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Hurricane Mk. IIFighterHawker
Hawker Hurricane II: Designation change to signify introduction of two-speed, single-stage supercharged 1,390 hp Merlin XX, first flown (in a Mk I) on June 11, 1940. Production switched progressively as Merlin XXs became available, with deliveries to RAF beginning early September 1940. Hawker Hurricane HA retained same eight-gun wing as Mk I, with initial batch of Series 1 s having same fuselage and Series 2s having strengthened fuselage to accept modified wing with later armament options. About 12 Mk IIAs had lengthened nose (7 in/18 cm), but modification not adopted for production. Introducing a 'universal' wing, Hawker Hurricane IIB, starting late-1940, had 12 Browning 0.303 in (7.7 mm) machine guns, and Hawker Hurricane IIC (first flown February 6, 1941) had four 20 mm Hispano cannon. All Mk Us could have tropical filters for service in Middle and Far East, and could carry two 44 Imp gal (200-1) drop tanks, 88 Imp gal (400-1) ferry tanks, two 250 lb (113.5 kg) or (later aircraft) 500 Ib (227 kg) bombs. A Hawker Hurricane II armed with two 40 mm Vickers Type S cannon (and two Browning machine guns) first flew on September 18, 1941 and Hawker Hurricane IID entered production with this armament (or a few with Rolls-Royce BF cannorr). Some Hawker Hurricane IIBs and IICs carried six (later eight) 3 in (7.62 cm) rocket projectiles underwing, after tests starting February 1942. Designation Hawker Hurricane HE applied to aircraft wired to accept machine guns or cannon, and bombs, without the need to change wing sets.
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