The Boulton-Paul Sea Lance was a British carrier based torpedo bomber used by the Royal Navy from 1938 to 1942. Powered by a 2000hp Bristol Centaurus 1 piston engine, it was faster and more survivable than the Swordfish. With its greater performance, it allowed the Royal Navy to develop aerial torpedoes that could be dropped at faster speeds and higher altitudes.
The Sea Lance could carry one 18-inch Mark 12 or Mark 14 aerial torpedoes or one 1,600ib AP bomb or 6 250ib or 3 500ib GP bombs however despite being better than the older Swordfish and the biplane Albacore. It would be replaced in frontline service by the Fairey Barracuda and Fairey Spearfish from 1942 onwards serving as a torpedo-bombing trainer until final retirement in 1944.
Variants[]
- Sea Lance Mk.I: Production version powered by one 2,000hp Bristol Centaurus 1 radial-piston engine.
- Sea Lance Mk.II: 1 Sea Lance modified into a floatplane.
Users[]
See Also[]
Santa Monica AF TB-4/37
