| • Science | • People | • Locations | • Timeline |
| Gloster Gladiator | ||
|---|---|---|
Gloster Gladiator photographed in England in 2002 | ||
| Description | ||
| Role | Fighter | |
| Crew | 1 pilot | |
| First Flight | ||
| Entered Service | ||
| Manufacturer | ||
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 27 ft 5 in | 8.4 m |
| Wingspan | 32 ft 3 in | 9.8 m |
| Height | 11 ft 7 in | 3.2 m |
| Wing area | 323 ft² | 30 m² |
| Weights | ||
| Empty | 3,444 lb | 1,560 kg |
| Loaded | 4,864 lb | 2,205 kg |
| Maximum takeoff | lb | kg |
| Capacity | ||
| Powerplant | ||
| Engines | One Bristol Mercury VIII AS | |
| Power | 850 hp | 630 kW |
| Performance | ||
| Maximum speed | 257 mph at 14,600 ft | 414 km/h at 4,500 m |
| Combat range | miles | km |
| Ferry range | 444 miles | 710 km |
| Service ceiling | 33,500 ft | 10,200 m |
| Rate of climb | 2220 ft/min | 670 m/min |
| Wing loading | lb/ft² | kg/m² |
| Thrust/Weight | ||
| Power/Mass | hp/lb | kW/kg |
| Avionics | ||
| Avionics | ||
| Armament | ||
| Guns | Four x 0.303 (7.7 mm) Browning machine-guns | |
The Gloster Gladiator was a biplane fighter, used by the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy, during World War II. The aircraft had a top speed of around 414 km/h. Gladiators were also modified for carrier operations and flown by the Royal Navy, where it was known as the Sea Gladiator.
First flown in 1934, and introducted into service in 1937, the Gloster Gladiator was developed from the Gauntlet biplane fighter. Even when it was introduced the design was being eclipsed by the new generation of monoplane fighters, such as the Spitfire and Messerschmitt Bf 109. When WW2 began the Gladiator was used in combat in France and Norway, but was found to be outclassed by the German fighters in most respects. Despite this, the Gladiators of the norwegian Jagevingen at Fornebu(Oslo) Airport, consisting of 7 functional Gladiators, (litt: pursuitwing) managed to shoot down an not certain amount between 10 and 20 German aircrafts before they were forced down due to mechanical errors and to refill fuel and ammunition. All but 3 of the Gladiators from Fornebu were lost as they made forced landings, most on frozen lakes in or around Oslo. The Gladiators in spite of their age, also seemed to be quite effective in the rest of the Norwegian fightings. After Britains "cooperation" with the Norwegians in the end of the Norwegian campaign, the Norwegians flew most of the remaining aircrafts to the UK where they were used in further fightings.
In the North African theatre the Gladiator achieved some success against the Italian Air Force, which was equipped with a mix of biplanes and early design monoplanes. Its most notable exploit came in the defence of Malta, where for a brief period three Sea Gladiator aircraft, named Faith, Hope and Charity formed the entire air defence of the island.
In the Far East the Gladiator fared little better against the modern machines of the Japanese than it had against the Germans. It played a part in the short-lived defense of Singapore.
Carrier based Gladiators were more successful, since its slower speed made it more suitable for carrier operations and it was less likely to be facing modern figher opposition.
The Gladiator was also exported for use by the air forces of 13 other countries.