List of aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm

This is a list of aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm (FAA).

Fleet Air Arm Fairey Swordfish torpedo bomber

On 1 April 1918 the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) was merged with the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) to form the Royal Air Force (RAF) which directly operated and controlled all naval aircraft. On 1 April 1924 the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Air Force was created as a distinct component of the RAF, which existed until 24 May 1939 when command of the Fleet Air Arm was transferred back to Royal Navy control. Coastal Command patrol aircraft, including most large seaplanes, remained with the RAF despite their operations in a naval environment. Prototypes were largely under the control of the Air Ministry and not the Fleet Air Arm until their introduction into service.

Aircraft

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Acronyms in table

ASW; Anti-submarine warfare
AEW; Airborne Early Warning
ECM; Electronic counter measures
EW; Electronic Warfare aircraft
Manufacturer Model Variant Role Origin In service Withdrawn Notes
AgustaWestland Merlin HM.1/2 ASW/Transport UK 2000 n/a
AgustaWestland Wildcat HMA.2 Attack UK 2015 n/a 28 ordered
Airspeed Envoy Transport/trainer UK 1941 1941 1 ex-RAF
Airspeed Oxford Trainer UK 1942 1954 ex-RAF
Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Trainer/transport UK 1942 1947
Avro 652 Transport UK 1941 1942 2 impressed airliners
Avro Anson Trainer/Communications UK 1942 1955
Avro Bison Spotter UK 1922 1929
Avro Lancaster Heavy bomber UK 1945 1947 3 ex-RAF
Avro Rota I Autogyro UK 1935 1935 [1]
Avro Tutor Trainer UK 1937 1942
Beechcraft Expeditor/Navigator Transport US 1943 1954 Lend-lease
Beechcraft Avenger Trainer US 2011 n/a
Beechcraft Traveller Communications US 1944 1946 Lend-lease
Bellanca Pacemaker Communications US 1939 1940 1 impressed ?
Blackburn Baffin Torpedo bomber UK 1934 1946
Blackburn Blackburn Spotter UK 1923 1931
Blackburn Buccaneer S.1/2/2C/2D Strike UK 1962 1978
Blackburn Firebrand Torpedo-fighter UK 1944 1956
Blackburn Dart Torpedo bomber UK 1922 1935 117 aircraft
Blackburn Ripon Torpedo bomber/reconnaissance UK 1929 1935
Blackburn Roc Fighter UK 1938 1943
Blackburn Shark Torpedo bomber/target tug UK 1934 1944
Blackburn Skua Fighter/dive bomber/target tug UK 1938 1941
Boulton Paul Defiant Target tug UK 1943 1946 295 aircraft
Boulton Paul Sea Balliol Trainer UK 1952 1963
Brewster Bermuda Dive bomber US 1942 1943 5 for evaluation only
Brewster Buffalo Fighter US 1940 1941 ex-Belgian
Bristol Beaufighter Torpedo bomber UK 1943 1946
Bristol Beaufort Torpedo bomber/trainer UK 1943 1946
Bristol Blenheim Trainer UK 1941 1944 ex-RAF
British Aerospace (BAe) 125 VIP transport UK ? n/a ?
British Aerospace (BAe) Harrier II GR. Strike UK 2006 2011
British Aerospace (BAe) Jetstream T.2/3 Trainer UK 1979 2011 16 ex-RAF
British Aerospace (BAe) Sea Harrier FRS.1
F/A.2
T.8
Fighter/reconnaissance/ground attack/trainer UK 1979 2006
Cierva Rota II Autogyro UK 1939 1940 [1]
Curtiss Cleveland Dive bomber US 1940 1940 1 for evaluation only
Curtiss Helldiver Dive bomber US 1943 1945 Lend-lease 26 for evaluation
Curtiss Seamew Reconnaissance US 1944 1945 Never used operationally
de Havilland DHC-1 Chipmunk Trainer UK 1965 2005 ex-RAF
de Havilland DH.86 Transport/trainer UK 1940 1945 6 impressed/ex-RAF
de Havilland Dominie Trainer/transport UK 1940 1963 Some impressed
de Havilland Flamingo Transport UK 1940 1946 2 impressed
de Havilland Fox Moth Communications UK 1941 1943 1 impressed
de Havilland Gipsy Moth Trainer UK 1940 1943 1 impressed
de Havilland Hornet Moth Communications UK 1939 1945 1 impressed & 4 from Canada
de Havilland Mosquito various UK 1944 ?
de Havilland DH.60M Moth Trainer UK 1939 1943 6 impressed/ex-RAF
de Havilland Leopard Moth ? UK 1940 1946 2 impressed
de Havilland Puss Moth Communications UK 1940 1943 1 impressed
de Havilland Queen Bee Target drone UK 1941 1946 5 examples
de Havilland Sea Heron Transport UK 1961 1981 Bought second hand
de Havilland Hornet Fighter/night-fighter/reconnaissance UK 1947 1954 198 aircraft
de Havilland Sea Vampire Fighter/trainer UK 1948 1968
de Havilland Sea Venom Fighter/electronic countermeasures UK 1954 1961
de Havilland Sea Vixen Fighter UK 1958 1972
de Havilland Sea Devon Transport UK 1955 1981
de Havilland Sea Mosquito Strike/target tug UK 1946 1950s
de Havilland Tiger Moth Trainer/communications UK 1939 1965 113 ex-RAF
de Havilland Vampire Fighter/fighter-bomber UK 1948 1950s
Douglas Boston Medium Bomber US 1941 1943 9 ex-RAF
Douglas Boston Medium bomber US 1943 1945 ex-RAF
Douglas Dakota Transport US 1944 1946 3 aircraft
Douglas Dauntless Dive bomber US 1944 1946 9 evaluated but not used
Douglas Skyraider Airborne Early Warning US 1951 1960
English Electric Canberra Trainer/target tug/drone UK 1950s 1992
Eurocopter AS365N-2 Dauphin II Trainer helicopter France 1999 n/a
Fairey IIID & F Spotter/target tug UK 1918 1940
Fairey Albacore Torpedo/dive bomber UK 1940 1943
