Tempest Mk II MW764
The Tempest Mk II was considered the ultimate development of the Tempest, initially viewed as an improvement over the Mk V, though its introduction to service was delayed. It was developed as a result of the decision to transfer alternative engine proposals, originally for the Tornado, to the Typhoon II program, and a separate decision to build a Typhoon I with the Centaurus engine.
The first prototype of the Mk II, LA602, flew on 28 June 1943, powered by a Bristol Centaurus Mk IV air-cooled radial engine rated at 2520 hp, which was rigidly mounted. Carburettor air intakes were situated in the leading edges of both wings near the fuselage, and an oil cooler with a leading edge intake was mounted in the inner section of the starboard wing. A key design feature of the Tempest overall was its thin elliptical wing, which was a significant improvement over the Typhoon’s wing, with a thickness/chord ratio of 14.5 percent at the root tapering to 10 percent at the tip. This thin wing necessitated moving the engine forward and adding an extra 76-gallon fuselage tank for fuel, which had previously been stored in the Typhoon’s thicker wing.
A major challenge during the Mk II’s early development was serious engine vibration. This was eventually remedied by a six-unit soft rubber engine mounting in conjunction with an aerodynamically-balanced Rotol four-blade wooden propeller. The initial production plan called for the Centaurus XII engine, but delays led to the adoption of the Centaurus V for production, which had similar output to the Mk IV.
Dimensionally, the Mk II was very similar to the Mk V, sharing an identical wingspan, but being nine inches longer. Its performance saw all-round increases compared to the Mk V; the Mk II reached a maximum speed of 442 mph at 15,200 ft, and could climb to this altitude in 4.5 minutes, as opposed to the Mk V’s five minutes. Its service ceiling also improved to 37,500 ft. Initial assessments noted issues with heavy ailerons and poor roll rate on early production Mk V, but spring-tab ailerons later significantly improved the roll rate, especially at higher speeds.
The primary fixed armament of the Tempest Mk II, like other variants, was four 20 mm Hispano cannons. Unlike the early Mk V Series 1 with longer-barrelled Hispano Mark II cannons that protruded, the production Mk IIs were equipped with the shorter-barrelled Hispano Mark V cannons, which were fully contained within the wings. The standard ammunition load was 200 rounds per gun. The Tempest Mk II was also cleared to carry a wide range of external stores, including two 500 lb or two 1,000 lb bombs, or various combinations of 3-inch rocket projectiles (RPs). Later, provision was made to carry Napalm, Smoke, or Oil bombs. For extended range, it could carry two 45-gallon or 90-gallon drop tanks under the wings. Pilots praised the Mk II’s stability as a gun platform and its accuracy, particularly with rocket projectiles, with average error reduced significantly compared to earlier Typhoon squadrons.
Originally intended for production by Gloster, the contract was transferred to Bristol and Hawker due to Gloster’s commitments to Typhoon and Meteor production. The first Bristol-produced Tempests IIs came off the line in February 1945, with Hawker’s production starting in October 1944.
The Tempest Mk II was primarily selected for use in Southeast Asia to replace older aircraft like Hurricanes and Thunderbolts. Six Mk IIs were sent to Khartoum for tropical trials in April 1945. Despite the war against Japan ending, the re-equipment program was reactivated, and over 180 Tempest IIs were shipped to India by early 1947. In India, they were used for ground attack roles and “policing operations” against rebellious tribesmen, including “scare” operations, reconnaissance, and patrols. Pilots appreciated its ground attack capabilities. The Mk II proved effective in these roles, though initial issues with landing, especially in crosswinds, were noted, sometimes leading to ground loops. “Wheeler” landings were advised for the Mk II.
After World War II, the Mk II was also deployed to BAFO (British Air Force of Occupation) squadrons in Germany (Nos. 16, 26, 33 Squadrons) and Middle East squadrons (Nos. 6, 8, 213, 249 Squadrons). In Germany, it took on the fighter-bomber role previously held by the Typhoon, including rocket-firing capability. In the Middle East, it was optimized for the region’s conditions and continued policing and ground attack missions. The Mk II was noted for its speed, with pilots observing it cruised about 70 mph faster than the Mustang IVs they replaced in the Middle East. However, it was also plagued by oil leaks and demanded more maintenance than the Mustangs. Some Mk IIs were stripped of camouflage and painted in an “Aluminium” finish post-war, though a new “Desert” scheme was later devised for those in the Middle East. The Tempest Mk II was the last operational Tempest variant in the RAF, with its final operational sorties flown on 6 June 1951.