This is a highly illustrated history one of the most deadly types of
attack aircraft. The torpedo bomber first appeared during the later years of
World War One but served their most useful role in the Second World War. The
most famous attacks include Taranto, where Fairey Swordfish destroyed the Italian
Battle fleet and the infamous surprise attack on Pearl
Harbor by the Japanese. In both these cases the attacks were against
ships laying in harbour and therefore stationary. Heavy defensive anti-aircraft
fire was the greatest danger to the torpedo bombers in those circumstances but
ships under way in the open sea had far more room to take evasive action. The
lengthy time it took a torpedo to reach its target allowed many ships to escape
destruction. However notable exceptions were the sinking HMS Prince of Wales and
HMS Repulse by the Japanese during the early stages of the war in the Far East. During the hunt for the Bismarck it was an
air-launched torpedo from a Swordfish that severely damaged the ship's steering
gear and enabled the Royal Navy to close in for the final kill. Some of the
types included are the Fairey Swordfish, Bristol Beaufort, Fairey Albacore,
Bristol Beaufighter, Heinkel He 115, Marchetti SM.79, Fokker T.VIII, Grumman
Avenger and the Nakajima B5N.
