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{{Short description|1931 British fighter aircraft}}
{{For|the later [[monoplane]] fighter of the same name|Hawker Sea Fury}}
<!-- This article is a part of [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft]]. Please see [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft/page content]] for recommended layout. -->
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2017}}
{{Infobox aircraft
  |name = Fury
  |image = Hawker Fury MkI K5674 in hangar 2 (5922642350).jpg
  |caption = Hawker Fury ''K5674'', painted in 43 Squadron colours
  |type = Fighter
  |manufacturer = [[Hawker Aircraft]]
  |designer =
  |first_flight = 25 March 1931
  |introduction = 1931
  |retired = 1949  [[Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force|Imperial Iranian Air Force]]<ref>[http://www.worldairforces.com/Countries/iran/irn.html "Historical Listings: Iran (IRN)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720064946/http://www.worldairforces.com/Countries/iran/irn.html |date=20 July 2011 }}". ''World Air Forces''. Retrieved: 19 May 2011.</ref>
  |status =
  |primary_user = [[Royal Air Force]]
  |more_users = {{plainlist|
* [[South African Air Force]]
* [[Spanish Air Force]]
* [[Royal Yugoslav Air Force]]}}
  |produced = <!--years in production, e.g. 1970-1999, if still in active use but no longer built-->
  |number_built = 275
  |variants =
}}

The '''Hawker Fury''' is a British [[biplane]] [[fighter aircraft]] used by the [[Royal Air Force]] in the 1930s. It was a fast, agile aircraft, and the first [[Interceptor aircraft|interceptor]] in RAF service faster than {{cvt|200|mph}} in level flight.<ref name="Smith">{{cite book |last1=Smith |first1=Peter |title=Combat Biplanes of World War II |date=2014 |publisher=Pen & Sword |location=United Kingdom |isbn=978-1783400546 |pages=555}}</ref> It was the fighter counterpart to the [[Hawker Hart]] light bomber.

==Design and development==
The Hawker Fury was a development of the earlier [[Hawker F.20/27]] prototype fighter, replacing the radial engine of the F.20/27 with the new Rolls-Royce F.XI V-12 engine (later known as the [[Rolls-Royce Kestrel]]), which was also used by Hawker's new light bomber, the [[Hawker Hart]]. The new fighter prototype, known as the ''Hawker Hornet'', first flew at [[Brooklands]], Surrey, in March 1929.<ref name="Mason fighter p213">Mason 1992, p.213.</ref> The Hornet was a single-engined [[biplane]], with single bay wings, initially powered by a {{cvt|420|hp}} Rolls-Royce F.XIC engine enclosed by a smooth, streamlined cowling but was quickly re-engined with a {{cvt|480|hp}} Kestrel IS.<ref name="Goulding p37">Goulding 1986, p.37.</ref> The prototype was evaluated against the similarly powered [[Fairey Firefly II]], being preferred because of its better handling and its all metal structure, compared with the mainly wooden construction of the Firefly.<ref name="Mason fighter p212">Mason 1992, p.212.</ref>

The Hornet was purchased by the [[Air Ministry]] at the start of 1930 and was subject to more tests, with a small initial production order for 21 aircraft (to be called ''Hawker Fury'' – as the Air Ministry wanted fighter names that "reflected ferocity") placed during 1930.<ref name="Mason fighter p213"/> The ''Fury I'' made its maiden flight at Brooklands, with chief test pilot [[George Bulman (pilot)|George Bulman]] at the controls, on 25 March 1931.<ref name="Goulding p38">Goulding 1986, p.38.</ref> The Fury was the first operational RAF fighter aircraft to be able to exceed {{cvt|200|mph}} in level flight. It had highly sensitive controls which gave it superb [[aerobatic]] performance. It was designed partly for the fast interception of bombers and to that end it could climb to {{cvt|10000|ft}} in 4 minutes 25 seconds, powered by a {{cvt|525|hp}} Kestrel engine.{{sfn|Mason|1965|pp=3-4}}

An experimental prototype, the ''High Speed Fury'', was built to test design features for Hawker's planned competitor for the [[F.7/30]] fighter competition (the [[Hawker P.V.3]]) as well as for more general development.<ref name="Smith" /> While the P.V.3 was unsuccessful owing to the use of the unreliable [[Radiator (engine cooling)#Evaporative cooling|evaporatively cooled]] [[Rolls-Royce Goshawk]] engine, many of the improvements tested on the High Speed Fury were incorporated in an improved ''Fury II'', with a cleaned up airframe and reduced drag, powered by a {{cvt|690|hp}} Mk4 Kestrel engine, which gave improved speed and rate of climb.<ref name="Smith" /> [[Sydney Camm]] designed a monoplane version of the Fury in 1933. It was not developed until [[Rolls-Royce Limited|Rolls-Royce]] produced what became their famous [[Rolls-Royce Merlin|Merlin]] engine. The design was then revised according to Air Ministry specification [[F5/34]] to become the prototype [[Hawker Hurricane]].<ref name="Smith" />

==Operational history==
The Fury I entered squadron service with the RAF in May 1931, re-equipping [[No. 43 Squadron RAF|43 Squadron]].<ref name="Smith" /> Owing to finance cuts in the [[Great Depression in the United Kingdom|Great Depression]], only relatively small numbers of Fury Is were ordered, the type equipping 1 and 25 squadrons; the slower [[Bristol Bulldog]] equipped ten fighter squadrons.<ref name=fc>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UeE4PQAACAAJ|title=Fighter Command, 1936–1968: an operational and historical record|first=ken|last=Delve|year=2008|publisher=Pen & Sword Aviation|pages=248–253|isbn=9781844156139}}</ref> The Fury II entered service in 1936–1937, increasing total number of squadrons to six.<ref name="Smith" /> Furies remained with RAF Fighter Command until January 1939, replaced primarily with [[Gloster Gladiator]]s and other types, such as Hurricane.<ref name=fc/> After their front line service ended, they continued in use as trainers.<ref name="Mondey p142">Mondey 1994, p.142.</ref>

The Fury was exported to several customers, being supplied with a variety of engines, including Kestrels, [[Hispano Suiza]] and [[Lorraine Petrel]] vee-type engines, [[Armstrong Siddeley Panther]], [[Pratt & Whitney Hornet]] and [[Bristol Mercury]] radials.{{sfn|Mason|1965|p=12}} Three Furies were ordered by [[Spain]] in 1935, it being intended to produce another 50 under licence. The Spanish variant had a [[cantilever]] [[Landing gear|undercarriage]] design with [[Dowty Group|Dowty]] internally sprung wheels, similar to that used on the Gladiator and was powered by a {{cvt|612|hp}} [[Hispano-Suiza 12X|Hispano Suiza 12Xbr]] engine, reaching a speed of {{cvt|234|mph}}.<ref name="El fury p286">''Air International'' June 1980, p.286.</ref><ref name="El fury p288">''Air International'' June 1980, p.288.</ref> The three Furies were delivered without armament on 11 July 1936, just before the outbreak of the [[Spanish Civil War]]. They were taken into service by the Spanish Republican Air Force, being fitted with machine guns salvaged from crashed aircraft.<ref name="Smith" /> One Fury made a forced landing behind enemy lines due to a lack of fuel and was repaired by the Nationalists, although it was not used operationally, while the Republicans used one of the Furies in the defence of [[Madrid]] until wrecked in a crash in November 1936.<ref name="El fury p288-9">''Air International'' June 1980, pp. 288–289, 305.</ref>

Although withdrawn from RAF squadrons, the Fury was still used by some foreign air forces in the early 1940s; Yugoslav Furies saw action against [[Axis Powers|Axis]] forces in the [[Nazi Germany|German]] [[Invasion of Yugoslavia|invasion of 1941]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/fury_yugoslavia.htm|title= Håkans Aviation page – Yugoslavian Air Force use of the Hawker Fury during the Second World War|access-date=2007-06-28 }}</ref> On 6 April 1941, a squadron of Furies took off against the invading German [[Messerschmitt Bf 109]]Es and [[Messerschmitt Bf 110]]s. In the resulting air battle 10 Furies were destroyed, almost the entire squadron. The commanding officer of the 36 LG was [[Major (rank)|Major]] [[Franjo Džal]], who watched from the ground as his men were slaughtered in their obsolete biplanes. In an unequal battle against superior adversaries, five aircraft were destroyed while taking off and eight pilots killed. Two more Furies and [[Bücker Bü 131]] were destroyed on the ground. Of the attacking German aircraft, five Bf 109s and two Bf 110s failed to return, though most were non-combat losses, at least one was lost when rammed by a Fury. The other squadron of Yugoslav Furies active at the time of the invasion strafed enemy tanks and ground forces,<ref name="Smith" /> some being lost to ground fire and one being destroyed in a dogfight with a [[Fiat CR.42]]. The rest of the Yugoslav Furies were destroyed when they became unserviceable or at the time of Armistice on 15 April.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Winchester |first=Jim |title=Fighter: The Worlds finest Combat Aircraft–1914 to Present |publisher=Parragon |year=2004 |isbn=1-4054-3842-8}}</ref> Ex-RAF Furies were also used by the [[South African Air Force]] against the Italian forces in East Africa in 1940 and despite their obsolescence, destroyed two Caproni bombers as well as strafing many airfields, destroying fighters and bombers on the ground.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/fury_southafrica.htm|title= Håkans Aviation page – South African Air Force use of the Hawker Fury during the Second World War|access-date=2007-06-28 }}</ref> A total of 262 Furies were produced, of which 22 served in [[Persia]], three in [[Portugal]], at least 30 in [[South Africa]], three in Spain, at least 30 in [[Yugoslavia]] and the remainder in the [[United Kingdom]].{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}

==Variants==
{{More citations needed section|date=January 2021}}
[[File:Hawker hornet(1929).jpg|thumb|Hawker Hornet (Fury prototype)]]
;Hawker Hornet
:Single-seat fighter prototype. Powered by a Rolls-Royce F.XIA and later by a {{cvt|480|hp}} F.XIS. Only one was built. This aircraft was slightly smaller and lighter than the Fury and considered by Hawker as a separate type.{{Citation needed|date=August 2008}}
;Fury Mk I
:Single-seat fighter version, powered by a {{cvt|525|hp}} Rolls-Royce Kestrel IIs piston engine.
;Fury Series 1A
:Single-seat fighter for Yugoslavia, similar to Fury Mk I and powered by Kestrel IIS piston engine. Six built by Hawker. One was delivered fitted with a {{cvt|500|hp}} Hispano-Suiza 12 NB engine, with poorer performance, and was re-fitted with a Kestrel,<ref name="Mason Hawker p196-7">Mason 1991, pp. 196–197.</ref><ref name="Barrier p10-1">Green and Swanborough 1977, pp. 10–11.</ref> while a second was later used for trials with a {{cvt|720|hp}} Lorraine Petrel HFrs engine.<ref name="Mason Hawker p205">Mason 1991, p.205.</ref>
;Intermediate Fury
:Test and trials aircraft, used as a prototype; one built, British civil registration G-ABSE.
;High Speed Fury
:Private venture. Single-seat high-speed trials and test aircraft, used as a prototype, which was developed into the Fury Mk II; one built.
;Fury Mk II
:Single-seat fighter version, powered by a {{cvt|640|hp}} Rolls-Royce Kestrel VI piston engine.<ref name="Mason Hawker p207">Mason 1991, p.207.</ref> First flight 3 December 1936.<ref name=fc/> Total 112 built.<ref name=fc/>
;Yugoslav Fury
:Revised single-seat fighter for Yugoslavia, powered by {{cvt|745|hp}} Kestrel XVI piston engine, and fitted with low drag radiator and [[Dowty Group|Dowty]] cantilever undercarriage with internally sprung wheels. Provision for an additional two machine guns under wing. Ten made by Hawker delivered 1936–37,<ref name="Mason Hawker p205-6">Mason 1991, pp. 205–206.</ref> with a further 40 licence built in Yugoslavia by [[Ikarbus|Ikarus]] (24) and [[Zmaj aircraft|Zmaj]] (16).<ref name="Barrier p12-3">Green and Swanborough 1977, pp. 12–13.</ref>
;Persian Fury
:Single-seat fighter for Persia (now Iran). 16 aircraft powered by a Pratt & Whitney Hornet S2B1g radial piston engine, driving a three-bladed propeller, ordered in January 1933.<ref name="Mason Hawker p199">Mason 1991, p.199.</ref> A further six aircraft powered by a {{cvt|550|hp}} Bristol Mercury VISP radial piston engine, fitted with a two-bladed propeller, ordered in May 1934, with several Hornet powered Furys re-engined.<ref name="Mason Hawker p509">Mason 1991, p.509.</ref>
;Norwegian Fury
:One trial aircraft, fitted with a {{cvt|530|hp}} Armstrong-Siddeley Panther IIIA radial piston engine; one built for Norway.
;Portuguese Fury
:Modified version of the Fury Mk.I, three aircraft fitted with a Rolls-Royce Kestrel II piston engine; three built for Portugal.
;Spanish Fury
:Improved version of the Fury Mk.I, three aircraft fitted with a {{cvt|700|hp}} Hispano-Suiza 12Xbrs engine; three built for Spain.

