Difference between revisions of "Seafire LF Mk.III (France)"
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== Description == | == Description == | ||
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of and the creation and combat usage of the aircraft, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the aircraft in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' --> | <!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of and the creation and combat usage of the aircraft, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the aircraft in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' --> | ||
| − | The ''' | + | The '''Seafire LF Mk.III''' was developed from the previous Seafire Mk.IIc which was a navalized version of a [[Spitfire Mk Vc|Spitfire Mk. Vc]] with modifications for carrier operations. France bought 141 Seafire LF Mk.IIIs after the war and they saw combat above Indochina, mostly providing close air support and raiding enemy camps from the sky with ground ordnance. |
| − | + | It was introduced in [[Update "Winged Lions"]]. Compared to the regular version of the Spitfire, the Seafire has a mediocre climb rate, being slower at accelerating and also having a poor top speed. The engine is the main issue, since it also overheats regularly when using WEP. The 20 mm cannons are prone to jamming and overheating, and it is recommended to quickly research the modifications for the Mk.II 1943 cannons. However, being a Spitfire, the Seafire is still a very capable dogfighter, and it can outperform many aircraft like the P-51s and Bf 109s in similar conditions; however, avoid prolonged fights at all costs, since the Seafire has very poor energy retention. | |
== General info == | == General info == | ||
| Line 22: | Line 22: | ||
{{Specs-Avia-Flight}} | {{Specs-Avia-Flight}} | ||
<!-- ''Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.'' --> | <!-- ''Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.'' --> | ||
| + | The Seafire has an abysmal climb rate, it is also quite slow for a plane at its BR. Side climbing is advised. The turn time is slightly worse than the [[Spitfire LF Mk IX]] but still good enough to outturn most of your foes. The engine overheats rather quickly when using WEP, so avoid prolonged use. | ||
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%" | {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%" | ||
| Line 80: | Line 81: | ||
{{Specs-Avia-Armour}} | {{Specs-Avia-Armour}} | ||
<!-- ''Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured, etc. Describe the armour, if there is any, and also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.'' --> | <!-- ''Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured, etc. Describe the armour, if there is any, and also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.'' --> | ||
| − | + | ||
| + | ;Armour plates | ||
| + | |||
| + | * 7 mm steel plate behind the 4 mm steel pilot seat | ||
| + | * 6 mm steel headrest | ||
| + | * 38 mm front armoured glass | ||
| + | * 3 mm steel plate protecting liquid cooling system | ||
| + | * 3 mm steel boxes protecting magazines in wings | ||
| + | |||
| + | ;Modules | ||
| + | |||
| + | * Vital components located at front of the aircraft (engine, fuel tank, pilot, radiator) | ||
| + | * One self-sealing fuel tank, one non self-sealing located above each other in front of the cockpit | ||
=== Modifications and economy === | === Modifications and economy === | ||
{{Specs-Economy}} | {{Specs-Economy}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | The 20 mm cannon belts should be the first upgrade to be researched due to the very poor stock belt. After that, research the first cannon upgrade module to reduce spread and overheating. Unlock then flight performance upgrades: radiator first due to the rather fast overheating of the engine when using WEP. After that, it is up to the pilot to decide if they would rather profit from better weaponry or flight performance. | ||
== Armaments == | == Armaments == | ||
| Line 96: | Line 111: | ||
* 2 x 20 mm Hispano Mk.II cannons, wing-mounted (120 rpg = 240 total) | * 2 x 20 mm Hispano Mk.II cannons, wing-mounted (120 rpg = 240 total) | ||
* 4 x 7.7 mm Browning machine guns, wing-mounted (350 rpg = 1,400 total) | * 4 x 7.7 mm Browning machine guns, wing-mounted (350 rpg = 1,400 total) | ||
| + | |||
| + | The wing-mounted machine guns are very hard to use at distances over 300 m due to their placement in wing. Cannons does not have such issue as they are closer to the wing roots. | ||
== Usage in battles == | == Usage in battles == | ||
<!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the aircraft, the features of using aircraft in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' --> | <!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the aircraft, the features of using aircraft in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' --> | ||
| − | + | The Seafire LF Mk.III is a jack of all trades, but master of none. The Seafire does not climb well, so after start of battle, pilots should side climb, stay at around 3,000 m of altitude and let better climbing teammates tackle the first wave of enemy interceptors, trying to pick off those that managed to dive down. Still retaining great turning capabilities, the pilot is advised to force enemies into turnfighting where they bleed their energy and become vulnerable. Avoid head-ons at all cost due to the very fragile radiator and engine: even a single bullet will take it out. | |
| + | |||
| + | ;Enemies worth noting | ||
| + | |||
| + | * Bf 109 | ||
| + | * Fw 190 | ||
| + | * A6M series | ||
| + | * P-47 Thunderbolt | ||
| + | * Yak-3/9 | ||
| + | * La-7 | ||
| + | * Ki-84 | ||
| + | |||
| + | All the enemies in the list above can outclimb you, and also outrun you with the exception of the A6Ms. However, all those foes (except the A6Ms) can be outturned by the Seafire in an horizontal engagement. | ||
=== Manual Engine Control === | === Manual Engine Control === | ||
| Line 120: | Line 149: | ||
=== Pros and cons === | === Pros and cons === | ||
<!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in the bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' --> | <!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in the bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' --> | ||
| − | |||
'''Pros:''' | '''Pros:''' | ||
| − | * | + | * The engine doesn't overheat any faster than the engines of the other Spitfires |
'''Cons:''' | '''Cons:''' | ||
| − | * | + | * Poor mid and high altitude performance |
| + | * Slower than nearly all opponents | ||
| + | * Weak armament | ||
| + | * Outperformed by most other fighters at its tier | ||
== History == | == History == | ||
| Line 136: | Line 167: | ||
== Media == | == Media == | ||
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' --> | <!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' --> | ||
| − | + | ||
| + | ;Skins | ||
| + | |||
| + | * [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=seafire_mk3_france Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.] | ||
== See also == | == See also == | ||
| Line 142: | Line 176: | ||
* ''reference to the series of the aircraft;'' | * ''reference to the series of the aircraft;'' | ||
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' --> | * ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' --> | ||
| − | |||
| − | * | + | * [[Seafire LF Mk.III]] |
| − | |||
== External links == | == External links == | ||
Latest revision as of 21:33, 6 November 2024
| This page is about the fighter Seafire LF Mk.III (France). For the British version, see Seafire LF Mk.III. For other versions, see Spitfire (Family). |
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Contents
Description
The Seafire LF Mk.III was developed from the previous Seafire Mk.IIc which was a navalized version of a Spitfire Mk. Vc with modifications for carrier operations. France bought 141 Seafire LF Mk.IIIs after the war and they saw combat above Indochina, mostly providing close air support and raiding enemy camps from the sky with ground ordnance.
It was introduced in Update "Winged Lions". Compared to the regular version of the Spitfire, the Seafire has a mediocre climb rate, being slower at accelerating and also having a poor top speed. The engine is the main issue, since it also overheats regularly when using WEP. The 20 mm cannons are prone to jamming and overheating, and it is recommended to quickly research the modifications for the Mk.II 1943 cannons. However, being a Spitfire, the Seafire is still a very capable dogfighter, and it can outperform many aircraft like the P-51s and Bf 109s in similar conditions; however, avoid prolonged fights at all costs, since the Seafire has very poor energy retention.
General info
Flight performance
Arrestor gear
Accelerates braking by grabbing the brake cable on the deck of the aircraft carrier
Max speed
at 3 963 m592 km/h
Turn time16 s
Max altitude10 500 m
EngineRolls-Royce Merlin-55M
TypeInline
Cooling systemWater
Take-off weight3 t
The Seafire has an abysmal climb rate, it is also quite slow for a plane at its BR. Side climbing is advised. The turn time is slightly worse than the Spitfire LF Mk IX but still good enough to outturn most of your foes. The engine overheats rather quickly when using WEP, so avoid prolonged use.
| Characteristics | Max Speed (km/h at 3,963 m) |
Max altitude (metres) |
Turn time (seconds) |
Rate of climb (metres/second) |
Take-off run (metres) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AB | RB | AB | RB | AB | RB | |||
| Stock | 561 | 541 | 10500 | 17.2 | 17.8 | 14.6 | 14.6 | 340 |
| Upgraded | 627 | 592 | 15.7 | 16.2 | 26.9 | 19.5 | ||
Details
| Features | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combat flaps | Take-off flaps | Landing flaps | Air brakes | Arrestor gear |
| X | X | ✓ | X | ✓ |
| Limits | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wings (km/h) | Gear (km/h) | Flaps (km/h) | Max Static G | |||
| Combat | Take-off | Landing | + | - | ||
| 760 | 270 | N/A | N/A | 230 | ~10 | ~5 |
| Optimal velocities (km/h) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ailerons | Rudder | Elevators | Radiator |
| < 321 | < 400 | < 350 | > 500 |
Survivability and armour
Crew1 person
Speed of destruction
Structural760 km/h
Gear270 km/h
- Armour plates
- 7 mm steel plate behind the 4 mm steel pilot seat
- 6 mm steel headrest
- 38 mm front armoured glass
- 3 mm steel plate protecting liquid cooling system
- 3 mm steel boxes protecting magazines in wings
- Modules
- Vital components located at front of the aircraft (engine, fuel tank, pilot, radiator)
- One self-sealing fuel tank, one non self-sealing located above each other in front of the cockpit
Modifications and economy
Repair costBasic → Reference
AB2 034 → 2 631 
RB4 794 → 6 203
SB6 713 → 8 686
Total cost of modifications40 600 
78 500
Talisman cost1 400 
Crew training45 000
Experts155 000
Aces820
Research Aces440 000
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
80 / 200 / 400 %
160 / 160 / 160 %
| Flight performance | Survivability | Weaponry | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
The 20 mm cannon belts should be the first upgrade to be researched due to the very poor stock belt. After that, research the first cannon upgrade module to reduce spread and overheating. Unlock then flight performance upgrades: radiator first due to the rather fast overheating of the engine when using WEP. After that, it is up to the pilot to decide if they would rather profit from better weaponry or flight performance.
