Fairey Firefly Target Tugs

After the Second World War a number of Fairey Fireflies were converted into target tugs, serving with the Fleet Air Arm, as well as with Sweden, Denmark, Holland and Australia.

Firefly TT.1

The TT.1 was produced for Sweden to fulfil an order from Svensk Flygjanst, the company that provided target-towing services to the Swedish armed forces. It was producing by mounting a Type 'B' Mark 2B cable winch on a windlass arm on the port side of the fuselage, just forward of the rear cockpit. Fourteen were ordered, of which twelve went to Sweden (starting in December 1948) and two to Denmark. Both countries later acquired four more TT.1s. The Swedish aircraft remained in service until June 1964.

Firefly TT.4

The Firefly TT.4 was simplified target-tug producing by fitting an air-driven ML Type G winch in a bomb-shaped pod that was carried under the fuselage centre-section. It was easier to produce than the TT.1, and the pod could be attacked to any Firefly 4, 5 or 6. The Fleet Air Arm ordered 28 TT.4s, and the first was delivered to No.771 Squadron, Fleet Requirements Squadron, at RNAS Lee-on-Solent in November 1951. The TT.4 remained in use until towing duties were taken over by Airwork FRU, a civil operator, in February 1957. Fairey also sold conversion kits to the Dutch and Australian Navies.

Firefly TT.5

The TT.5 was the designation given to two Firefly 5s converted to the target-towing role by the Royal Australian Navy, using kits provided by Fairey.

Firefly TT.6

The TT.6 was the designation given to four Firefly AS.6s converted to the target-towing role by the Royal Australian Navy, using kits provided by Fairey.

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How to cite this article: Rickard, J (31 January 2009), Fairey Firefly Target Tugs , http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_fairey_firefly_TT.html

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