The twin-engined Westland Whirlwind entered service early in 1941. This unique aircraft had good performance below 20,000 feet, and though it only equipped two squadrons it was employed quite regularly on convoy patrols, low-altitude strafing attacks, and on the occasional escort mission. It could, and on several occasions did, hold its own against enemy fighters. During one strafing mission, four Whirlwinds tangled with twenty Messerschmitts, shooting down two for the loss of one Whirlwind.
