Seafire FR 47

This page is about the British naval fighter Seafire FR 47. For the other navalised Spitfire, see Seafire F Mk XVII. For other versions, see Spitfire (Family).

Seafire FR 47

Seafire F Mk XVII

Sea Fury FB 11

Seafire FR 47

Seafire F Mk XVII

Sea Fury FB 11

Britain

IV Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
5.7	5.7	6.0

Class:

Fighter

Naval aircraft

Research:27 000

Purchase:185 000

Description

The Seafire FR 47 is a rank IV British fighter with a battle rating of 5.7 (AB/RB) and 6.0 (SB). It was introduced in Update 1.49 "Weapons of Victory".

Unlike the previous Seafire Mk XVII which is a low altitude fighter, the Seafire FR 47 has excellent high altitude performance, and you will perform most competitively above 6-7 km. It is good for engaging other fighters and bombers up to 12 km due to a 2nd supercharger gear that peaks in power at 8.4 km.

It has has a rather versatile selection of secondary armaments. You can take two 250 lb bombs or two 500 lb bombs. Whilst the first will result in marginally better performance, the latter is preferred for attacking ground vehicles and for pillboxes. The fact that you can carry rockets is even better. You have a choice of either 4 x RP-3 rockets or 8 x RP-3 rockets. It is more advisable to take 8 x rockets as having only 4 will means both your salvos have to be dead-on the target. This isn't helped by the fact that rockets utilized are woefully inaccurate. When strafing a group of AI light tanks, it is at this point when utilizing 4 rockets make a bit more sense as you are almost guaranteed to take out some of the AI vehicles. If in a mixed RB battle, you should probably not even be carrying rockets and should just stick with bombs, however, if you are attacking vehicles with exposed crew members like the 8.8 cm Flak 37 you can benefit a bit more by using the rockets.

General info

Flight performance

Arrestor gear

Accelerates braking by grabbing the brake cable on the deck of the aircraft carrier

Max speed

at 7 467 m720 km/h

Turn time21 s

Max altitude13 000 m

EngineRolls-Royce Griffon-88

TypeInline

Cooling systemWater

Take-off weight6 t

Characteristics	Max Speed (km/h at 7,315 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	697	675	13000	22.4	23.5	18.2	18.2	500
Upgraded	802	755		18.9	20.1	35.0	25.6

Details

Features
Combat flaps	Take-off flaps	Landing flaps	Air brakes	Arrestor gear
X	✓	✓	X	✓

Limits
Wings (km/h)	Gear (km/h)	Flaps (km/h)			Max Static G
		Combat	Take-off	Landing	+	-
890	330	N/A	370	250	~10	~6

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 482	< 400	< 400	> 500

Compressor	Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
Setting 1	4,100 m	1,510 hp	2,114 hp
Setting 2	8,100 m	1,340 hp	1,857 hp

Survivability and armour

Crew1 person

Speed of destruction

Structural890 km/h

Gear330 km/h

• 38 mm Bulletproof glass in cockpit front
• 4 mm Steel plate in pilot's seat
• 6-7 mm Steel plate behind the pilot
• 3 mm Steel box around the wing ammunition
• 1 mm Steel plate on top of the fuel tank and oil cooling system

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB2 561 → 3 278

RB5 963 → 7 632

SB9 156 → 11 719

Total cost of modifications46 500

84 300

Talisman cost1 500

Crew training52 000

Experts185 000

Aces940

Research Aces480 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

90 / 210 / 460 %

166 / 166 / 166 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Fuselage repair Research: 3 100 Cost: 5 600 230 Radiator Research: 3 100 Cost: 5 600 230 Compressor Research: 3 500 Cost: 6 400 260 Wings repair Research: 3 900 Cost: 7 100 290 Engine Research: 3 900 Cost: 7 100 290 Engine injection Research: 2 500 Cost: 4 500 190 150 octane fuel Research: 2 500 Cost: 4 500 190	Airframe Research: 3 500 Cost: 6 400 260 Cover Research: 2 500 Cost: 4 500 190	HSBC mk.2 Research: 3 100 Cost: 5 600 230 HMBC mk.2 Research: 3 500 Cost: 6 400 260 hispano_belt_pack Research: 3 900 Cost: 7 100 290 hispano_mk5_new_gun Research: 2 500 Cost: 4 500 190 GRC mk.8 Research: 2 500 Cost: 4 500 190 GRC mk.9 Research: 2 500 Cost: 4 500 190

The engine improvements should be prioritized. The engine performance does not improve drastically until you unlock the 150 Octane Fuel.

