Editing Hawker Hurricane (section)

==Variants==
{{Main|Hawker Hurricane variants}}
{{more citations needed section|date=November 2020}}
[[File:Hawker Hurricanes at Lille-Seclin - Royal Air Force 1939-1945 Fighter Command F2344A.jpg|thumb|{{center|Mk Is in France with original two-bladed Watts propellers}}]]
;Hurricane Mk.I
:First production version, with fabric-covered wings, a wooden two-bladed, fixed-[[Blade pitch|pitch]] [[Propeller (aircraft)|propeller]] (first 435) or three blade two -[[Blade pitch|pitch]] [[Propeller (aircraft)|propeller]], powered by the {{cvt|1030|hp}} [[Rolls-Royce Merlin]] Mk.II (first 364) or III engines and armed with eight [[.303 British|{{cvt|.303|in|mm|1}}]] [[M1919 Browning machine gun|Browning machine guns]]. Produced between 1937 and 1939.

;Hurricane Mk.I (revised)
:A revised Hurricane Mk.I series built with a [[de Havilland]] or [[Dowty Rotol|Rotol]] constant speed propeller (from February 1940), metal-covered wings, armour and other improvements. A total of 4,200 Mk.Is were built; 1,924 by Hawker, 1,850 by [[Gloster Aircraft Company]] and 426 by [[Canadian Car and Foundry]] between December 1937 and October 1941. Apart from 30 retained in Canada the [[Canadian Car and Foundry]] Hurricanes were shipped to England to be fitted with engines.

;Hurricane Mk.IIA Series 1
:Hurricane Mk.I powered by the improved Merlin XX engine with two-speed supercharger. This new engine used a coolant mix of 30% glycol and 70% water. Pure glycol is flammable, so not only was the new mix safer, but the engine also ran approximately 21&nbsp;°C (38&nbsp;°F) cooler, which gave longer engine life and greater reliability.<ref name="Schlaiefer p. 220">Schlaiefer 1950, p. 220.</ref> The new engine was longer than the earlier Merlin and so the Hurricane gained a 4.5 in "plug" in front of the cockpit, which made the aircraft slightly more stable due to the slight forward shift in centre of gravity.<ref name="Hiscock p. 16">Hiscock 2003, p. 16.</ref> First flew on 11 June 1940 and went into squadron service in September 1940. Hawker built 418 and [[Gloster Aircraft Company]] 33. The series 1 may refer to the first production batch which did not have all the proposed changes incorporated, becoming series 2 when the changes were made.  33 Mk. IIA built by Gloster, 418 by Hawker.
[[File:Hurricane.jpg|thumb|Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIB ''Z5140'']]
;Hurricane Mk.IIB
:Carrying four additional wing-mounted {{cvt|.303|in|mm|1}} Browning machine guns; for a total of 12 guns, 230 were factory fitted with racks allowing them to carry two {{cvt|250|lb}} or two {{cvt|500|lb}} bombs. This lowered the top speed of the Hurricane to {{cvt|301|mph}}, but by this point mixed sweeps of Hurricanes carrying bombs, protected by a screen of fighter Hurricanes were not uncommon. The same racks allowed the Hurricane to carry two {{cvt|45|impgal|L}} drop tanks instead of the bombs, nearly doubling the Hurricane's fuel load.<ref name="Hiscock p. 18">Hiscock 2003, p. 18.</ref>

:A total of 3,178 IIBs built in Britain to November 1942, 2,011 by Hawker, 867 by [[Gloster Aircraft Company]] and 300 by the [[Austin Motor Company|Austin Aero Company]], plus another 515 by [[Canadian Car and Foundry]] built November 1941 to March 1943.  Many of the Canadian built aircraft being fitted with C (cannon) wings before delivery to the RAF.

