Warplanes of the UK: Supermarine Seafire

Supermarine Seafire

(IWM Photo, A 14249)

Supermarine Seafire Mk. IIc, No. 885 Naval Air Squadron warming up on the flight deck of HMS Formidable,in the Mediterranean, 1 December 1942.

The Supermarine Seafire is a naval version of the Supermarine Spitfire adapted for operation from aircraft carriers. It was analogous in concept to the Hawker Sea Hurricane, a navalised version of the Spitfire's stablemate, the Hawker Hurricane. The name Seafire was derived from the abbreviation of the longer name Sea Spitfire.

The idea of adopting a navalised carrier-capable version of the Supermarine Spitfire had been mooted by the Admiralty as early as May 1938. Despite a pressing need to replace various types of obsolete aircraft that were still in operation with the Fleet Air Arm (FAA), some opposed the notion, such as Winston Churchill, although these disputes were often a result of an overriding priority being placed on maximising production of land-based Spitfires instead. During 1941 and early 1942, the concept was again pushed for by the Admiralty, culminating in an initial batch of Seafire Mk Ib fighters being provided in late 1941, which were mainly used for pilots to gain experience operating the type at sea. While there were concerns over the low strength of its undercarriage, which had not been strengthened like many naval aircraft would have been, its performance was found to be acceptable.

From 1942 onwards, further Seafire models were quickly ordered, including the first operationally-viable Seafire F Mk III variant. This led to the type rapidly spreading throughout the FAA. In November 1942, the first combat use of the Seafire occurred during Operation Torch, the Allied landings in North Africa. In July 1943, the Seafire was used to provide air cover for the Allied invasion of Sicily; and reprised this role in September 1943 during the subsequent Allied invasion of Italy. During 1944, the type was again used in quantity to provide aerial support to Allied ground forces during the Normandy landings and Operation Dragoon in Southern France. During the latter half of 1944, the Seafire became a part of the aerial component of the British Pacific Fleet, where it quickly proved to be a capable interceptor against the feared kamikaze attacks by Japanese pilots which had become increasingly common during the final years of the Pacific War.

The Seafire continued to be used for some time after the end of the war. The FAA opted to promptly withdraw all of its Merlin-powered Seafires and replace them with Griffon-powered counterparts. The type saw further active combat use during the Korean War, in which FAA Seafires performed hundreds of missions in the ground attack and combat air patrol roles against North Korean forces during 1950. The Seafire was withdrawn from service during the 1950s. In FAA service, the type had been replaced by the newer Hawker Sea Fury, the last piston engine fighter to be used by the service, along with the first generation of jet-propelled naval fighters, such as the de Havilland Vampire, Supermarine Attacker, and Hawker Sea Hawk. (Wikipedia)

(IWM Photo, A 25076)

Supermarine Seafire being brought up on a lift to the flight deck of HMS Furious in 1944.

(DND Photo via James Craik)

Royal Navy Supermarine Seafire Mk. XVII, (Serial No. SW9--), coded LM, 127,  No. 767 Squadron, RNAS Lossiemouth, UK. This fighter used the more powerful Griffon VI engine and carried two 20-mm Hispano cannon as well as four machine guns. The Canadair CL-13 Sabres and an RCAF North Star in the background were en route to Europe with this stopover in the UK. The photo was taken by F/O Paul Stamison, a pilot with No. 444 Squadron at the RN station mentioned while on a refueling stop during Leapfrog IV, 24 August to 4 September 1953.

(DND Photo via James Craik)

Royal Navy Supermarine Seafire Mk. XVII (Serial No. SP344), coded 131, No. 767 Squadron, RNAS Lossiemouth, UK. The F.XVII was the first of the Seafire variants to feature a cut down rear fuselage and distinctive tear drop style canopy, distinguishing it from previous marks of Seafire. Due to reinforcements in the wings, a heavier weapons load was also able to be carried, with both fuel tanks and rockets becoming an option for under the wings. Flying on frontline duties until the early 1950s, it was then relegated to training roles.

(RN Photo)

Flight deck hands about to free the arrester wire from a Supermarine Seafire which has just landed on HMS Illustrious in the Clyde. It is carrying a distinctive conformal "slipper" drop tank.

(Alan Wilson Photos)

(Tim Felce Photo)

Supermarine Seafire (Serial No. PP972), in the colours of No. 880 Squadron, Royal Navy, when it based on HMS Implacable. Reg. No. G-BUAR.

(Adrian Pingstone Photo)

Supermarine Seafire F Mk, XVII (Serial No. SX336), Reg. No. G-KASX, taxis at the Cotswold Air Show, 2010.

(Kogo Photo)

Supermarine Seafire F Mk, XVII (Serial No. SX336). Reg. No. G-KASX.

(Tim Felce Photos)

Supermarine Seafire F Mk, XVII (Serial No. SX336). Reg. No. G-KASX.

(Alan Wilson Photos)

Supermarine Seafire (Serial No. SX137), Fleet Air Arm Museum, Yeovilton, UK. c/n WASE1 5325 Built 1945 at Yeovil. Saw active Royal Navy service until 1954 then flown to Yeovilton and struck off charge in 1955. Allocated for display use in 1958 and airworthy until 1960. Became part of the FAA museum but has also made appearances at the 1962 Royal Tournament and at Lee-on-Solent in 1994 for the D-Day 50th anniversary commemorations. Seen on display in Hall 2 of the Fleet Air Arm Museum RNAS Yeovilton, Somerset, UK. 30th June 2019

(Dave Millar Photos)

Supermarine Seafire (Serial No. PR503), at the 2010 Oshkosh Air Show.

(RCN Photo via James Craik)

Supermarine Seafire Mk. XV, RCN (Serial No. SR530), coded AAK. Toronto, Ontario, 1949.

(Photo courtesy of Lee Walsh)

Supermarine Seafire Mk. XV, No. 803 Squadron, Aug 1946.  Bob Falls demonstration aircraft. Note the 803 Squadron crest on the starboard side.  On the port side, the team had pin-up girls painted on the cockpit door.

Royal Canadian Navy Supermarine Seafire Mk. XVs operated from ex-Royal Navy aircraft carriers following the end of the Second World War. Canada's Seafire Mk. XVs were flown from HMCS Magnificent and HMCS Warrior before being replaced by Hawker Sea Furies in 1948. No. 803 and No. 883 Naval Air Squadrons, 1946-1948.