Fairey Barracuda Torpedo/dive bomber UK 1943 1953 2,607 built
Fairey Battle Trainer UK 1939 1944 3 ex-RAF
Fairey Firefly Fighter/night fighter/ASW/trainer UK 1943 1956 1702 aircraft
Fairey Flycatcher Fighter UK 1923 1934
Fairey Fulmar Fighter/night fighter UK 1940 1945 600 aircraft
Fairey Gannet ASW/transport/EW/trainer UK 1954 1979 342 including 44 AEW
Fairey Gannet AEW.3 AEW UK 1954 1979 44 AEW
Fairey Seafox Spotting/reconnaissance UK 1937 1943
Fairey Seal Spotter/reconnaissance UK 1933 1943
Fairey Swordfish I Torpedo bomber UK 1936 1946
Grumman Avenger/Tarpon Torpedo bomber/ASW/EW US 1943 1962 Lend-lease and MDAP
Grumman Widgeon Transport US 1943 1946
Grumman Wildcat/Martlet Fighter US 1940 1944 992 of various marks Lend-lease
Gloster Gladiator Fighter UK 1938 1945
Gloster Meteor Trainer/target tug UK 1940s 1960s?
Gloster Nightjar Fighter UK 1920 1924
Gloster Sea Gladiator Fighter/communications UK 1939 1945
Grob Tutor G115E Trainer Germany 2000s n/a
Grumman Goose Transport US 1942 1946 Lend-lease
Grumman Hellcat/Gannet Fighter/night fighter US 1943 1946 1,182 aircraft
Grumman Tigercat Fighter US 1944 1945 2 for evaluation only
Handley Page Harrow Transport UK 1942 1943 9 ex-RAF
Hawker Audax Trainer UK 1941 1945 4 ex-RAF
Hawker Hart/Hart Trainer Trainer UK 1939 1942 8 ex-RAF
Hawker Henley Target tug UK 1939 1944 7 ex-RAF
Hawker Hunter Trainer/drone UK ? 1994
Hawker Hurricane Fighter UK 1941 1945
Hawker Nimrod Fighter/utility UK 1932 1942
Hawker Osprey Fighter/reconnaissance UK 1931 1940
Hawker Sea Fury Fighter UK 1947 1962
Hawker Sea Hawk Fighter/fighter-bomber/ground attack UK 1953 1969
Hawker Sea Hurricane Fighter UK 1941 1944
Hawker Typhoon Fighter/ground attack UK 1943 1943 1 for evaluation only
Hawker Siddeley Hawk T.1/1A Trainer UK 1994 2022
Hiller HT HT.1
HT.2
Trainer/communications US 1953
1962
1976 MDAP[2]
Hunting Sea Prince Trainer/transport UK 1953 1978
Lockheed Hudson Transport US 1944 1945 4 ex-RAF
Lockheed Ventura Medium bomber US 1942 1942 1 for evaluation only
Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning F-35B Fighter US 2023 n/a 809 Naval Air Squadron
Martin Baltimore Medium bomber US 1944 1946 14 ex-RAF
Martin Maryland Medium bomber/target tug US 1940 1944 7 ex-RAF
McDonnell Douglas Phantom FGR.1 Fighter/ground attack US 1968 1978
Miles Magister Trainer UK 1937 1945
Miles Martinet Target tug UK 1943 1947
Miles Falcon Six Communications UK 1940 1941 1 impressed
Miles Master Trainer UK 1940 1948
Miles Monitor Target tug UK 1945 1955 ex-RAF
Miles Queen Martinet Target drone UK 1945 1946 3 examples
Miles Whitney Straight Communications UK 1940 1943 1 impressed
North American Harvard Trainer US 1943 1955
North American Mitchell Medium bomber US 1943 1943 1 for evaluation only
Parnall Panther Spotter UK 1919 1926
Parnall Peto Submarine-borne reconnaissance UK 1926 1932
Parnall Plover Fighter UK 1923 1924 Operational evaluation
Percival Petrel Transport UK 1939 1944 4 impressed/ex-RAF
Percival Proctor Trainer UK 1939 1955
Percival Vega Gull Communications UK 1939 1945 7 impressed
Pitcairn PA-39 Autogyro USA 1941 1943 [1]
Short Seamew ASW UK 1956 1957 Evaluation only
Short Sturgeon Target tug UK 1951 1959
Sikorsky Hoverfly I Training/rescue/utility helicopter US 1943 1952 24 aircraft[3]
Sikorsky Hoverfly II training/deck landing evaluation/liaison helicopter US 1948 1952 [4]
Sikorsky Whirlwind HAR.21
HAS.22
ASW/transport/air-sea rescue US 1952
1953
1970 MDAP[5]
Sopwith Cuckoo Torpedo bomber UK 1918 1923 232 aircraft
Stinson Reliant Trainer/communications US 1944 1946 Lend-lease
Supermarine Attacker Fighter/fighter-bomber UK 1951 1957
Supermarine Seafang Fighter UK 1946 Evaluation only
Supermarine Seafire F.17 Fighter/reconnaissance UK 1942 1954
Supermarine Scimitar Fighter/tanker UK 1957 1970
Supermarine Sea Otter Air-sea rescue/reconnaissance/spotting UK 1944 1950
Supermarine Spitfire Fighter UK 1942 1945
Supermarine Walrus Spotter/air-sea rescue/ UK 1936 1946
Vickers Wellington Trainer/transport UK 1942 1946 Ex-RAF
Vought Kingfisher Reconnaissance US 1942 1943 Lend-lease
Vought Chesapeake Torpedo bomber/trainer US 1941 1944
Vought Corsair Fighter US 1943 1947 Lend-lease
Vultee Vengeance Dive bomber/target tug US 1944 1947 Lend-lease
Westland Aircraft Dragonfly HR.1
HR.3
HR.5
Air-sea rescue helicopter UK 1950
1953
?
1970 72 aircraft[6]
Westland Aircraft Lysander Target tug UK 1940 1944 67 ex-RAF
Westland Aircraft Walrus Spotter/reconnaissance UK 1921 1925
Westland Aircraft Wessex HAS.1
HAS.3
HU.5
ASW/air-sea rescue/transport UK 1960
?
1965
1987 [7]
Westland Aircraft Whirlwind HAR.1
HAR.3
HAS.7
HAR.9
ASW/air-sea rescue/transport UK 1954
1955
1960
1964
1973 [8]
Westland Aircraft Wyvern TF.1 Torpedo/strike UK 1953 1958 127 including 10 two-seat trainers
Westland Helicopters/
Aérospatiale
Gazelle AH.1
HT.2
Trainer/utility helicopter UK 1974 2010 40 aircraft
Westland Helicopters Lynx HAS.3/8
AH.7
ASW/air-sea rescue/transport helicopter UK 1976 2017
Westland Helicopters Sea King HAR.5
HAS.5/6
AEW.2A
HC.4
ASW/AEW/air-sea rescue/transport UK 1969 2018
Westland Helicopters Wasp HAS.1 ASW UK 1963 1980

