Supermarine Seafang

The Supermarine Seafang was a British, a Rolls -Royce Griffon powered fighter aircraft manufactured by Supermarine according to the specification N.5/45 of the Air Ministry. Towards the end of World War II the advanced Supermarine Spiteful and Seafang were referred to by the historian Dr. Albert Price as "a Spitfire carried too far ."

Development

The model 383 Seafang was essentially a reworked as a carrier aircraft for the Royal Navy Supermarine Spiteful, where a tail hook for carrier landings and two counter-rotating propellers have been installed. The counter-rotating propellers should eliminate the occurring with only one propeller large torque ( rolling motion ). The F32 Mark had folding wings, increased fuel capacity and a Griffon 89 engine with 2,350 hp, which drive the two counter-rotating three-bladed propeller. Two of these types have been completed, the VB893 and VB895. To date, no documents have been disclosed which can confirm a first flight before the end of hostilities.

Testing and evaluation

The first ( finished ) Flight of a Seafang took place in 1946. Series production of this type of aircraft was never recorded. A total of 18 prototypes and test samples were manufactured, although not all were completed and flown. The Seafang FR 32, VB895 was recognized by the test pilot Mike Lithgow flown in May 1947 for test landings on the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious. Compared to Seafire Mk47 the increase in flight performance was not deemed sufficient to prevent a series of production for the needs of the marine adapted, jet-propelled Gloster Meteor and de Havilland Vampire. Also the slow flight characteristics of Seafang did not meet the expectations, and therefore the same time developed Hawker Sea Fury was selected as the Navy aircraft for the fleet.

During the flight tests a Seafang should be flown at a speed of 794 km / h. If this statement were true, the Seafang would be the fastest piston engine aircraft ever built in the United Kingdom. Another feature of the Seafang was that the wings for later, jet-powered Supermarine Attacker were used.

Series

  • Seafang F.Mk 31-10 were built, completed 9 Engine: Rolls- Royce Griffon 61, 2035 PS; Five-blade constant speed propeller
  • Seafang F.Mk 32-8 were built, completed 2 Engine: Rolls- Royce Griffon 89, 2350 PS; two counter-rotating three-bladed propeller folding wings increased fuel capacity.

Specifications

Supermarine Seafang

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 10:39 m
  • Folded 10.67 m ( 8:23 m) Wingspan
  • Height: 3.82 m
  • Wing area: 19.5 m²
  • Empty weight: 3636 kg
  • Empty weight: 4750 kg
  • Engine: Rolls- Royce Griffon 89
  • Type: water-cooled, turbocharged 12-cylinder V-engine
  • Quantity: 1
  • Power: 2,350 hp
  • Maximum speed: 765 km / h
  • Range: 633 km
  • Service ceiling: 12,500 m
  • Rate of climb: 23.5 m / s
  • Armament: 4 x 20 mm Hispano Mk V cannons machines, devices for 2 x 454 kg bombs or four 60 pound rocket
Rolls-Royce Griffon HMS Illustrious (87) Supermarine S.4 Supermarine S.5 Supermarine S.6 Supermarine S.6B Supermarine Scapa Supermarine Scimitar Supermarine Sea Otter Supermarine Seagull (1921) Supermarine Seagull (1948) Supermarine Southampton Supermarine Spitfire Supermarine Stranraer Supermarine Swift Supermarine Walrus
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