Fairey Swordfish Mk II, LS326, 836 Sqn FAA, 'L' Flight, MAC Ship Rapana, North Atlantic Convoys, 1943 (and restored at RNHF Yeovilton)

During WWII the Atlantic convoys suffered great losses and in large part that was due to the lack of air cover. There were simply not enough Carriers for the job.  The solution was to use grain and oil carriers fitted with a flight deck whilst still able to carry their usual cargos.  These ships carried a flight of three or four Swordfish armed with rocket projectiles or depth charges.

The Swordfish used on these ships were all part of 836 Sqn which provided flights for 19 MAC ships with a total of over eighty aircraft making it the largest ever Fleet Air Arm squadron.  They operated in frequently atrocious weather conditions with maintenance work often carried out on the open flight decks.

LS326 was one of these aircraft on board HMS Rapana.  She is a survivor and still flies today as the founder member of the Fleet Air Arm Historic Flight and has been repainted in her original wartime colours.

This limited edition model from Corgi is part of the highly collectable Aviation Archive range of die-cast model aircraft.  Scales include 1:48, 1:72 and 1:144 and features aeroplanes from World War I, World War II and the modern era.  Most models in the Aviation Archive range are limited editions.

Click here to browse the entire Corgi Aviation Archive range.

A detailed die-cast scale model for the adult collector. Not suitable for children under 14 years.

Limited Edition of 1450

Age Suitability

14+

Scale

1:72

Wingspan

193mm