Following an initial evaluation using a handful of aircraft, the South African Air Force (SAAF) purchased a number of Battles; operated in the Western Desert and East Africa, SAAF Battles were used into early 1942 [REF].
As part of a study of potential alternative engines in the event of supply interruptions of the Merlin engine, which normally powered the type, be encountered, a single Canadian Battle, R7439, was re-engined by Fairchild Aircraft with a Wright R-1820 Cyclone radial engine.