Aeroclub 1/48 Sea Venom

Operation Musketeer Continued: The Fleet Air Arm (Part 1)

Operation Musketeer was the last large-scale action involving the Royal Navy's aircraft carrier force. Three carriers, H.M.S. Albion, Bulwark and Eagle, constituted the air component of the Royal Navy's contribution to the planned intervention.

Aboard the three carriers were DeHavilland Sea Venom FAW Mk. 21 all-weather fighters from 809 Squadron (H.M.S. Albion), 892 Squadron (H.M.S. Eagle) and 893 Squadron (H.M.S. Bulwark). The squadrons were tasked with providing night and bad weather air defense for the Anglo-French fleet, and as strike aircraft for daylight operations over Egypt. Though unstated, one of the tasks of the Sea Venoms was to provide early warning of any possible intervention by the U.S. Sixth Fleet, units of which were shadowing the Anglo-French ships from north of Cyprus.

The Sea Venoms first entered combat on November 1, 1956, with a surprise attack on Egyptian airfields in the canal zone. 893 Squadron destroyed a number of MiG-15s at Almaza airfield near Cairo, while the other two squadrons shot up other fields nearby. The ineffectiveness of the Egyptian Air Force meant the Sea Venom had no opportunity to display its air combat capabilities.

During the six days of Operation Musketeer, the Sea Venoms provided Fleet CAP against possible attacks that never materialized. The three squadrons made numerous low level strikes in the Canal Zone using cannon fire and rockets against airfields and other targets. They also provided top cover for the landings at Port Said on November 3. During this operation, LCDR R.A. Shilcock, CO of 893 Squadron strafed and sank an Egyptian E-boat. The squadrons performed "cab rank" attacks against targets of opportunity such as tanks, mortar batteries and vehicles.

During the operation, only one Sea Venom was lost, with WW281 of 893 Squadron making an emergency wheels-up landing aboard Eagle, during which it became the first aircraft to be saved by the ship's nylon deck barrier, though it was damaged beyond repair in the process.

Following the cease-fire proclaimed on November 6, Sea Venoms remained with the fleet to cover the withdrawal of British forces from Port Said, then sailed for Malta.

The Airplane:

A DeHavilland Vampire became the first jet in history to land aboard a carrier, when LCDR Eric Brown landed the second prototype Vampire aboard HMS Ocean on December 3, 1945. The Fleet Air Arm's interest in the Vampire - which had just entered full production for the RAF - was more as a way of becoming familiar with the problems of operating jets from carriers than any intrinsic interest in the Vampire as a combat aircraft.

In 1947 the Vampire was upgraded with a Ghost engine developed from the original Goblin. Making use of the 50 percent increase in power meant airframe modifications, which resulted in the Venom. The Royal Navy became very interested in a DeHavilland proposal for an interim night fighter developed from the Venom using the 2-seat cockpit and radar developed for the Vampire night fighter. This design also became the RAF Venom NF Mk.2. Designated the Sea Venom NF Mk. 20, the airplane first flew April 19, 1951, with the first fully-navalized version flying on July 26, 1952; this was different from the first two prototypes in having power-folding wings. 60 aircraft, designated FAW (Fighter, All-Weather) Mk. 20 were ordered that August, with 890 Squadron becoming the first fully-equipped Sea Venom unit in March 1954.

The Royal Australian Navy ordered 49 Sea Venoms in 1952, with 39 finally delivered as Sea Venom FAW Mk. 53 between March and December 1955. These aircraft would serve aboard HMAS Melbourne until 1968. I remember seeing these aircraft over Sangley Point Naval Station in Manila in May 1963, following the end of that year's SEATO exercise. (Even then I was well-known as an aircraft spotter; no one else could identify the airplanes, so the squadron XO made a $5 bet I could identify them, which I promptly did.)

Difficulty with weak landing gear and tail hooks led to the Mk. 20 order being reduced to 50, with the last ten strengthened and equipped with Martin-Baker Mk.2 ejection seats, a bulged canopy over the pilot's seat to facilitate view during landing, and US APS-57 radar. They became the FAW Mk.21, the most-produced variant with 168 aircraft total. Those later aircraft in the XG-range were equipped with the lightweight Martin-Baker Mk.4 seat. The final version, the FAW Mk.22 which appeared in late 1956, had an uprated Ghost 104 engine which resulted in increased climb. 39 were produced, and another 40 Mk. 21s were upgraded to Mk.22 standard.

1957 saw the Sea Venom equipping four FAA squadrons: 890, 892, 893 and 894, all aboard carriers. In 1958, the FAW Mk.22 aircraft were modified to carry Firestreak missiles. The Sea Venom left first line FAA service in 1961 with the disbandment of 894 Squadron. The Sea Venom was followed into service by the Sea Vixen, a development of the D.H.110 that had been considered by the FAA before adoption of the Sea Venom; the protracted development of this type is why the Sea Venom was considered an "interim" all-weather interceptor.

Aeroclub's multi-media Sea Venom first came out four years ago, and is the only 1/48 kit of this airplane ever produced. Frog made a 1/72 kit in the early 70s with markings for a FAA FAW 22, and an Australian FAW 53.