;Hurricane Mk.IIB Trop.
:For use in North Africa the Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIB (and other variants) were tropicalised. They were fitted with Vokes and Rolls-Royce engine dust filters and the pilots were issued with a desert survival kit, including a bottle of water behind the cockpit.<ref name="Hiscock p. 19">Hiscock 2003, p. 19.</ref>
[[File:Hurricane IIC 3 Sqn RAF in flight c1942.jpg|thumb|Hurricane Mk.IIC ''BD867'' of 3 Squadron RAF, 1942]]
;Hurricane Mk.IIC
:Replaced the machine-gun armament with four {{cvt|20|mm|2}} [[Hispano-Suiza HS.404|Hispano Mk.II]] cannons, two per wing. The new wings later included a hardpoint for a {{cvt|500|or|250|lb}} bomb and, later again, fuel tanks. By then performance was inferior to the latest German fighters, and the Hurricane changed to the [[ground attack aircraft|ground-attack]] role, sometimes referred to as the '''Hurribomber'''. The Mk. IIC also served as a [[night fighter]] and [[intruder (air combat)|intruder]] with about three quarters converted to fighter bombers. There were 4,751 IICs built by Hawker between February 1941 and July 1944.

;Hurricane Mk.IID
:Armed with two {{cvt|40|mm|2}} anti-tank autocannon in a [[Gun pod|gondola-style pod]], one under each wing and a single Browning machine gun in each wing loaded with tracers for aiming purposes. The first aircraft flew on 18 September 1941 and deliveries started in 1942. Had additional armour for the pilot, radiator and engine, and were armed with a [[Rolls-Royce 40 mm cannon|Rolls-Royce gun]] with 12 rounds, later changed to the {{cvt|40|mm|2}} [[Vickers S gun]] with 15 rounds. The outer wing attachments were strengthened so that 4G could be pulled at a weight of {{cvt|8540|lb}}.<ref name="Hiscock p. 17">Hiscock 2003, p. 17.</ref> The weight of guns and armour protection marginally impaired the aircraft's performance. These Hurricanes were nicknamed "Flying Can Openers", perhaps a play on the logo of No. 6 Squadron, which flew the Hurricane starting in 1942.  A total of 296 built by Hawker from January 1942 to February 1943.

[[File:Hurricane IID 6 Sqn RAF over Western Desert 1942.jpg|thumb|A Hurricane IID of 6 Squadron, showing the Vokes tropical filter and RAF desert camouflage in 1942.]]
;Hurricane Mk.IIE
:Not an official Mark number. First used informally by the RAF for 100 mark IIB factory fitted with bomb racks built September to December 1941, which were then redesignated mark IIBB.  Also used by the Ministry of Aircraft Production March to October 1942 for further production, all up 270 considered built, comprising 230 IIBB and 40 IICB by the later RAF designation (230 IIB and 40 IIC).  A signal to the Middle East dated 31 October 1942 states the IIE was not an official mark. The '''Mk.IIE''' was not an early '''Mk.IV'''.

;Hurricane Mk.T.IIC
[[File:A Two-seat Hawker Hurricane of Air Force of Iran.jpg|thumb|right]]
:Two-seat training version of the Mk. IIC. Only two aircraft were built, for the [[Imperial Iranian Air Force]].

;Hurricane Mk.III
:Version of the Hurricane Mk.II powered by a US [[Packard V-1650 Merlin|Packard-built Merlin engine]], intending to enable supplies of the British-built engines for other designs. Probably two Canadian built aircraft test flown in Britain with a Merlin 28 starting in May/June 1942 before becoming mark IIB with Merlin XX.  By the time production was to have started, British Merlin production had increased to the point where the idea was abandoned.
[[File:Hawker Hurricane Mark IV.jpg|thumb|Hurricane Mk.IV, armed with RP-3 rockets]]
;Hurricane Mk.IV
:The last major change to the Hurricane was the introduction of the "universal wing", a single design able to mount two {{cvt|250|or|500|lb}} bombs,or  two {{cvt|40|mm|2}} Vickers S guns, or two 40 mm (1.57 in) Rolls-Royce B.H. type guns, two SBC (small bomb containers) or SCI (smoke curtain installation),or two 45 or 90 gallon drop tanks or eight [[RP-3|"60 pounder" RP-3]] rockets. Two {{cvt|.303|in|1}} Brownings were fitted to aid aiming of the heavier armament.<ref name="Mason Hawker p285">Mason 1991, p. 285.</ref> Despite persistent reports, Mk.IVs were actually fitted with the same Merlin XX as the Mk.II. All Merlin 27s were modified to Merlin 25 and used in Mosquitoes, there were only 16 production Merlin 24s by the time over 300 Mk.IV had been delivered. The individual aircraft cards held by the RAF museum reports the final Mk.IV had a Merlin XX. The radiator was deeper and armoured. Additional armour was also fitted around the engine.<ref name="Hiscock p. 20">Hiscock 2003, p. 20.</ref> 524 built by Hawker between December 1942 and March 1944.

;Hurricane Mk.V
:The final variant to be produced. Only one was purpose built and two Mk.IV converted, though the variant never reached full-scale production. This was planned to be powered by a Merlin 27 but also tested with a Merlin 32 boosted engine to give {{cvt|1700|hp}} at low level and was intended as a dedicated ground-attack aircraft to use in [[Burma Campaign|Burma]]. All three prototypes had four-bladed propellers. The Mk. V replaced the twin 7.7mm machine guns on the Mk. IV with two 20mm cannons, only completed on the third prototype. Speed was {{cvt|326|mph}} at {{cvt|500|ft}}<ref name="Hiscock p. 20"/>

;Hurricane Mk.X
:Not an official Mark number. The Mk.X designation is used by some RAF documents for [[Canadian Car and Foundry]] built Mk.I but many references define it as Mk.II airframes fitted with a Merlin 28   [[Canadian Car and Foundry]] report building a total of 915 Mk.II airframes for Holland (one), the RAF (514) and the RCAF (400), between November 1941 and May 1943. About two thirds of the Canadian Car and Foundry built Mk.II airframes shipped to Britain did so without an engine, the remainder being fitted with Merlin 28s, but the engine was nearly always removed upon arrival and a Merlin XX fitted instead. These aircraft were considered a Mk.II by the RAF. Apart from some test flights in Canada and England no Hurricane flew powered by a Merlin 28. Canada only imported 285 Merlin 28 for Hurricanes, all of which were shipped to Britain either as a separate engine or attached to a Hurricane.

;Hurricane Mk.XI
:Not an official Mark. number. Designation used by many references for 150 aircraft from the RCAF Mk.XII order sent to Britain, these aircraft had many items and their Merlin 29 removed before being shipped without an engine or fitted with a Merlin 28. Fitted with Merlin XX on arrival in Britain and called a Mk.II by the RAF.

;Hurricane Mk.XII
:Canadian-built variant. On 19 August 1941, the Canadian government placed an order with Canadian Car and Foundry for 400 Hurricanes, with 100 meant for the Netherlands and 300 for China, the Netherlands order was amended to 72, the Chinese decided to buy American, which resulted in 328 being offered to the USSR, to be shipped across the Pacific. Amended to all 400 for the RCAF.  Originally designated the Mk.IIB (Can), designation changed to Mk.XII in April 1943. Single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber, powered by a {{cvt|1300|hp}} Packard Merlin 29, armed with twelve {{cvt|0.303|in|1}} machine guns, production starting in June 1942, 250 served with the RCAF and 150 were sent to Britain in 1943 either without an engine or fitted with a Merlin 28 which was replaced by a Merlin XX on arrival and they became Mk.IIs

;Hurricane Mk.XIIA
:Canadian-built variant. The survivors of a batch of 30 RAF order Mk.I airframes retained in Canada in late 1941 that were fitted with Merlin III and propellers from Fairey Battles, became Mk. XIIA when fitted with Merlin 29. Armed with eight {{cvt|0.303|in|1}} machine guns

;Holland standard Hurricane
:Canadian built variant. RAF serial airframe AM270 was completed around early March 1942 to Dutch standards, including US built Merlin, instruments and gun sight, as the prototype of an order for the Netherlands East Indies (KM/KNIL). Given the Dutch serial HC3-287, its subsequent fate is unclear beyond being used by [[Canadian Car and Foundry]] for test flying. AM270 was also used by the RAF for a Consolidated San Diego built Catalina, creating a further level of confusion. 

[[File:The Royal Navy during the Second World War A9421.jpg|thumb|right]]
;Sea Hurricane Mk.IA
:The Sea Hurricane Mk.IA was a Hurricane Mk.I modified by [[General Aircraft Limited]].  They were modified to be carried by [[CAM ship]]s ([[Aircraft catapult|catapult]]-armed [[Cargo ship|merchantman]]), whose ships' crews were Merchant Marine and whose Hurricanes were crewed and serviced by RAF personnel, or Fighter Catapult Ships, which were Naval Auxiliary Vessels crewed by naval personnel and aircraft operated by the Fleet Air Arm. These ships were equipped with a catapult for launching an aircraft, but without facilities to recover them. Consequently, if the aircraft were not in range of a land base, pilots had to bail out or to ditch.
:Both of these options had their problems—there was always a chance of striking part of the fuselage when bailing out, and a number of pilots had been killed in this way. Ditching the Hurricane in the sea called for skill as the radiator housing acted as a water brake, pitching the nose of the fighter downwards when it hit the water, while also acting as a very efficient scoop, helping to flood the Hurricane so that a quick exit was necessary before the aircraft sank.<ref name="Hiscock p. 20"/> Then the pilot had to be picked up by a ship. More than 80 modifications were needed to convert a Hurricane into a Sea Hurricane, including new radios to conform with those used by the Fleet Air Arm and new instrumentation to read in knots rather than miles per hour.<ref name="Hiscock p. 19"/> They were informally known as "Hurricats".
:The majority of the aircraft modified had suffered wear-and-tear serving with front line squadrons, so much so that at least one example used during trials broke up under the stress of a catapult launching. CAM Sea Hurricanes were launched operationally on eight occasions and the Hurricanes shot down six enemy aircraft for the loss of one Hurricane pilot killed.<ref name="Brown, Eric p112">Brown 1980, p. 112.</ref> The first Sea Hurricane Mk.IA kill was an [[Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor|Fw 200C ''Condor'']], shot down on 2 August 1941.<ref>Brown 1980, p. 109.</ref> The Hurricanes performance was somewhat hindered as a result of the extra equipment carried that was necessary for carrier operations, although this doesn't seem to have effected its reputation among FAA pilots, with whom it was extremely popular.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Hurricane |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |year=2018 |isbn=9781472831552 |pages=54}}</ref>
[[File:Hawker Hurricane03.jpg|thumb|Preserved Sea Hurricane of the [[Fleet Air Arm]].]]
;Sea Hurricane Mk.IB
:Hurricane Mk.I version equipped with catapult spools plus an arrester hook.<ref name="Brown, Eric p114">Brown 1980, p. 114.</ref> From July 1941 they operated from {{HMS|Furious|47|6}} and from October 1941, they were used on [[merchant aircraft carrier]] (MAC) ships, which were large cargo vessels with a flight deck fitted, enabling aircraft to be launched and recovered. The first Sea Hurricane Mk.IB kill occurred on 31 July 1941 when Sea Hurricanes of 880 squadron FAA operating from HMS ''Furious'' shot down a [[Dornier Do 18|Do 18 flying-boat]].<ref>Thetford 1994, p. 228.</ref>

:Apart from the conversions in Britain, 50 Sea Hurricane Mk.I were built in Canada and delivered in late 1941 and early 1942. Initially fitted with a Merlin III, they became Mk.XIIA when later fitted with a Merlin 29.

