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Supermarine 358 Seafire LF.IIIc Aircraft Data
As early as 1938 the Admiralty had considered the use of the Spitfire for carrier operations, but it was not until March 1942, that the first Seafire Ib (BL676, a converted Spitfire Vb) took to the air. The first Seafire Ib reached squadron service in June 1942.
The Seafire II was based on the Spitfire Vc airframe. The first unit equipped with the Seafire II, 807 Squadron, reached operational status in May 1943.
The Mk.III was the first Seafire with folding wings. It had been intended to arm the Seafire III with four cannon, but their weight proved too great in combination with the folding wing, even when production Seafire IIIs were equipped with the lighter Hispano Mk.V cannon.
In total 1,220 Seafire IIIs were produced by Westland and Cunliffe-Owen (Southampton), comprising Seafire III, LF.III and FR.III (PR.III) aircraft.
This photo-reconnaissance version had one vertical and one oblique F.24 camera installed. The last 129 airframes produced by Cunliffe-Owen were recce Seafires.
The Seafire II was based on the Spitfire Vc airframe. The first unit equipped with the Seafire II, 807 Squadron, reached operational status in May 1943.
The Mk.III was the first Seafire with folding wings. It had been intended to arm the Seafire III with four cannon, but their weight proved too great in combination with the folding wing, even when production Seafire IIIs were equipped with the lighter Hispano Mk.V cannon.
In total 1,220 Seafire IIIs were produced by Westland and Cunliffe-Owen (Southampton), comprising Seafire III, LF.III and FR.III (PR.III) aircraft.
This photo-reconnaissance version had one vertical and one oblique F.24 camera installed. The last 129 airframes produced by Cunliffe-Owen were recce Seafires.
- Country of Origin: United Kingdom
- First Flight: 9 November 1942
- Initial Service Date:
- No. Built: 1,220
- No. In Service: 0 (approx.)
- No. of Hardpoints: 0
- Crew: 1
Power:
Rolls Royce Merlin 55M at 1,585 hp
Weapons:
Four .303 (7.7mm) Colt Browning machine guns with 350 rounds per gun and two 20mm Hispano cannon (120 rounds per cannon).
The Seafire III wing was adapted to carry four 25lb or 60lb 3-inch rockets.
Also the wing could accommodate two 250lb GP bombs and a 500lb bomb on a centreline rack.
The Seafire III wing was adapted to carry four 25lb or 60lb 3-inch rockets.
Also the wing could accommodate two 250lb GP bombs and a 500lb bomb on a centreline rack.
Dimensions:
| Length: | 29.11 in. |
| Wing Span: | 36.10 in. |
| Wing Area: | 242 sq.ft |
| Height: | 11.5 in. |
| Internal Fuel: | 632.90 lbs |
Performance:
| Max. Speed: | 352 mph |
| Service Ceiling: | 32,000 ft. |
| Normal Range: | 395 nm |
| Max. Range: | 493 nm |
Operators:
FranceIn February 1946 48 former FAA Seafire IIIs were transferred to the French Aéronavale.
Ireland
In 1947 the Irish Air Corps took delivery of twelve Seafire IIIs. As these were intended for land-based operations only, all naval items, including the arrester hook, were removed. Serialled 146 to 157, the Seafires were based at Baldonnel.
United Kingdom
Random great photos of the Supermarine 358 Seafire LF.IIIc:
