The Hawker Tempest was a development of the Typhoon. Using an improved version of the Typhoon's Napier engine, and a larger but much thinner and more streamlined wing design, the Tempest proved to be faster and more maneuverable than the Typhoon in every regard. On the deck, the Tempest's performance was as good as a Mustang's or Focke-Wulf's. The Tempest was issued as a replacement aircraft for RAF squadrons engaged in ground attack missions with older model Spitfires. A strong airplane, the Tempest could take damage well and its hard hitting battery of four 20mm cannons put it on par with the Focke-Wulf for firepower. Tempests were initially deployed in the defense of England from German V-1 buzz bomb attacks. They were very successful in this mission, the five squadrons involved recording some 1,700 shootdowns of V-1s. One pilot personally destroyed 62. Several Tempests were lost when V-1s were destroyed at too close a range, the resultant blasts taking the Tempests with them. Interestingly, Tempests were often reported as being Thunderbolts in German combat records during the fierce low altitude battles that occurred in Germany in the final months of the war. Overall, the Tempest was highly regarded and a good fighter.
TACTICS: Fight at medium or low altitudes. You have impressive maneuver and top speed performance there, and can fight either close-in or with high-speed passes as it suits you.
STRENGTHS: Good maneuverability. Fast, especially at low altitude. Well armored, with impressive firepower.
