Seafire (1942-54)

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In the early years of the war naval fighters like the Fulmar traded performance for ruggedness and were no match for their land-based equivalents. After successful use of the Hurricane at sea the decision was taken to convert the Spitfire for naval use. The first tests were carried out late in 1941 with a converted Spitfire Mk VB as a result of which the decision was taken to introduce the type to naval service.

Seafire Mk III showing wingfold

Mark IB The Type 340 was a Spitfire Mk V conversion with four .303in machine guns and two 20mm Hispano cannon. Some of the 166 conversions had clipped wings.

Service (post 1945) Training 748

Seafire Mk IBs of 736 NAS, NX890 nearest

Mark IIC The Type 357 was similar to the Mark IB except that it was built as such from scratch and employed the C type wing generally fitted with four 20mm cannon. The variant was also equipped to carry one 250lb bomb. Some were fitted with the Merlin 32 with a four-bladed propellor for low-altitude tasks.

Service (post 1945) Training 748, 768

Mk IIC MB156 of 885 NAS

Mark III The Type 358 had no RAF equivalent. Like the Mk II it had four 20mm cannon in a C type wing and the bomb load was increased to two 250lb or one 500lb bombs. However, manual wing folding was employed for the first time in the Seafire and over 1,000 were built.

Service (post 1945) Fighter 887, 894, 1832 Training 736, 757, 759, 760, 761, 768, 794, 799 Trials 700

Clipped-wing Mk III landing on HMS Furious

Mark XV The Type 377 Mk XV was the next variant number applied as Seafire variants were now given mark numbers interspersed with those applied to contemporary Spitfire variants. The Mk XV was the first Seafire to be fitted with the Griffon engine, but it appeared too late to see war service. It was essentailly a navalised Spitfire XII with a folding strengthened C wing with fuel tanks. Protoype was NS487 and 392 were delivered; the Mk XV entered service with 892 NAS in May 1945.

Service (post 1945) Fighter 800, 801, 802, 803, 804, 805, 806, 883, 1831, 1832, 1833 Training 706, 709, 718, 736, 737, 759, 761, 766, 767, 768, 780, 790, 799 Communications 701, 781 Utility 721, 728, 733, 751, 771, 773, 791 Trials 700, 787

RCN Mk XV PR434/AA-J of 883 NAS

Mark XVII The Type 395 was a refined Mk XV with a clear view canopy and an extra 33 gals of fuel in the rear fuselage. The prototype (NS493) was the third Mk XV; 232 were produced and the variant was the last Seafire type to remain in naval service (764 NAS to November 1954).

Service Fighter 800, 802, 803, 805, 807, 809, 879, 883, 887, 1831, 1832, 1833 Training 727, 736, 737, 738, 759, 761, 764, 766, 799 Utility 728 Communications 781, 782 Trials 703, 746, 777, 778, 787

SX311/167BR of 1833 NAS taking off from a fleet carrier

FR Mark 17 The Type 395 FR version comprised a limited number of Mk XVII variants fitted with two F.24 cameras (1 vertical and 1 oblique) in place of the extra fuel tank. They were allocated to most of the units using the basic Mk XVII model.

F Mark 45 The Type 474 Mk 45 was a naval version of the RAF's Spitfire Mk 21 built to a new specification, N.7/44. The high mark number reflected a change in the system whereby naval variants were given a new potential range. The protoype, TM379, was a converted Mk 21 with a Griffon driving five or six-bladed (contra-rotating) airscrews. Armament comprised four 20mm cannon and provision for one 250lb or 500lb bomb. With no provision for wing folding the type did not enter front-line service.

Service Training 709, 780 Utility 771 Trials 700, 703, 778, 787

Prototype F Mk 45 TM379

F Mark 46 The Type 474 Mk 46 was equivalent to the Spitfire Mk 22 with a bubble hood and 24 volt electrical system. The prototype was TM383, originally a Mk 45, and just 24 were built.

Service Fighter 1832 Training 736, 737, 738, 767 Communications 781 Utility 771 Trials 778, 787

Seafire F Mk 46 LA5661/104CH of 1832 NAS

FR Mark 46 The Type 474 FR variant was the designation applied to a handful of the Mk 47 fitted with a single F.24 camera.

Service included Fighter 1832

F Mark 47 The Type 388/474 was the final Seafire variant, being a navalised version of the Spitfire Mk 24 with wing-folding, a six-blade airscrew and additional fuel. The Mk 47 served in Malaya and Korea.

Service Fighter 800, 804, 1832, 1833 Training 759 Trials 778, 787; ETPS

FR Mark 47 The Type 388/474 FR model was fitted with a single F.24 camera and most of the 90 Mk 47s were either built or converted to this standard.

Service included Fighter 800, 804, 1832

FR Mk 47 VP447

Specification and production

Mark	Role	Engine	HP	Weight lbs	Speed mph	Numbers
I	Fighter	Merlin 45/46	1,470/1417	6,700	365	166*
II	Fighter	Merlin 45/46	1,470/1417	7,000	333	402
III	Fighter	Merlin 55	1,470	7,100	352	1,220
XV	Fighter/FR	Griffon VI	1,815	8,000	392	384
XVII	Fighter/FR	Griffon VI	1,815	8,100	392	232
F45	Fighter/FR	Griffon 61/85	2035	9,500	446	50
F46	Fighter/FR	Griffon 61/64	2035	9,900	446	24
F47	Fighter/FR	Griffon 87/88	2145/2350	10,200	451	90

Notes * Spitfire V conversions

Further reading

Bachelor, L Supermarine Seafire (Merlins) Profile 221 Profile Publications, Windsor, 1971

Morgan, E B and Shacklady E Spitfire - The History Guild Publishing, London, 1987

Robertson, B Spitfire - The Story of a Famous Fighter Harleyford Publications, Letchworth, 1960