Seafire Mk.III

The admiralty saw the potential of the Spitfire, and requested that a version be designed that could operate from its aircraft carriers. The request was granted and designs were made for a Sea Spitfire. As early as 1940, designs were being submitted based on the Spitfire MK I which would have an arrestor hook and folding wings so that it could be stored in aircraft carrier hangers below deck. But in 1940 there was a shortage of fighter aircraft during both the Battle of France and the Battle of Britain that the supply of Spitfire Mk I's to the RAF took precedence over the Admiralty's request, hence the supply of Spitfires to the Navy did not commence until early 1942. The first Spitfire to fly with an arrestor hook and folding wings did not take place until January 1942 when a modified MK Vb made tests with the Navy. A further conversion took place that provided the aircraft with catapult spools. The undercarriage was given additional strengthening and an A frame type of arrestor hook was incorporated.

It was not until about March 1942 that this naval version of the Spitfire was given the name of Seafire. The first conversion was known as the Seafire MK I and the second conversion was known as the Seafire MK II. The Royal Navy was supplied with 165 Seafire's during the early part of 1942 which were based on the Spitfire Vb.

In June 1942, 375 Seafire MK IIc's were supplied to the Royal Navy. These where basically Spitfire MK Vc's and given the same conversions as the MK II with the exception that the Merlin 32 engine drove a four bladed propeller which improved low altitude flying. In November of 1942 a Seafire MK IIc was altered so that the wings could be folded for storage on aircraft carriers, this was to be a prototype for the proposed MK III. Manufacture of the Seafire MK III was given to both the Westland Aircraft Company and Cunliffe-Own Ltd, which now also boasted a powerful 1,470 hp Merlin 55. 1,263 of these MK III's were made, all being used by Britain's Navy by June 1943. Many of these MK III's also had the Merlin 55M engines that had increased horsepower of 1,585.

GB Planes and Specifications