Fairey Seafox
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Fairey Seafox | ||
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Description | ||
Role | Cruiser-borne reconnaissance floatplane | |
Crew | ||
First Flight | 1936 | |
Entered Service | 1938 | |
Manufacturer | Fairey Aviation | |
Dimensions | ||
Length | 32 ft 8 in | 10.0 m |
Wingspan | 40 ft 0 in | 12.2 m |
Height | 12 ft 1 in | 3.7 m |
Wing area | 434 ft² | 40.3 m² |
Weights | ||
Empty | 3,805 lb | 1,725 kg |
Loaded | 5,420 lb | 2,450 kg |
Maximum takeoff | lb | kg |
Powerplant | ||
Engine | Napier Rapier VI | |
Power | 380 hp | 280 kW |
Performance | ||
Maximum speed | 124 mph | 200 km/h |
Combat range | 440 miles | 710 km |
Ferry range | miles | km |
Service ceiling | 11,000 ft | 3,350 m |
Rate of climb | 420 ft/min | 128 m/min |
The Fairey Seafox was a Second World War reconnaissance floatplane of the Fleet Air Arm designed to be catapulted from the deck of a warship. Only 64 were ever built.
Built to specification S 11/32, the prototype appeared in 1936 and the first production versions were delivered to cruisers etc in 1938.
The fuselage was of all-metal monocoque construction, the wings were covered with metal on the leading edge, otherwise fabric. It was powered by a sixteen cylinder 395 hp (295 kW) air-cooled Napier Rapier engine. It reached speeds of 106 mph (171 km/h), had a range of 440 miles (708 km).
In 1939 a Seafox played a part in the attack on the German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee by spotting for the naval gunners. This led to the ship's destruction in the Battle of the River Plate.
They were utilized through 1943.
[edit] Operators
- British Fleet Air Arm.
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