Description
The Hawker Tempest Mk.V was the RAF’s last piston-engined fighter used in the WWII, attaining great success in destruction of the German V-1 flying bombs. Developed in late 1941 from the troublesome Typhoon interceptor, the prototype flew in September 1942. The first order was for 400 Tempests, produced as the Mk.V Series 1 (100 a/c by Hawker) and Series 2 (300 a/c by Gloster); the first aircraft were completed in mid-1943. A further two orders for Hawker-built Mk.V Srs.2 aeroplanes raised the total of the Tempests produced to 801.
It was a single-seat monoplane aircraft, of all metal construction, powered by a Napier Sabre II engine. DH or Rotol four-bladed propellers were used. It featured a bubble canopy and a retractable undercarriage. The Srs.1 aircraft had four long-barrelled 20mm Hispano cannons in the wings, while the later Tempests had cannons without projecting barrels. The Srs.2 aircraft could also carry 45-gal drop tanks. In its later guise, the Tempest could perform as a fighter-bomber, carrying a wide variety of bombs up to 1000 lbs. From early 1945 it was cleared for rocket firing and combinations of 25lb or 60lb RP could be carried.
Tempest Mk.Vs were delivered to the RAF and RNZAF squadrons between April 1944 and July 1945, ultimately equipping nine fighter units and one auxiliary squadron. After VE-Day the Tempest Mk.Vs soldiered on with seven squadrons of BAFO in Germany, and the last units retained their aircraft until early 1948.
In the period 1949-52, a total of 81 Tempests (including the prototype modified already in May 1947) were converted for target-tug duties as TT Mk.5s. They entered service in 1950 in the UK and also at Sylt in North Germany. The last user, No.233 OCU, relinguished its aircraft in mid-1955.
Colour schemes included in the kit:
1) Hawker Tempest Mk.V (Srs.2), SN254, Sky US-T, No.56 Sq., Royal Air Force, British Air Forces of Occupation (BAFO), Fassberg Air Base (B-152), Germany, November 1945
2) Hawker Tempest Mk.V (Srs.2), SN328, Sky H, CFE (Central Fighter Establishment), Royal Air Force, West Raynham airfield, U.K., 1945/46
3) Hawker Tempest TT Mk.5, EJ660, Black RS-30, No.229 OCU (Operational Conversion Unit), Royal Air Force, Chivenor Air Base, U.K., 1953-54
4) Hawker Tempest TT Mk.5, EJ758, Black B, APS (Armament Practice Station) Sylt, Royal Air Force, Sylt Air Base, Germany, August 1951
Assembly instructions:
