(22k b/w photo from "Sowjetische Jagdflugzeuge") Hurricane Mk.IID, an anti-tank aircraft with two 40mm cannon.

By the end of 1941 the Hurricane was definitely outmoded as a fighter, but the basic construction proved versatile enough to be converted into an effective ground-attack and anti-tank machine. For this purpose the Mk.IID was developed (first flown on September 18, 1941) and armed with two 40mm cannon in gondolas under the wings. Two 7.7mm guns in the wings were retained for aiming purposes. The first few examples had Rolls-Royce B.F. ("B.F." means "belt-fed") cannon with 12 rounds per gun, but standard became the Vickers 'S' with 15 rounds of ammunition. With the exception of one RAF squadron, which used this type for a short time in Europe all Hurricane IIDs served in North Africa (from 1942 on) and proved very effective against German tanks. In fact this type was the most accurate anti-tank aircraft of the RAF during World War II. The first few machines were unarmored (to save weight), but since they were very vulnerable to defensive fire, 175kg of armor plates had to be added to protect pilot, radiator and engine. But this additional weight considerably reduced the performance. The Mk.IID was the last Hurricane variant with a Merlin XX engine. A small number of them was delivered to Russia in summer 1943.

The Mk.IID had proven the worth of the Hurricane as a ground-attack aircraft, but it was obvious, that more power and different armament options would be required in future. This led in 1943 to the appearance of the Mk.IV (the first 270 machines of this variant were originally designated as Mk.IIE) with the Merlin 24 or 27 engine rated at 1,620hp. Additionally this type received a new so-called "universal" wing, which could accommodate a wide range of external stores like drop tanks, bombs, rocket projectiles (most common ordnance) or 40mm cannon while retaining the two 7.7mm sighting guns. In addition to the Mk.IIEs 524 Mk.IVs were delivered and 30 of them found their way to Russia in 1944.

(21k b/w photo from "War Planes of the Second World War - Fighters Vol. 2") Early Hurricane Mk.IV armed with full load of eight 27kg rocket projectiles.