The Hawker Tempest is a British fighter plane that was mainly utilised by the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War.
Originally called the Typhoon II, the Tempest was an enhanced version of the Hawker Typhoon, designed to rectify the Typhoon’s surprising drop in performance at high altitudes by substituting its wing with a slimmer laminar flow design.
Given its significant divergence from the Typhoon, it was renamed Tempest.
The Tempest became one of the most formidable fighters of World War II and was the fastest single-engine propeller-driven aircraft of the war at low altitudes.
The Hawker Tempest was one of Britain’s most formidable fighter aircraft during World War II, and its development tells a story of rapid innovation and tactical necessity.
Here’s the historical backdrop
Origins and Development
The Tempest was a refined evolution of the Hawker Typhoon, which had struggled with high-altitude performance and structural issues.
Designed by Sydney Camm, the Tempest featured a thinner laminar-flow wing, improved aerodynamics, and a more powerful Napier Sabre engine, making it faster and more agile.
First flown in September 1942, it entered service in April 1944, just in time to play a key role in the final year of the war.
Combat Roles and Achievements
The Tempest was deployed primarily by the Royal Air Force (RAF) and was renowned for its low-altitude speed, making it ideal for
Intercepting V-1 flying bombs over southern England — it destroyed over 600 of these “buzz bombs”.
Ground attack missions, including strafing trains, convoys, and airfields across occupied Europe.
Dogfights with German aircraft, including the Messerschmitt Me 262, one of the first operational jet fighters.
Strategic Impact
Tempest squadrons supported major operations like Operation Market Garden and the Allied advance into Germany
Its speed and firepower made it a key player in air superiority missions, especially during the final months of the war when the Luftwaffe was still a threat.
Post-War Legacy
Though the war ended before the Tempest II could be deployed in the Pacific, it remained in RAF service until the early 1950s and influenced the design of the Hawker Sea Fury, another legendary aircraft.
Variants
Tempest Mk. I
Prototype fitted with the Napier Sabre Mk. IV inline piston engine with oil coolers and radiators placed in the wing to reduce drag, one aircraft built.
Tempest Mk. II
Single-seat fighter aircraft for the RAF, fitted with the Bristol Centaurus Mk. V engine, the short-barrelled Hispano Mk. V cannons and the standard Mk. V tail-unit.
The guns on the Tempest Mk. II had fewer cartridges compared to the Tempest Mk. V and Mk. VI (162 inboard and 152 outboard).
402 built by Hawker at Langley and 50 by Bristol Aeroplane Company, Banwell.
Tempest F. Mk. II – (F.2)
Initial fighter version of the Tempest Mk. II. 100 built by Hawker and 50 by Bristol.
Later upgraded to FB standard.
Tempest F.B. Mk. II – (FB.2)
Later fighter-bomber version of the Tempest Mk. II with strengthened wings and underwing hardpoints for bomb and rocket pylons, among other smaller changes.
302 built by Hawker.
Tempest Mk. III
Singe-seat experimental version of the Tempest, fitted with a Rolls-Royce Griffon 85 piston engine and contra-rotating propellers.
One prototype (LA610) built.
Tempest Mk. IV
Tempest variant with a Rolls-Royce Griffon 61 piston engine.
One prototype (LA614) cancelled in February 1943.
Tempest Mk. V – F. Mk. V – (F.5)
Single-seat fighter aircraft for the RAF, fitted with the Napier Sabre Mk. IIA, IIB or IIC, 801 built at Langley.
Tempest F. Mk. V Series 1
Initial production version of the Tempest Mk V. Series 1 aircraft were fitted with four long-barrel 20 mm (.79 in) Hispano Mk. II cannons and continued to use some Typhoon components.
100 built.
Tempest F. Mk. V Series 2
Later production version of the Tempest Mk. V, starting from Series 2.
From Series 2 aircraft were fitted with four short-barrel 20 mm Mark V Hispano cannons and other production line changes.
701 built.
Tempest Mk. V “(PV)”
Experimental anti-tank version of the Tempest Mk. V fitted with two underwing experimental 47 mm PV (Class P, Vickers) anti-tank gunpods.
One Tempest Mk. V (SN354) modified for testing.
Tempest T.T. Mk. 5 – (TT.5)
After the Second World War a number of Tempest Mk Vs were converted to serve as target tugs.
Tempest Mk. VI – F. Mk. VI (F.6)
Single-seat fighter aircraft for the RAF, fitted with the Napier Sabre Mk. V engine (2,340 hp) but otherwise equivalent to the later Tempest Mk. V.
