Merlin Engined Aircraft of World War II Quiz

Answer: Fairey Battle

Despite being powered by the magnificent Merlin engine, the Fairey Battle was weighed down by having to carry a three man crew, as well as a bomb load, making it slow and vulnerable to anti-aircraft artillery, as well as attack from fighters. After a loss rate of 50% during the Battle of France, the Fairey Battle was consigned to overseas training units by 1941.

Answer: Bristol Beaufighter

With production of the Bristol Hercules engine diverted to the Short Stirling, the Mk II Beaufighter was converted to accept the Merlin engine. Although subsequent Beaufighters returned to using the Hercules, the Mk III/IV also used Merlin engines, while a Mk V development aircraft with a turret was also made for evaluation purposes.

Answer: Handley Page Halifax

Although later versions of the Halifax were fitted with Bristol Hercules engines, early production models were fitted with the Rolls Royce Merlin X engine, while later B Mk II series was fitted with Merlin XX engines, whilst the Mk IV / Mk V were powered respectively by Merlin 65 and 22 engines.

Answer: Fairey Barracuda

The Fairey Barracuda as introduced in 1943 as a replacement for the aging Fairey Swordfish and Albacore bi-planes. Although having a short war time service with the Royal Navy they took part in a raid against the Tirpitz, and in support of the Salerno landings during the invasion of Italy by the Allies in 1943.

The Barracuda's service career in the Pacific was disapointing due to its low powered Merlin 32 engine and it was largely replaced by Avengers in the torpedo bomber role. As well as the Royal Navy Fairey Barracudas also saw some service with the RAF.

Answer: Supermarine Seafire

The name Seafire was an abbreviated version of the Sea Spitfire, was a navalised variant of Merlin powered Spitfire. Operationally the Seafire had a much better climb rate than the F6F Hellcat, and F4U Corsair, and could outperform an A6M5 Zero at low altitudes. Serving mainly in the Far East, the lack of external weapon racks relegated the Seafire to the combat air patrol -or CAP for short.

Answer: P-51 Mustang

Originally designed for the British, the original P-51 Mustang proved underpowered, especially at high altitudes and was relegated to a tactical reconnaissance/ground attack role. After fitting the Mustang with a Merlin engine on the P-51B it proved a marriage made in heaven, making the Mustang into one of the most iconic fighters of World War II - especially in the P-51D version.

As a result it gave sterling service as a long range escort fighter for the USAAF during the bombing campaign against Germany and its allies.

Answer: Defiant

Fitted with a four gun turret, the Boulton Paul Defiant proved a disaster, once enemy pilot found out about the Defiants lack of forward guns. It was only as a night fighter that the Defiant found any potential before being replaced by more capable aircraft. By 1942 The Defiant was withdrawn from frontline service and relegated to gunnery training, Air Sea Rescue, and Electronic Counter Measure roles - or EMC for short.

Answer: Whitley

Named after the Coventry suburb where Armstrong Whitworth had a factory, the Whitley was a twin engined medium bomber originally powered by Armstrong-Siddeley Tiger engines. When the MkIV was refitted with Merlin Engines, performance was enhanced and was used by subsequent Whitleys. Due to a design flaw, the Whitley flew in a nose down position that caused drag.

Although obsolete, the Whitley also found service as a transport, glider tug and parachute trainer when finally superseded by the Lancaster, Stirling and Halifax.

Answer: York

Using the wings, engines, landing gear and tail plane from the Avro Lancaster, the York was given a much larger fuselage to accommodate carrying passengers and freight. Entering service in 1944, it was to late to have any real impact in it's intended role.

However during the Berlin airlift, nearly half the supplies carried to Berlin by the RAF were flown in by the Avro York. As a passenger transport the York was used by Winston Churchill, and it was whilst flying in a York that Air Chief Marshal Trafford Leigh-Mallory (11 Group commander during the Battle of Britain) was killed when it crashed into the French Alps.

Answer: Bristol Hercules

Built under sub contract by Armstrong Whitworth, 300 Lancaster B IIS were fitted with the Bristol Hercules engine in order not to interrupt production of the Merlin. Although having a better take off and low altitude performance, the Lancaster B II had a shorter range. Once Packard-produced Merlin engines became more available the Lancaster reverted back to using Merlin engines.