4 x 500lb (227kg) GP bombs (or)
- 2 x BL755 582lb (264kg) cluster bombs
Hardpoints: Total of 6: 4 on outboard wings, 2 on inboard wings; holding up to 3600lbs (1590kg) of payload
Air-to-Surface Missiles: outboard hardpoints only
- 4 × Matra rocket pods (each with 18 × SNEB 68mm (2.68in) rockets)
Bombs: inboard hardpoints only
- 2 x 1000lb (454kg) GP bombs (or)
- 2 x BL755 582lb (264kg) cluster bombs
Other: For ferry tasks, additional fuel tanks could be fitted in the bomb bay
The model depicts WV918, a Hawker Sea Eagle S.2 of 804 Squadron, FAA, operating from HMS Eagle during the Suez Crisis (Operation Musketeer) in 1956 and comprises parts from a MPM Sea Hawk, an Academy F2H-3 Banshee, some home-made rockets and bombs, plastic card and a whole lot of filler.
Note: The above backstory was referenced and adapted from Wikipedia.