==Surviving aircraft==
{{More citations needed section|date=January 2021}}

===Airworthy===
[[File:HawkerFury43sqn.jpg|thumb|43 Squadron Hawker Fury]]
A Hawker Fury Mk.I, serial number ''K5674'', is owned by the [[Historical Aircraft Collection]] and based at the [[Imperial War Museum Duxford]] in the United Kingdom. This aircraft was delivered to the RAF in 1935 and allocated to 43 Squadron, where it was flown until 1939 by Flying Officer [[Frederick Rosier]], later to be Air Chief Marshal Sir Frederick Rosier.<ref name="Smith" /> In 1940, it was sent to South Africa where it was flown by 13 Squadron (later 43 Squadron) of the South African Air Force. It was written off after making a forced landing, due to running out of fuel.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.historicaircraftcollection.ltd.uk/fury.htm | title=Hawker Fury | publisher=The Historical Aircraft Collection Limited | access-date=2 August 2017 | archive-date=26 January 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126112317/http://www.historicaircraftcollection.ltd.uk/fury.htm | url-status=dead }}</ref> It was returned to the United Kingdom in 2003 and restored to flying condition, with the civil registration ''G-CBZP''. It made its first post-restoration flight in July 2012.

===On display===
A Hawker Fury Mk.I, serial number ''K1928'', is being restored at [[Little Gransden Airfield]] to static display by the Cambridge Bomber and Fighter Society.<ref>[http://www.cbfs.org.uk/ Cambridge Bomber and Fighter Society]</ref> The aircraft was part of the first production batch of 21 aircraft built in the 1930s and was flown by [[No. 43 Squadron RAF|No. 43 Squadron]]. A replica Hawker Fury, serial number ''K1930'', with an original Kestrel engine, is on display at the Military Aviation Museum of Virginia Beach, along with its successor, a Hawker Hurricane.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.silverhawkauthor.com/post/warplane-survivors-usa-virginia-virginia-beach-military-aviation-museum | title=Warplane Survivors USA: Virginia, Virginia Beach, Military Aviation Museum }}</ref>

==Operators==
;{{NOR}}
* [[Norwegian Army Air Service]] operated one aircraft only.