;Sea Hurricane Mk.IC
:A Sea Hurricane Mk.I<ref name="Brown, Eric p114"/> version reported equipped with the four-cannon wing. Despite persistent reports of hundreds converted from early 1942 only eight have been traced, all from a batch of 10 Sea Hurricanes that were sent to General Aircraft Limited in February 1943 from The Merchant Ship Fighter Unit, 7 being returned in May as Ic.

:The Sea Hurricane I used during ''[[Operation Pedestal]]'' had their Merlin III engines modified to accept {{cvt|16|psi|kPa}} boost, and could generate more than {{cvt|1400|hp}} at low altitude.<ref>Brown 1980, p. 115.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wwiiaircraftperformance.org/merlin3-rating.jpg|title=Data on the Merlin III engine and 16 lb boost.}}</ref> Lt. R. J. Cork was credited with five kills while flying a Sea Hurricane I during ''Operation Pedestal''.<ref>Thetford 1994, p. 231.</ref>
The RAF reports as of end June 1944 a total of 378 conversions to Sea Hurricane I, less any conversions back to standard Hurricanes, photographic evidence suggests it was 378 transfers to the Royal Navy, most of which were converted to Sea versions.
;
;Sea Hurricane Mk.IIC
:60 built by Hawker between November 1942 and May 1943, version equipped with naval radio gear; other standard Mk.IICs were converted and used on fleet carriers. The Merlin XX engine on the Sea Hurricane generated {{cvt|1460|hp}} at {{cvt|6250|ft}} and {{cvt|1435|hp}} at {{cvt|11000|ft}}. Top speed was {{cvt|322|mph}} at {{cvt|13500|ft}} and {{cvt|342|mph}} at {{cvt|22000|ft}}.<ref name="Brown, Eric p112" />  Another 47 mark IIB converted to Sea mark II, with 45 of them given C wings as part of the conversion.

;Sea Hurricane Mk.XIIA
:50 Canadian built Sea Hurricane I delivered in late 1941 and early 1942. Initially fitted with Merlin III as Mk.I, the survivors became Mk.XII when fitted with Merlin 29.

;Hillson F.40 (a.k.a. F.H.40)
:A full-scale version of the Hills & Son [[Hillson Bi-mono|Bi-mono]] slip-wing biplane/monoplane, using a Hawker Hurricane Mk.I returned from Canada as RCAF ser no 321 (RAF serial L1884). Taxi and flight trials carried out at [[RAF Sealand]] during May 1943, and at the [[Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment]], Boscombe Down from September 1943. The upper wing was not released in flight before the programme was terminated due to poor performance.<ref name="Jarret AM p18-3">Jarrett ''Aeroplane Monthly'' January 1991, pp. 18–23.</ref>

;Hurricane Photo Reconnaissance
:The Service Depot at Heliopolis in Egypt converted several Hurricanes Is for photo reconnaissance. The first three were converted in January 1941. Two carried a pair of [[F24 camera]]s with 8-inch focal length lenses. The third carried one vertical and two oblique F24s with 14-inch focal length lenses mounted in the rear fuselage, close to the trailing edge of the wing, and a fairing was built up over the lenses aft of the radiator housing. A further five Hurricanes were modified in March 1941, and two were converted in a similar manner in Malta during April 1941. During October 1941 a batch of six Hurricane Mk.IIs were converted to PR Mk.II status and a final batch, thought to be of 12 aircraft, was converted in late 1941. The PR Mk.II was said to be capable of slightly over {{cvt|350|mph}} and was able to reach {{cvt|38000|ft}}.<ref name="Hiscock p. 18"/>

;Hurricane Tac R
:For duties closer to the front lines some Hurricanes were converted to Tactical Reconnaissance (Tac R) aircraft. An additional radio was fitted for liaison with ground forces who were better placed to direct the Hurricane. Some Hurricane Tac R aircraft also had a vertical camera fitted in the rear fuselage, so to compensate for the extra weight either one or two Brownings or two cannon would be omitted. Externally these aircraft were only distinguishable by the missing armament.<ref name="Hiscock p. 18"/>