Supermarine Seafire Mk 47

Supermarine · GB · first flew 1946 · fighter

The Mk 47 was the ultimate Seafire and the last piston-engine fleet fighter of the Royal Navy, equipped with a contra-rotating Griffon and the longest nose of the entire Spitfire lineage.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Low-mounted, elliptical
E — Engines	1 × piston, nose-mounted
F — Fuselage	10.67 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

Contra-rotating six-blade propeller (two three-blade units, no torque swing) — unique among all Spitfire/Seafire marks
Long two-stage Griffon 87/88 nose, the longest of any Seafire
Hydraulically powered wing fold (faster operation than manual Mk III fold)

The contra-rotating prop is unmistakable — no other Seafire or Spitfire flew with this arrangement in production form. The very long nose (Griffon 88) and six blade disc are visible at any distance. Wing fold line at mid-span confirms Seafire lineage.

Specifications

The Supermarine Seafire Mk 47 has a length of 10.67 m (35 ft).
It has a wingspan of 11.23 m (37 ft).
Its maximum speed is 748 km/h (465 mph).
Typical crew: 1.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Only 90 built, 1946-48. Despite small numbers, the Mk 47 saw combat in the Korean War with 800 Naval Air Squadron, flying from HMS Triumph in ground-attack sorties in 1950 — the last combat use of any Seafire.

Variants

All production to a single standard. The Mk 45 and 46 were interim steps with different propeller arrangements.

Where you'll see it

Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm 1948-54. The Korean War sorties are its only combat record. A preserved example is held at the Fleet Air Arm Museum, Yeovilton.

Related aircraft

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