The Gloster Gladiator (or Gloster SS.37) was a British-built biplane fighter designed by Henry Folland of the Gloster Aircraft Company. It was used by the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) (as the Sea Gladiator variant) and was exported to a number of other air forces during the late 1930s. It was the RAF's last biplane fighter aircraft and was rendered obsolete by newer monoplane designs even as it was being introduced. Though often pitted against more formidable foes during the early days of the Second World War, it acquitted itself reasonably well in combat.
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Development
The Gladiator was developed from the Gloster Gauntlet as a private venture by H.P. Folland's team at Gloster to meet Specification F.7/30. F.7/30 demanded a top speed of at least 250 mph (400 km/h) and an armament of four machine-guns, while encouraging the use of the new Rolls-Royce Goshawk evaporatively cooled in-line engine, which was used by most of the competitors for the specification. This engine proved, however to be unreliable, and Folland realised that the Gauntlet could be quickly revised to meet the specification. To reduce drag, the new fighter, the SS.37, had single-bay wings instead of the two-bay wings of the Gauntlet, and was fitted with a cantilever main undercarriage incorporating internally sprung wheels. The SS.37 first flew on 12 September 1934, powered by a 530 hp (395 kW) Bristol Mercury VIS radial engine, but was soon fitted with a more powerful engine, reaching 242 mph (390 km/h) while carrying the required four machine guns (two synchronised Vickers guns in the fuselage and two Lewis guns under the lower wing). On 3 April 1935, the Royal Air Force commenced operational evaluations, while Gloster planned a further improved version with an 830 hp (619 kW) Mercury IX and a fully enclosed cockpit. Three months later, a first order was placed for 23 aircraft to Specification F.14/35, with the aircraft named Gloster 'Gladiator', followed by an order of 180 in September. A modified Mk II, the Sea Gladiator, was developed for the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm (FAA), with an arrestor hook to be engaged when landing on an aircraft carrier, catapult points, a strengthened frame and an under-belly fairing for a dinghy lifeboat. Of the 98 aircraft built as, or converted to, Sea Gladiators, 54 were still in service by the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939.
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Operational use
The Gladiator first saw action in China and saw action in almost all theatres during the Second World War, with a large number of air forces, some of them on the Axis side. The RAF used it in France, Norway, Greece, the defence of Malta, and the brief Anglo-Iraqi War (in which the Royal Iraqi Air Force was similarly equipped). Other countries deploying the Gladiator included China against Japan, beginning in 1938; Finland (along with Swedish volunteers) against the Soviet Union in the Winter War and the Continuation War; and Norway, Belgium, and Greece resisting Axis invasion of their respective lands. It was used over France and Norway during 1940, and throughout the Mediterranean theatre up until 1943. It was outmatched by German aircraft over Europe but performed more creditably against Italian aircraft over Libya in 1940 and 1941.
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The Norwegian Campaign
Gladiators were used by the Norwegian Air Force(7 servicable planes) of the Norwegian Jagevingen and in April 1940, managed to shoot down five Luftwaffe aircraft for a loss of one, with two others being destroyed by strafing attacks while refueling. The remaining planes were relocated and left on a frozen lake where they became unservicable and abandoned. They were supported initially by 263 Squadron(RAF) which had arrived on HMS Glorious on the 24th of April. In less than a week, all the aircraft were unservicable and the squadron evacuated home. After re-equiping with replacement Gladiators, they returned to Norway on May 21st, reinforced by 46 Squadron, consisting of Hawker Hurricanes. After a number of operations and with the situation in France deteriorating, they were ordered home. By then, 263 Squadron had flown 249 sorties and claimed 26 enemy aircraft destroyed. 263 Squadron's 10 surviving Gladiators landed on HMS Glorious on 7 June. Glorious sailed for home but was intercepted by the German battlecrusiers KGM Gneisenau and KGM Scharnhorst. She was sunk along with the aircraft from all four squadrons and several destroyers.
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Malta
One of the best-known campaigns fought by Gladiators was the siege of Malta in 1940. The fighter force defending Malta was, for a period of 10 days, a small force of British-operated Gladiators. During the campaign, an evenly matched(though understaffed and requiring spares to be delivered) RAF fought against Regia Aeronautica(Italian Air Force), battled it out with biplanes of both sides fighting over Malta. With CR.42 and SM.79's on the Italian side and Gladiators on the British side the campaign seesawed till the arrival of the Luftwaffe early in 1941. By then all the Gladiators were unservicable and replacement Spitfires continually reinforced the island.
Africa: North and East
In North Africa, Gladiators had to face Italian Fiat CR.42 Falcos, the performance of which was slightly superior to that of the Gladiator at higher altitudes.The first aerial combat between the biplanes took place on 14 June 1940 over Amseat and a claim was made by Regia Aeronautia of a Gladiator kill. A month later 17 CR.42's clashed with 15 Gladiators over Bardia. 5 CR.42's were claimed lost.
In Eastern Africa the Gladiators faced the Italian biplane fighters. In November 1940 at the start of the Italian offensive, Fiat CR.32s and CR.42s were the only fighters available. In the initial clash between CR.42's and Gladiators of the South African Air Force(SAAF), 5 Gladiators were lost. Within 6 months of fighting and no reinforcements, in June 1941, the Regia Aeronautica had only two serviceable aircraft: a CR.32 and a CR.42, therefore the air superiority was finally archivied by Gladiators and the reinforcing Hurricanes. The Gladiator's last air combat with an Italian fighter was on 24 October 1941, with a CR.42, with the CR.42 strafing the RAF airfield at Dabat. In the ensuing combat, the CR.42 was shot down.
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Other Theatres
Gladiators also fought in Greece and started operations from November 1940, till the end of January 1941, which the RAF squadron was re-equiped with Hurricanes. A number of Italian aircraft were claimed in combat. Gladiators also operated in the Anglo-Iraqi War and in Syria, though these clashes were small in number. Overall, the few Gladiators and CR.42s that clashed had substantial parity, despite many Italians having gained combat experience over Spain. Firepower, agility and speed were not far different in any sense, even the engine was comparable; although the Italians had the initial advantage to have fought over Spain while RAF pilots did not, but this was not too important either, as RAF/RAAF pilots had better equipment, such as a radio in the cockpit, as well as a better supply line. From 1941, monoplanes like the Hurricane and the Macchi C.200 increasingly replaced biplanes in air combat, relegating them to secondary roles or ground attack.
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China
In October 1937, the Chinese Central Government ordered 36 Gladiator Is, which were delivered in two crated batches to Guangzhou via Hong Kong. They were fitted with American machine guns that the Chinese Nationalist Army used. In February 1938, these planes had been assembled into two squadrons and Chinese pilots were familiarised with them. The combat debut of the Gladiator came latter that month when they clashed with A5Ms over Nanking scoring their fist victory in a Gladiator. Up till 1940, Gladiators were used by 3 squadrons, but due to the arms embargo, causing a lack of spares, most were relegated to the training role.
The Finnish Winter War
During the Winter War, the Finnish Air Force (FAF) obtained thirty Mk II Gladiators from the Great Britain. Ten of the aircraft were donated while the other twenty were bought by the FAF; all were delivered between 18 January and 16 February 1940. The Finnish Air Force obtained 46 aerial victories by 22 pilots with the Gladiators during the war, although the Gladiator was obsolete and relegated to reconnaissance from 1941.
A total of 746 Gladiators were produced, including 98 Sea Gladiators designed for use from aircraft carriers. Gladiators were responsible for approximately 250 air combat victories during the war.
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Gloster 'Gladiator'
