I recently found this little collection of Tempests and I thought I'd post a few shots of my namesakes!
Hawker Tempest MkI. 2,340 hp Napier Sabre IV. The fastest of all the Tempests at 466mph. Never went into production.
The MkI did not have the chin-mounted radiator of the MkV/VI and had the radiators mounted in the wing leading edge.
Hawker Tempest MkII. Bristol Centaurus V radial 2,520hp, 440mph. Intended for service with Tiger Force, the war ended before the MkII entered service.
Hawker Fury prototype. Napier Sabre VII 24 cylinder engine at 3,055 hp. Attained a max speed at 483mph at 18,500ft.
Only one Fury was fitted with the Sabre VII. Production of the Fury was cancelled after WW2 ended but Hawker went on to develop the plane as the Sea Fury fitted with the Centaurus radial engine.
Hawker Tempest MK V Srs.1 (Long barrel 20mm Hispano cannon). Napier Sabre IIB at 2,200hp and 435mph.
The Tempest V was the first to enter RAF service in April 1944 and the only type to see service in WW2. Tempest V's shot down over 500 V-1 Flying Bombs.
Hawker Tempest MkV srs.2 (Short barrel 20mm Hispano cannon.)
Hawker Tempest MkVI. Napier Sabre Va engine at 2,340hp.
The Tempest VI entered service too late for WW2 but went on to serve with 9 RAF squadrons. It was withdrawn from service in 1949.
Hope you enjoyed my little (un) authorised history lesson of the Tempest family
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