- Yes
- No
Overview
The Hurricane Mk IIC was a mid-production model of the Hawker Hurricane featuring improved armament of 4x Hispano Mk II 20mm cannons. Production started in early 1941 and continued until mid 1944, with s/n PZ865 The Last of The Many, the last Hurricane produced, being a Mk IIC. The IIC was the most-produced Hurricane variant at 4,711 examples. In fact, it is the most-produced British fighter aircraft of all time and only exceeded by the Avro Anson Mk I in terms of production for any British aircraft, of any type, ever. The Mk IIC entered service after the Hurricane was already obsolete as a fighter, but it found great success as a strike aircraft, serving on every front and being nicknamed the Hurribomber.
History
Development
Development of the Hawker Hurricane began in 1933 as an upgraded monoplane version of the Hawker Fury. Powered by the new Rolls-Royce Merlin engine and equipped with a whopping 8 machine guns, the Hurricane was ahead of its time when it first flew in 1935. The Hurricane Mk I would enter service in 1937. The Hurricane Mk I would be by far the RAF’s most common fighter aircraft during the Battle of Britain, performing excellently against its German counterparts. However, the Hurricane was not without flaws.
First, the Merlin III engine was somewhat underpowered. It was replaced by the Merlin XX for the Mk II. The armament, while superior to early Bf-109s, was soon outclassed as the 109E-3 entered service with its MG-FF cannons. Initially, this was intended to be addressed simply by increasing the number of machine guns to 12, introduced on the Hurricane IIB. However, it soon became clear that light machine guns were insufficient for a modern fighter, especially one needing to quickly intercept bombers.
Cannons had actually been considered for the Hurricane all the way back in 1935, but not pursued due to their heavier weight impacting flight performance. In 1939, work resumed on fitting cannons on a Hurricane, by modifying a Mk I with underwing pods containing 20mm Oerlikons. This was followed in 1940 by a more conventional design, mounting a pair of Hispano IIs in each wing. This was actually quite complicated, as the breech and drum magazines were too large to fit in the wing, requiring the cannons to be mounted sideways and the wings redesigned with a bump to increase internal space. This model would enter production in 1941 as the Hurricane IIC.
Service
While the Hurricane IIC entered service after the end of the Battle of Britain, it would serve as the primary interceptor during the Blitz of 1941. It would also play a leading role in the defense of Malta. The Hurricane IIC served as a night intruder in 1941-1942, conducting small-scale strikes against targets in France. These strikes would be eventually cancelled due to their high risk and low reward.
The largest use of the Hurricane IICs came in the North African campaign, where their cannons proved extremely effective at destroying Italian light-skinned vehicles and trucks, and even tanks, with the bombs providing additional firepower. Even in a fighter role, the Hurricane could outperform any opponent except the Bf-109 and C.202, and later Fw-190.
The Hurricane IIC would also serve in the Southeast Asian front, though with limited success. The Hurricanes simply couldn’t compete with the faster and more agile Japanese aircraft, and a significant number were destroyed on the ground.
Export
The Hurricane IIC saw some export during the war. The Soviet Union received some alongside a larger number of Hurricane IIBs, both aircraft types being typically refitted with Soviet weapons as we see in-game. This was the largest export operator of the Hurricane, the Hurricane being the most common British aircraft in Soviet service.
A single Hurricane IIC was evacuated from Sumatra before being unpacked and assembled, this aircraft would be used for training with the RAAF.
Belgium used a trio of Hurricane IICs as communications aircraft from 1946.
Both the Polish and Czechoslovak air forces in exile operated Hurricane IICs.
The RIAF also operated a number of tropicalized Hurricane IICs.
RCAF operated the license-produced Mk XII which was similar to the IIC but with the uprated Merlin XXV.
Specifications
Airframe
Length: 9.75m
Span: 12.19m
Height: 3.99m
Wing Area: 23.92m^2
Empty Mass: 2,630.8kg
Loaded Mass: 2,984.6kg
MTOW: 3,674.1kg
Propulsion
Merlin XX V-12
1,280hp
Max Internal Fuel: 355.8L
Max External Fuel: 681.4L
Flight Performance
Max Speed: 545km/h
Max Climb Rate: 14.8m/s
Armament
4x Hispano Mk II 20mm cannon
90RPG (360 rounds total)
600RPM
2x G.P. 250lb Mk IV bomb
2x G.P. 500lb Mk IV bomb
2x 170.3L drop tank
2x 340.7L drop tank
The Hurricane IIC in game
The Hurricane IIC would fit best as a Tech Tree vehicle either in the folder with the other Hurricanes or immediately following it. It’d be BR 3.0 like the similar Sea Hurricane IC and Soviet Hurricane IIB. Of the two, the Sea Hurricane is probably the most similar comparison. The IIC would have slightly better flight performance with its more powerful engine and access to bombs, but would have a lower ammunition count. With the Sea Hurricane IC already in game, the IIC wouldn’t really fill a major BR gap. Instead, its primary justification for addition is its historical significance as the most produced British fighter aircraft of all time.
Gallery
Spoiler
Hurricane IIC at the National Air and Space Museum
In the night-fighter role, Hurricane IICs were painted black and fitted with flash hiders for their exhausts. While the exhaust covers probably would be more work than necessary to make as a modification, a night camoflage would be very cool
Hurricane IIC in North Africa
Hurricane
Hurricane IIC with fuel tanks
Hurricane IIC being loaded with a 250lb bomb in Burma
Hurricane IIC with cannons and 500lb bombs being loaded
Hurricane IIC bombing a bridge in Burma
British fighters
Hurricane IIC PZ865 “The Last of the Many”, the last Hurricane to be produced, serves as part of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. This means technically the Hurricane is still in service nearly 90 years after its introduction.
Sources
https://www.baesystems.com/en/heritage/hurricane
https://www.thisdayinaviation.com/tag/hawker-hurricane/
“Hawker Hurricane- inside and out” - Melvin Hiscock