Helicopters to support the Royal Marines

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Airships and balloons

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UAVs and drones

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Gliders

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Weapons of the Fleet Air Arm

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Air-to-air missiles

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Air-to-surface missiles

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Nuclear weapons 1950 to 2000

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  • AWRE Red Beard nuclear bomb – Carried by the Buccaneer, Scimitar and Sea Vixen (retired).
  • AWRE WE.177 nuclear bomb – Carried by the Buccaneer, Sea Harrier and Sea Vixen (retired).
    • AWRE WE.177 nuclear depth charge – Carried by the Westland Lynx, Wasp and Wessex helicopters (retired).

Unguided rockets

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  • 2-inch RP - Air-to-air, air-to-surface rockets. Carried by the Buccaneer and Sea Vixen (retired).
  • Thomson-Brandt/Matra SNEB – 68-mm (2.7-inch) air-to-surface rockets. Carried by the Buccaneer, Phantom, Sea Harrier and Sea Vixen (retired).
  • RP-3 – 3-inch (76-mm) air-to-surface rockets. Carried by the Attacker. Firefly, Scimitar, Sea Fury, Sea Hawk, Sea Hurricane, Sea Vixen, Swordfish, Tarpon/Avenger (retired).

Torpedoes

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Free fall bombs

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See also

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References

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Citations

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Bibliography

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  • Howard, L.; Burrow, M.; Myall, E. (2011). Fleet Air Arm helicopters since 1943. UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 978-0-85130-304-8.
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