;{{flag|Iran|1925}}
* [[Imperial Iranian Air Force]]

;{{POR}}
* [[Portuguese Air Force|Aeronáutica Militar]]

;{{flag|South Africa|1928}}
* [[South African Air Force]]

;{{flag|Spain|1931}}
* [[Spanish Air Force]] (3 Furies made it to Spain, 1 was operated by the [[Aviación Nacional]]/[[Spanish Republican Air Force]])

;{{UK}}
* [[Royal Air Force]]<ref name="sil16 p15-6">Thetford ''Aeroplane Monthly'' January 1992, pp. 15–16.</ref>
** [[No. 1 Squadron RAF]] – February 1932 to November 1938.
** [[No. 25 Squadron RAF]] – February 1932 to October 1937.
** [[No. 41 Squadron RAF]] – October 1937 to January 1939.
** [[No. 43 Squadron RAF]] – May 1931 to January 1939.
** [[No. 73 Squadron RAF]] – March 1937 to July 1937.
** [[No. 87 Squadron RAF]] – March 1937 to June 1937.

;{{flagcountry|Kingdom of Yugoslavia}}
* [[Royal Yugoslav Air Force]] imported 13 Furies, and built 40 under licence at the Zmaj (16) and Ikarus (24) factories. At the opening of the April 1941 [[Invasion of Yugoslavia]], 25 Furies were operational:<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.paluba.info/smf/index.php/topic,12797.0.html|title = Hawker Fury Mk II Yu - Page}}</ref>
* 35th Fighter group – [[Kosančić, Bojnik|Kosančić]]/[[Leskovac]]
** 109 Fighter squadron – 6 Furies
** 110 Fighter squadron – 5 Furies
* 36th Fighter group – Režanovačka Kosa
** 111 Fighter squadron – 7 Furies
** 112 Fighter squadron – 7 Furies

==Specifications (Hawker Fury Mk II)==
{{Aircraft specs
|ref= The British Fighter since 1912<ref name="Mason fighter p217">Mason 2002, p.217.</ref>
|prime units?=imp
<!--
        General characteristics
-->
|genhide=

|crew=1
|length ft=26
|length in=9
|span ft=30
|span in=0
|height ft=10
|height in=2
|wing area sqft=252
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=<!-- sailplanes -->
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=
|empty weight lb=2734
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=
|max takeoff weight lb=3609
|gross weight note=
|fuel capacity=
|more general=
<!--
        Powerplant
-->
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=[[Rolls-Royce Kestrel]] IV
|eng1 type=liquid-cooled [[V12 engine]]
|eng1 kw=<!-- prop engines -->
|eng1 hp=640<!-- prop engines -->

|prop blade number=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop name=
|prop dia m=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia ft=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia in=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop note=
<!--
        Performance
-->
|perfhide=

|max speed kmh=
|max speed mph=223
|max speed kts=
|max speed note=at {{convert|16500|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|cruise speed kmh=<!-- if max speed unknown -->
|cruise speed mph=<!-- if max speed unknown -->
|cruise speed kts=
|range km=
|range miles=270
|range nmi=
|endurance=<!-- if range unknown -->
|ceiling m=
|ceiling ft=29500
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate ftmin=
|time to altitude=3 min 50 s to {{convert|10000|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|more performance=
<!--
        Armament
-->

|guns= 2 × 0.303 in (7.7 mm) [[Vickers machine gun|Vickers Mk IV machine guns]] with 600 rpg
|bombs=
|rockets=
|missiles=
|hardpoints=
|hardpoint capacity=
|hardpoint rockets=
|hardpoint missiles=
|hardpoint bombs=
|hardpoint other=

|avionics=
}}

==See also==
{{Aircontent|
|related=
* [[Hawker Hart]]
|similar aircraft=
* [[Avia B-534]]
* [[Blériot-SPAD S.510]]
* [[Fiat CR.32]]
* [[Kawasaki Ki-10]]
* [[Arado Ar 68]]
|sequence=
|see also=
* [[Isaacs Fury]]
|lists=
* [[List of aircraft of the RAF]]
* [[List of aircraft of the Spanish Republican Air Force]]
}}

