On Fri, 30 May 2008 7:22:19 +0100, Netko
wrote:

if only because I find it difficult to imagine how they
could squeeze in the equipment needed, not least the Indicator Unit
in the cockpit.

I'd never heard of radar-equipped Hurricanes before but have since
found a couple of references to them.

One source (Edward Shacklady's book on the Hurricane) says, almost
in passing, that they had a Mk V radar in an underwing 'container'
(autumn 1941, apparently). In other words, not the Mk VI you
referred to and not the arrangement you drew.


In response to the above - -

Despite being a fine book, sadly the Shacklady book is (I am afraid to
say) definitively wrong on a couple of points that I shall attempt to
explain.

Other books have made the same error in thinking that some Hurricane's
had Mark V installed in modified drop tanks (like has already been
mentioned). It is easy to mix up Mark V and VI (easy in terms of a
typing transcription error I mean) But in reality the two sets differ
in some significant ways.

One Hurricane WAS test fitted with Mark VI (though NOT Mark V) with
the bulk of the gear housed in modified drop tanks. (Also one Typhoon
was also tested with Mark VI in modified drop tanks). These tests
proved this installation scheme a failure.

No drop tanks nor tropical filters were fitted on the Hurricanes
fitted with AI Mark VI. (Again presumably for performance reasons.)
Mark VI added (an estimated) 200lbs to the Hurricane. Presumably 176
Squadron on their own decided to remove the armour to partially
compensate for this additional weight. Considering that they were up
against lightweight Japanese planes who can blame them!?

Mark VI was specifically designed from the outset to be for fitting in
single seaters. (Unlike Mark V, which was fitted to some Beaufighters,
and some Mosquitos.)

Mark VI was installed, and saw service in these Hurricanes, as well as
the Defiant. (Again those books that make mention of Mark IV in
Defiant are wrong as well. Though the Defiant had mock ups of the Mark
IV sets produced for testing it was the Mark VI that was ultimately
installed. Again with the Pilot the crew member who viewed the
indicator tube, and operated the set.)

A pilot of 176 Squadron, who normally flew Beaufighters equipped with
Radar was lost flying one of these Mark VI equipped Hurricanes (it
seems) against Japanese Zeros. See this link for more on Pilot Officer
Pring.

http://www.maltap.com/anglo/site/ind...pe=view&id=104

The Mark VI was virtually automatic in operation, and had a single
indicator tube. In the Hurricane cockpit this was placed in the
position of the undercarriage indicator. With the undercarriage
indictor itself repositioned to where the clock would normally reside.
(The clock being eliminated altogether.)

Hope I got it all right. It is so easy to get such specific details
wrong.

Waldo.