Gloster Gladiator

Gloster Gladiator
Gloster Gladiator photographed in England in 2002
Description
Role	Fighter
Crew	1 pilot
First Flight
Entered Service
Manufacturer
Dimensions
Length	27 ft 5 in	8.4 m
Wingspan	32 ft 3 in	9.8 m
Height	11 ft 7 in	3.2 m
Wing area	323 ft²	30 m²
Weights
Empty	3,444 lb	1,560 kg
Loaded	4,864 lb	2,205 kg
Maximum takeoff	lb	kg
Capacity
Powerplant
Engines	One Bristol Mercury VIII AS
Power	850 hp	630 kW
Performance
Maximum speed	257 mph at 14,600 ft	414 km/h at 4,500 m
Combat range	miles	km
Ferry range	444 miles	710 km
Service ceiling	33,500 ft	10,200 m
Rate of climb	2220 ft/min	670 m/min
Wing loading	lb/ft²	kg/m²
Thrust/Weight
Power/Mass	hp/lb	kW/kg
Avionics
Avionics
Armament
Guns	Four x 0.303 (7.7 mm) Browning machine-guns

The Gloster Gladiator was a biplane fighter, used by the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy, during World War II. The aircraft had a top speed of around 414 km/h. Gladiators were also modified for carrier operations and flown by the Royal Navy, where it was known as the Sea Gladiator.

Table of contents

1 History
2 Quotes
3 Notable Gloster Gladiator Pilots
4 Units Using the Gloster Gladiator

4.1 Royal Air Force
4.2 Fleet Air Arm

5 External links
6 References

History

First flown in 1934, and introducted into service in 1937, the Gloster Gladiator was developed from the Gauntlet biplane fighter. Even when it was introduced the design was being eclipsed by the new generation of monoplane fighters, such as the Spitfire and Messerschmitt Bf 109. When WW2 began the Gladiator was used in combat in France and Norway, but was found to be outclassed by the German fighters in all respects. Despite this, the Gladiators of the norwegian Jagevingen (litt: pursuitwing) managed to shoot down two Me110 and three He111 before they were forced to abandon their airfield at Fornebu. All but one of the Gladiators were lost as they made forced landings, most on frozen lakes in or around Oslo. Two squadrons were sent to France, but all the aircraft were lost in ten days of fighting. The remaining aircraft were relegated to secondary duties or sent to other theatres, including North Africa and the Far East.

In the North African theatre the Gladiator achieved some success against the Italian Air Force, which was equipped with a mix of biplanes and early design monoplanes. Its most notable exploit came in the defence of Malta, where for a brief period three Sea Gladiator aircraft, named Faith, Hope and Charity formed the entire air defence of the island.

In the Far East the Gladiator fared little better against the modern machines of the Japanese than it had against the Germans. It played a part in the short-lived defense of Singapore.

Carrier based Gladiators were more successful, since its slower speed made it more suitable for carrier operations and it was less likely to be facing modern figher opposition.

The Gladiator was also exported for use by the air forces of 13 other countries.

Quotes

Anonymous Maltese
- "[The Gladiators] worked miracles and must have frightened the Italians." (1 - p.37)

Notable Gloster Gladiator Pilots

John H. Lapsley

Units Using the Gloster Gladiator

Royal Air Force

No. 1 Squadron
No. 3 Squadron
No. 6 Squadron
No. 14 Squadron
No. 25 Squadron
No. 33 Squadron
No. 54 Squadron
No. 56 Squadron
No. 65 Squadron
No. 72 Squadron
No. 73 Squadron
No. 80 Squadron
No. 85 Squadron
No. 87 Squadron
No. 94 Squadron
No. 112 Squadron
No. 117 Squadron
No. 123 Squadron
No. 127 Squadron
No. 141 Squadron
No. 152 Squadron
No. 237 Squadron
No. 247 Squadron
No. 261 Squadron
No. 263 Squadron
No. 267 Squadron
No. 274 Squadron
No. 520 Squadron
No. 521 Squadron
No. 603 Squadron
No. 604 Squadron
No. 605 Squadron
No. 607 Squadron
No. 615 Squadron

Fleet Air Arm

No. 800 Squadron
No. 801 Squadron
No. 802 Squadron
No. 804 Squadron
No. 805 Squadron
No. 806 Squadron

External links

References

1 -- The Battle of Alamein: Turning Point, World War II by John Bierman and Colin Smith (2002)