The Fairey Swordfish was a 1930s British torpedo bomber in service with the Fleet Air Arm  of the Royal Navy during World War II  during World War II. It was built by the Fairey Aviation Company and was also called stringbag (net bag) by crews because it could carry a very diverse range of equipment, such as a messenger bag.

The aircraft was obsolete by 1939, but still achieved some notable results, including destroying the Regina Marina (Italian Navy) during the Battle of Tarente (1940) - the first naval battle fought exclusively with aircraft - and taking out the Bismarck (1941). It was used primarily as a fleet attack aircraft, but during the later years it was also used against submarines and for training. The Swordfish remained on the front lines in Europe until the end of the war.