The Fairey Barracuda
By Chris Banyai-Riepl
Airframe Album 19
Author: Richard A. Franks
Publisher: Valiant Wings Publications
ISBN: 978-1912932344
Binding: Softcover
Pages: 130
The Fairey Barracuda wasn’t going to win any awards in the attractiveness category, but it was the Fleet Air Arm’s first monoplane torpedo bomber so it has earned its place in history. With its large disconnected flaps, high tailplane, and large inline engine chin scoop, the Barracuda definitely had a distinctive look. Since it was the first FAA monoplane torpedo bomber, the Barracuda saw the whole gamut of FAA camouflage schemes, from the early two-tone upper camouflage pattern to the later single color over sky undersides to overall blue and even an overall aluminum scheme. This title provides references on all of that, and more, with period documents and photos, as well as modern illustrations and scale model references.
This book covers the history and technical details of the Fairey Barracuda, as well as the evolution and camouflage & markings of the type. For those looking for a comprehensive operational history of the Fairey Barracuda, this won’t be the book for you, but there is a bit of that in the introduction. The main focus of the book, though, is the technical description and the variant evolution. As with most successful aircraft types created during the Second World War, the Barracuda went through multiple variants, both to improve the plane and to incorporate new technology.
Like other titles in the Airframe Album series by Valiant Wings, this book provides the usual selection of period photos and drawings that are combined to call out all the relevant details for all the major variants. Color profile illustrations complement the work with a solid overview of the different color schemes worn by the Barracuda, from the prototypes to post-war usage including a couple examples of French Barracudas. The book finishes up with a model section following the build of the Special Hobby 1/72 Barracuda Mk II kit.
This is a great reference on the Fairey Barracuda and one which will be of great use to anyone tackling this subject on the workbench. My thanks to Valiant Wings for the review copy. Visit their website for more information on this and other titles in the Airframe Album series.