An excellent image of a Swedish J8 Gloster Gladiator in the air.
Photo via Mikael Forslund.
Click on the image to see it in full size.
The Gloster Gladiator was the RAF's last biplane fighter. The prototype (K5200) first
flew in September 1934 designated S.S. 37, and although produced a private venture,
conformed to Spec. F.7/30 (to which also the original gull-winged Spitfire had been
designed). In July 1935 the Gladiator was ordered for the RAF to Spec. 14/35, the
initial contracts being for 23 (commencing with K6129). A further 186 (commencing with K7892)
were ordered in September 1935 and production continued until 1940. It was produced in
three major version; Mk.I, Mk.II and the Sea Gladiator (the difference
of the Sea Gladiator being installation
of catapult points, a deck-arrester hook and a collapsible dinghy in a fairing beneath
the fuselage between the undercarriage legs).
Largely replaced in Fighter Command by the outbreak of war, they went to serve with 607
and 615 Squadrons of the AASF (few records survived the German invasion of France but
607 Sq. is thought to have destroyed around 70 enemy aircraft, mostly however with Hurricanes) and equipped one squadron
in the Battle of Britain (247 Squadron at Roborough) charged primarily with the local
defence of Devonport Dockyards, Plymouth. Most famous is the Gladiator for its exploits
overseas, including operations in Norway, Malta and the Western Desert.
The Gladiator was also one of Britains biggest export successes before the war, seeing
service in many other countries.
Total production: 768
Prototype (1)
Mk.I (378)
Mk.II (311)
Sea Gladiator (60)
Swedish J8A Modified Mk.II Nohab Mercury VIIIS.3 (18)
The Gladiator saw service in: Australia (ex-RAF),
China (36 Mk.I),
Belgium (22 Mk.I),
Egypt (40+ Mk.II),
Eire (4 Mk.I),
Finland (30 Mk.II),
Germany (13+ Mk.I),
Great Britain (RAF, FAA),
Greece (19 Mk.I and 6 Mk.II),
Iraq (15 Mk.I and 5 Mk.II),
Latvia (26 Mk.I),
Lithuania (14 Mk.I),
Norway (6 Mk.I and 6 Mk.II),
Portugal (15 Mk.II),
South Africa (11 ex-RAF),
Sweden (37 Mk.I and 18 Mk.II),
USSR (ex Latvian and Lithuanian Mk.Is)
Technical details
Type:__________Fighter
Span:__________9.83 m
Lenght:________8.36 m
Engine:________Bristol Mercury VIIIS3 / 840 hsp.
Max speed:_____410 km/h at 4,400 m
Max ceiling:___10500 m
Range:_________715 km
Armament:______4x8 mm Browning machine guns + bombs
The Gloster Gladiator was, as the famous test-pilot Captain Eric M. Brown put it,
undoubtedly one of the greatest biplane fighter ever built, but, appearing almost
simultaneously with the first of the new breed of heavily armed monoplane fighters
and bombers, it was pitched into a combat era where it was outgunned and outperformed,
though never outmaneuvered.
Brown also stated that combat between the Fiat CR.42 Falco and the Gladiator
would bee a fascinating duel between the two best biplane fighters in the world.
The CR.42 had a slight speed advantage, the Gladiator a slight armament advantage.
In the matter of maneuverability the aircraft were about equal, and each was lightweight
in construction. A combat between them would be decided on the skills
of the opposing pilots. The outcome could go either way.
Sources:
Combat Aircraft of World War Two - Elke C. Weale, John A. Weale and Richard F. Barker, 1977 Lionel Leventhal Limited, ISBN 0-946495-43-2
Duels in the sky - Eric M. Brown, 1988
Aeroplane Monthly, May 1992
Gloster Gladiator in Commonwealth squadron service
Gloster Gladiator claims in the Norwegian Campaign 1940
Gloster Gladiators and Fiat CR.42s over Malta 1940-42
Belgian Air Force use of the Gloster Gladiator during the Second World War
Chinese Air Force use of the Gloster Gladiator during the Second World War
Finnish Air Force use of the Gloster Gladiator during the Second World War
Greek Air Force use of the Gloster Gladiator during the Second World War
Iraqi Air Force use of the Gloster Gladiator during the Second World War
Irish Army Air Corps use of the Gloster Gladiator during the Second World War
Latvian Air Force use of the Gloster Gladiator during the Second World War
Lithuanian Air Force use of the Gloster Gladiator during the Second World War
Luftwaffe use of the Gloster Gladiator during the Second World War
Norwegian Army Air Service use of the Gloster Gladiator in the Second World War
Portuguese Air Force use of the Gloster Gladiator during the Second World War
Royal Egyptian Air Force use of the Gloster Gladiator during the Second World War
Soviet Red Air Force (VVS) use of the Gloster Gladiator during the Second World War
Swedish Air Force use of the Gloster Gladiator
