Time Period: World War II (WW2)
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Type: Fighter Aircraft (Carrier-Based)
Manufacturer: Supermarine
Supermarine Seafire Aircraft Overview
The Supermarine Seafire was a naval version of the iconic British fighter aircraft, the Supermarine Spitfire. It was developed by Supermarine in the late 1930s and was specifically designed for use on aircraft carriers by the Royal Navy.
The Seafire was a single-engine, single-seat fighter, and was used primarily in the fighter-bomber role. It was powered by a Rolls-Royce Merlin engine and was armed with two 20 mm cannon and four .303 machine guns. It was also capable of carrying a variety of bombs and rockets for use in ground attack missions.
The Seafire saw extensive service during World War II, and was used in several key naval operations, including the Battle of Malta, the Normandy landings, and the Pacific theater. It was also used in the Korean War in the early 1950s.
Over the course of its development and production, the Seafire underwent several upgrades and modifications, including changes to the engine and armament. The Seafire XV variant, for example, was powered by a Griffon engine and featured a four-bladed propeller, while the Seafire FR 47 had a more powerful engine and improved radar equipment.
Today, a small number of Seafires are preserved in museums and private collections around the world, and the aircraft remains a popular subject for aviation enthusiasts and model builders.
Supermarine Seafire F Mk III Specifications
- Crew: 1
- Length: 30 ft 2.5 in (9.208 m)
- Wingspan: 36 ft 10 in (11.23 m)
- Height: 11 ft 5.5 in (3.493 m) tail down with propeller blade vertical
- Wing area: 242 sq ft (22.5 m2)
- Airfoil: root: NACA 2213; tip: NACA 2209.4
- Empty weight: 5,317 lb (2,412 kg)
- Gross weight: 7,232 lb (3,280 kg)
- Fuel capacity: Internal fuel + provision for 30 imp gal (36 US gal; 136 l), 45 imp gal (54 US gal; 205 l) or 90 imp gal (108 US gal; 409 l) belly drop-tanks.
- Powerplant: 1 × Rolls-Royce Merlin 55 (or 45, 46 and 50) V-12 liquid-cooled piston engine, 1,585 hp (1,182 kW)
- Propellers: 4-bladed constant-speed propeller.
Supermarine Seafire F Mk III Performance
- Maximum speed: 359 mph (578 km/h, 312 kn) at 36,000 ft (10,973 m)
- Cruise speed: 272 mph (438 km/h, 236 kn)
- Range: 465 mi (748 km, 404 nmi) at cruising speed
- Service ceiling: 36,000 ft (11,000 m)
- Rate of climb: 3,250 ft/min (16.5 m/s)
- Time to altitude: 20,000 ft (6,096 m) in 8 minutes 6 seconds.
Supermarine Seafire F Mk III Armament
- Guns:
- two 20 mm (0.787 in) Hispano Mk II cannon.
- four 0.303 in (7.70 mm) Browning machine guns in wings.
- Rockets: 8 x 60 lb (27 kg) rockets
- Bombs: 2 x 250 lb (113 kg) bombs: one under each wing, or 1 x 500 lb (227 kg) bomb under fuselage.
Supermarine Seafire Image Gallery
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