Corgi Aviation Archive Collector Series AA36312
Fairey Swordfish Mk I Diecast Model
RNFAA No.815 NAS, P4154, Taranto Harbour, Italy, Operation Judgement, November 1940 | |
| 1:72 Scale | | Length | | Width |
|---|
| Fairey Swordfish Mk I | | 6" | | 7.75" |
PLEASE NOTE: This item is not currently in stock and has a planned arrival date of April 2026.- Orders may not ship until complete. If you wish to receive in-stock items prior to pre-ordered items, you must place separate orders.
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Following Italy's declaration of war against Britain, the powerful Italian Navy posed a huge threat to British forces across the Mediterranean, and something had to be done. 'Operation Judgement' called for Fleet Air Arm Fairey Swordfish to attack the Italian Fleet moored in Taranto Harbour.
They needed to score a decisive victory, but could a formation of ageing biplane strike aircraft take on one of the most powerful naval fleets in the world? On the night of 11th/12th November 1940, 20 Swordfish armed with either torpedoes or bombs attacked the ships in two waves 20 minutes apart, inflicting significant damage.
Swordfish L4M crewed by Lt(A) H. Swayne RN and Sub Lt(A) J. Buscall was part of the first wave, second element torpedo attack, lining up on the Battleship Littorio and releasing their torpedo at low level from 400 yards, actually passing through the ships masts during the pullout from the attack, hitting the vessel and causing serious damage.
Relying on the skill, courage, and determination of a small number of Naval airmen, the raid showed that powerful warships were no match for air power, and that the aircraft carrier and its aircraft would now rule the waves.
This successful raid was studied closely by Japanese naval commanders in advance of their infamous raid against Pearl Harbor the following year, even though that raid was significantly more powerful in terms of both the number of aircraft and aircraft carriers used.
This spotter-reconnaissance aircraft, built by the Fairey Aviation Company for the British Royal Navy, was first flown on February 22nd, 1934. Nicknamed "Stringbag" after a housewife's string shopping bag, the Swordfish could carry an unlikely combination of loads. It could lift off a carrier deck with a standard torpedo, although this made it vulnerable to fighter attack. Its low speed and stable stance made it easy to line up for a torpedo attack, as it did against the German Bismark and on the Italian naval base at Taranto, where 21 Swordfish destroyed three battleships, a cruiser, two destroyers and other warships. © Copyright 2003-2026 The Flying Mule, Inc.
Corgi's 1:72 scale Swordfish series demonstrates this aircraft's versatility. Each release highlights its roles as a spotter-reconnaissance aircraft and a torpedo-bomber. One of the most impressive features of this model is its replicated folding wings, a feature uncommon in 1:72 scale. The wings are both pinned and keyed to insure proper alignment when fully deployed. Fine gauge wire is used to recreate the structurally significant bracing wires found between the wings and on the horizontal stabilizer. The open cockpit allows for easy viewing of the three-man crew, correctly poised for action with pivoting machine gun at the rear.
© Copyright 2003-2026 The Flying Mule, Inc.
The Corgi "Aviation Archive" range presents highly-detailed, ready-made diecast models of military and civilian aircraft. The vast Aviation Archive range has become the standard by which all other diecast airplane ranges are judged. Each Corgi model is based on a specific aircraft from an important historical or modern era of flight, and has been authentically detailed from original documents and archival library material. Famous airplanes and aviators from both military and commercial airline aviation are all honored.
Corgi "Aviation Archive" diecast airplanes feature:
- Diecast metal construction with some plastic components.
- Realistic panel lines, antennas, access panels and surface details.
- Pad printed markings and placards that won't fade or peel like decals.
- Interchangeable extended/retracted landing gear with rotating wheels.
- Poseable presention stand to display the aircraft "in flight".
- Many limited editions with numbered certificate of authenticity.
- Detailed, hand-painted pilot and crew member figures.
- Authentic detachable ordnance loads complete with placards.
- Selected interchangeable features such as speed-brakes, opened canopies and access panels.
- Selected moving parts such as gun turrets, control surfaces and swing-wings.
© Copyright 2003-2026 The Flying Mule, Inc.
