Supermarine Southampton

Supermarine · United Kingdom · first flew 1925 · transport aircraft

The Supermarine Southampton was a twin-engine biplane flying boat used by the RAF for maritime reconnaissance throughout the late 1920s and early 1930s. It was one of the most capable and reliable flying boats of its era.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	High-mounted, straight
E — Engines	2 × piston, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	15.151 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Spot it by:

Biplane flying boat with two pusher engines between the wings
Wooden then metal hull construction
Twin-fin tail — rare configuration for a biplane flying boat

Large twin-engine biplane flying boat with tractor/pusher engines mounted between the wings on struts, rounded hull, and a twin-fin tail. The metal hull of the Mk II has a cleaner appearance than the Mk I.

Specifications

The Supermarine Southampton has a length of 15.151 m (50 ft).
It has a wingspan of 22.86 m (75 ft).
Its maximum speed is 174 km/h (108 mph).
Typical crew: 5.

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

History

Designed by R.J. Mitchell (later creator of the Spitfire), the Southampton first flew in 1925 and entered RAF service the same year. It undertook several celebrated long-distance formation cruises, including a 27,000-mile Far East cruise in 1927–28 that demonstrated the type's reliability and range. Mk I had a wooden hull; Mk II introduced an all-metal duralumin hull.

Variants

Southampton Mk I (wooden hull) and Mk II (metal hull). The Japanese navy licence-built a version as the Type 15.

Where you'll see it

Served with RAF Coastal Command flying boats squadrons at home and abroad through the late 1920s and early 1930s; a significant aircraft in the history of British maritime aviation.

Related aircraft

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