Supermarine Seafire Mk.III "Last Fights Over The Pacific" - 1/48

Supermarine Seafire Mk.III "Last Fights Over The Pacific"

Weight 0.3669 kg
Origin british
Era Word War II
Scale 1/48

History

In the break of 1939 and 1940 Admiralty decided to order naval version of Spitfire that should feature folding wings. Supermarine type 338 Project was to be powered by Griffon engine and the wings should fold up along the fuselage.
The order for 50 aircraft was cancelled since Great Britain hardly needed every Spitfire Mk.I. Naval pilots finally received their Seafires (code name for the naval version of Spitfire) with folding wings much later. Royal Navy used both Seafires and Hooked Spitfires since the beginning of 1942 but all these aircraft had solid wing and therefore this feature limited their use aboard aircraft carriers. In spring 1942 begun the development of the folding wing mechanism by GAL Company together with Supermarine the test bed for the latter was chosen Seafire Mk.II of serial number MA970. It took off for the first time on November 9, 1943 with folding mechanism already installed. This wing with its folding mechanism was approved for series production. The aircraft with the latter were produced by WestIand and Cunliffe-Oven companies under designation Supermarine type 358 Seafire Mk.III. Initially, the production started with Seafire F. MKIII and subsequent versions were designated as LF. Mk.III and were powered by engined tuned for high performance in lower altitudes. FR. Mk.III was produced in small series. This fighter-reconnaissance version was equipped with two F.24 cameras located behind the cockpit. Seafire Mk.IIIs were assigned to combat units in November 1943. They fought over Norway, Mediterranean and Pacific theatres. Also their service with back up units was admirable. The post war users except Great Britain were France and Ireland.

Seafire Mk.III was the best naval fighter of British design to enter the WWII.

Technical Data: Wingspan: 11.23 m, Length: 9.21 m, Max. Speed at Sea level: 533 kmh, at 1830 m: 560 kmh, Climb to 1525 m: 1.9 min, Range: 825 km, Service Ceiling: 7315 m