BRITAIN’S NEW FIGHTER

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23444, 26 September 1941, Page 7

BRITAIN’S NEW FIGHTER

Improvements To The Hurricane GREATER SPEED AND FIRE POWER (8.0. W.) RUGBY, September 24. Details of the Hurricane Mark n which have been revealed show a great improvement on the Hurricane Mark I used last summer. The fitting of a new Merlin engine with two speed supercharges, has resulted in a much higher ceiling, a better rate of climb at altitude and a greater top speed stili more important is the improved armament. Whereas the Mark I has eight .303 machine-guns, the Mark II has 12 such guns or alternatively four 25 millimetre cannon. Thus,

the fire power greatly exceeds that of the Mark I and is vastly superior to that of the latest German single-seater —the new Messerschmitt 109 F. One large calibre gun only is fitted to the Messerschmitt 109F, namely a 15-milli-metre Mauser. Although this gun has a high muzzle velocity, the shell is much smaller than the British 20-mil-limetre, which has much more punch. The 'use of 12 machine-guns or four 20-millimetre cannon in the Hurricane makes reasonably certain the destruction of any bomber intercepted. Some idea of the terrific fire power of the new Hurricanes can be gathered from a statement by the Air Ministry that in a single day a mixed formation of these new fighters sank two German flak ships and four minesweepers off the Belgian coast. One Hurricane pilot described the effect of his fire as “like putting the enemy through a sawmill."