==References==

===Citations===
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
* Aballe, R. and Sales, J. M. ''Hawker Fury (Pt. 1)''. Valladolid: Quirón, 2005. {{ISBN|84-96016-41-2}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Andersson|first1=Lennart|title=Histoire de l'aéronautique persane, 1921–1941: La première aviation du Chah d'Iran |journal=Avions: Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire |date=July 1998 |issue=76 |pages=2–12 |trans-title=History of the Persian Air Force, 1921–1941: The First Aircraft of the Shah of Iran |language=French |issn=1243-8650}}
* Bowyer, Chaz. ''The Encyclopedia of British Military Aircraft''. London: Bison Books Ltd. {{ISBN|0-86124-258-0}}.
* Crawford, Alex. ''Hawker Fury & Nimrod''. Sandomierz, Poland/Redbourn, UK: Mushroom Model Publications, 2007. {{ISBN|978-83-89450-41-8}}.
* "El Fury Español". ''[[Air International]]'', June 1980, Vol 18 No 6. Bromley, UK:Fine Scroll. ISSN 0306-5634. pp.&nbsp;285–289, 305.
* Goulding, James and Jones, Robert. ''"Gladiator, Gauntlet, Fury, Demon" Camouflage & Markings: RAF Fighter Command Northern Europe, 1936 to 1945''. London: Ducimus Books Ltd., 1971.
* {{Cite book |author=Goulding, James|title=Interceptor – RAF Single Seat Multi-Gun Fighters|publisher=Ian Allan Ltd |location=Shepperton, Surrey|year=1986|isbn= 0-7110-1583-X}}.
* Green, William and Swanborough, Gordon. "Barrier-Breaking Fury". ''[[Air Enthusiast Quarterly]]''. Number Three, 1977. pp.&nbsp;1–17. {{ISSN|0143-5450}}
* Hannah, Donald. ''Hawker FlyPast Reference Library''. Stamford, Lincolnshire, UK: Key Publishing Ltd., 1982. {{ISBN|0-946219-01-X}}.
* James, Derek N. ''Hawker, an Aircraft Album No. 5''. New York: Arco Publishing Company, 1973. {{ISBN|0-668-02699-5}}. (First published in the UK by Ian Allan in 1972.)
* {{cite book |title= Short History of Aviation in Serbia|last= Janić |first= Čedomir |author2= O. Petrović |year=2011|publisher= Aerokomunikacije|location= Beograd|isbn=978-86-913973-2-6}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Jarret |first1=Philip |title=The Hornet Dilemma: The Final Fate of the Hawker Fury Prototype|journal=The Aviation Historian |date=April 2017 |issue=19 |pages=74–80 |issn=2051-1930}}
*  Mason, Francis K. ''Hawker Aircraft since 1920'' (Putnam, 1961)
* Mason, Francis K. ''Hawker Aircraft since 1920''. London: Putnam, 1991. {{ISBN|0-85177-839-9}}.
* {{Cite book|author=Mason, Francis K|title=The British Fighter since 1912|publisher=Naval Institute Press|year=1992|isbn= 1-55750-082-7}}
* {{cite book|last=Mason|first=Francis K.|title=The Hawker Fury|publisher=Profile Publications|date=1965}}
* {{Cite book|author=Mondey, David|title=The Hamlyn Concise Guide to British Aircraft of World War II|publisher=Aerospace Publishing|year=1994|isbn= 1-85152-668-4}}
* {{cite book |last1=Ognjevic |first1=Aleksandar |title=Hawker Hurricane, Fury & Hind: The Yugoslav Story: Operational Record 1931–1941 |date=2019 |publisher=LeadenSky Books |location=Belgrade |isbn=978-86-917625-3-7}}
* Spooner, Nigel (2024). ''A History of Aviation at Brooklands in 100 Objects''. Barnsley, England: Pen & Sword Airworld. {{ISBN|978-1-5267-9091-0}}
* Thetford, Owen. "On Silver Wings — Part 16". ''[[Aeroplane Monthly]]'', January 1992, Vol 20 No 1. pp.&nbsp;10–16. ISSN 0143-7240.
* Weale, Elke C.; Weale, John A. and Barker, Richard F. ''Combat Aircraft of World War Two''. Lionel Leventhal {{ISBN|0-946495-43-2}}.

==External links==
* {{commons category-inline|Hawker Fury}}

{{Hawker Aircraft aircraft}}
{{Spanish fighters}}

{{Authority control}}

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