Armaments
Offensive armament
The Seafire LF Mk.III (France) is armed with:
- 2 x 20 mm Hispano Mk.II cannons, wing-mounted (120 rpg = 240 total)
- 4 x 7.7 mm Browning machine guns, wing-mounted (350 rpg = 1,400 total)
The wing-mounted machine guns are very hard to use at distances over 300 m due to their placement in wing. Cannons does not have such issue as they are closer to the wing roots.
Usage in battles
The Seafire LF Mk.III is a jack of all trades, but master of none. The Seafire does not climb well, so after start of battle, pilots should side climb, stay at around 3,000 m of altitude and let better climbing teammates tackle the first wave of enemy interceptors, trying to pick off those that managed to dive down. Still retaining great turning capabilities, the pilot is advised to force enemies into turnfighting where they bleed their energy and become vulnerable. Avoid head-ons at all cost due to the very fragile radiator and engine: even a single bullet will take it out.
- Enemies worth noting
- Bf 109
- Fw 190
- A6M series
- P-47 Thunderbolt
- Yak-3/9
- La-7
- Ki-84
All the enemies in the list above can outclimb you, and also outrun you with the exception of the A6Ms. However, all those foes (except the A6Ms) can be outturned by the Seafire in an horizontal engagement.
Manual Engine Control
| MEC elements | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mixer | Pitch | Radiator | Supercharger | Turbocharger | ||
| Oil | Water | Type | ||||
| Controllable | Controllable Not auto controlled |
Not controllable Not auto controlled |
Controllable Not auto controlled |
Separate | Not controllable 1 gear |
Not controllable |
Pros and cons
Pros:
- The engine doesn't overheat any faster than the engines of the other Spitfires
Cons:
- Poor mid and high altitude performance
- Slower than nearly all opponents
- Weak armament
- Outperformed by most other fighters at its tier
History
Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the aircraft in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History) and add a link to it here using the main template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <ref></ref>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <references />. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under === In-game description ===, also if applicable).
Media
- Skins
See also
External links
Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:
- topic on the official game forum;
- other literature.
| Supermarine | |
|---|---|
| Spitfires | |
| Merlin engine | Spitfire Mk Ia · Spitfire Mk IIa · Spitfire Mk.IIa Venture I · Spitfire Mk IIb |
| Spitfire Mk Vb · Spitfire Mk Vb/trop · Spitfire Mk Vc · Spitfire Mk Vc/trop | |
| Spitfire F Mk IX · Spitfire F Mk IXc · Spitfire F Mk XVI | |
| Spitfire LF Mk IX · Plagis' Spitfire LF Mk IXc | |
| Griffon engine | Spitfire F Mk XIVc · Spitfire F Mk XIVe · Prendergast's Spitfire FR Mk XIVe · Spitfire F Mk XVIIIe · Spitfire F Mk 22 · Spitfire F Mk 24 |
| Export | ▄Spitfire Mk Vb/trop · ▃Spitfire LF Mk IXc · ▂Spitfire Mk IXc · Spitfire Mk IXc · Spitfire Mk.IX (CW) · Weizman's Spitfire LF Mk.IXe · ▄Spitfire FR Mk XIVe |
| Seafires | Seafire LF Mk.III · Seafire F Mk XVII · Seafire FR 47 |
| Export | ▄Seafire LF Mk.III |
| Jet fighters | Attacker FB 1 · Attacker FB.2 · Scimitar F Mk.1 · Swift F.1 · Swift F.7 |
| Hydroplanes | Walrus Mk.I |
| France fighters | |
|---|---|
| Dewoitine | D.371 · D.371 H.S.9 · D.373 · D.500 · D.501 · Pallier's D.510 · D.520 |
| Morane-Saulnier | M.S.405C1 · M.S.406C1 · M.S.410 |
| Arsenal | V.G.33C-1 |
| Bloch | M.B.152C1 · M.B.157 |
| Caudron | C.R.714 |
| Sud-Ouest | S.O.8000 Narval |
| American | H-75A-1 · H-75A-4 · ▄P-39Q-25 · ▄P-40F-5 Lafayette · ▄P-47D-22-RE · ▄P-63C-5 · F-6C-10-NA |
| ▄F6F-5 · ▄F6F-5N · F4U-7 · ▄F8F-1B | |
| Other countries | ▄Seafire LF Mk.III · ▄Yak-3 · Challe's ▄Yak-9T · NC.900 |
| Belgium | ▄Gladiator Mk I · ▄Spitfire FR Mk XIVe |
| Netherlands | ◘Sea Fury FB 51 |
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