Armaments

Offensive armament

Weapon 14 x 20 mm Hispano Mk.V cannon

Ammunition496 rounds

Fire rate750 shots/min

The Seafire FR 47 is armed with:

• 4 x 20 mm Hispano Mk.V cannons, wing-mounted (134 rpg inner + 114 rpg outer = 496 total)

Suspended armament

List of setups (4)

Setup 12 x G.P. 250 lb Mk.IV bomb

Setup 22 x G.P. 500 lb Mk.IV bomb

Setup 34 x RP-3 rockets

Setup 44 x RP-3 rockets
4 x RP-3 rockets

The Seafire FR 47 can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

• Without load
• 2 x 250 lb G.P. Mk.IV bombs (500 lb total)
• 2 x 500 lb G.P. Mk.IV bombs (1,000 lb total)
• 4 x RP-3 rockets
• 8 x RP-3 rockets

Usage in battles

The Seafire FR 47 excels in high altitude performance, performing best at around 6-7 km. Therefore, it is adept at engaging heavy bombers and high-altitude fighters.

The plane is a heavier modification of the Griffon Spitfires and in general has a worse climb rate and acceleration than they do. Since climb rate is below-average, side-climbing is recommended in order to gain an altitude advantage over the enemy and to get to those altitudes where the Seafire's engine performance is maximized. Also, this vehicle's turn rate is only average. It certainly isn't a dedicated turnfighter, and usually it is best to stick to a boom and zoom or energy fighting playstyle. In an extended turn, the Seafire can be outmanoeuvred or out-energied by many of the enemies it might face.

Although this plane's energy retention, acceleration, climb rate, and manoeuvrability are worse than that of its peers, it does accelerate quite well in a dive; and, remember that engine performance gets better at high altitude. Additionally, the Seafire has a good top speed for its rank.

If necessary, the Seafire is equipped with an arrestor hook for landing on carriers.

The Seafire is armed with 4 wing-mounted 20 mm cannons which have a high muzzle velocity and high rate of fire. Although this makes aiming easier, it also means that there is not as much available firing time as the ammunition count might suggest. Trigger discipline is advised. Additionally, the location of the cannons means that convergence must be kept in mind. It is recommended to set a convergence of 300 to 500 m. When attacking lightly armoured or open top ground targets, a higher convergence may be set. Attacking heavily armoured tanks with the Seafire's 20 mm cannons is usually futile, since the rounds cannot penetrate their roof armour in most cases. Still, it is possible to spot and mark such tanks for teammates on the ground to locate and destroy.

Speaking of ground targets, the Seafire is able to equip up to 2 x 500 lb bombs or 8 RP-3 rockets. Notice that the rocket loadout allows for more attack runs and potentially more kills, than the bomb loadout. However, they must be aimed precisely in order to do the most damage. These ordnance options can be used to attack ships or to destroy ground targets in either Air Realistic or Ground Realistic battles.

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer	Pitch	Radiator			Supercharger	Turbocharger
		Oil	Water	Type
Not controllable	Controllable Not auto controlled	Not controllable Not auto controlled	Controllable Auto control available	Combined	Controllable 2 gears	Not controllable

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Good high altitude performance
• Neutral torque, so cruising is relaxing for the joystick and aiming isn't difficult
• Hispano Mk V cannons means a high rate of fire and high muzzle velocity
• Can land on carriers
• Fast acceleration when diving
• Low silver lion repair fee
• Good top speed for its rank

Cons:

• High stall speed and hence, bricky in its turn (even Bf 109 K-4s on equal speed can out-turn the FR 47)
• Abysmal climb rate at slow speed (Try zoom climbing once you reach about 400 kph), but competitive when fully researched
• Very weak engine when not upgraded
• Play style is completely different than the other Spitfires

History

In-game description

The last and ultimate incarnation in the life of the legendary Spitfire series, the Seafire F Mk.47 which entered service in 1948 was so different from the Spitfire Mk.I that it was barely recognizable. Now fully navalised after the previous Griffon Seafires' fixed wings, the F Mk.47 was fitted with folding wings and a new Rolls-Royce Griffon 88 which generated 2350 hp at 1250 feet and, fitted with a two-stage two-speed supercharger and petrol injection system, giving a steady flow of fuel under all conditions of accelerated 'g'. The fastest of all Seafires, the F Mk.47 was capable of reaching over 430 mph at some 24,000 feet.

Compared to other contemporary Royal Navy fighters, the Seafire F Mk.47 was faster in the dive and possessed a greater rate of climb above 25,000 feet than the Sea Fury, the Sea Hornet and, incredibly, the jet powered Sea Vampire. The Seafire could also out roll its contemporaries and was beaten in the turn itself only by the Sea Fury. The contra-rotating propellers which had been introduced on the Seafire F Mk.46 were retained, leading to far greater ease of control input in take off, landing and weapons firing due to the near elimination of torque effect with power changes.

Further modifications included the Spiteful-pattern enlarged fin and rudder, an altered forward fuselage profile and repositioning of the ram-air supercharger intake. Strengthening of the wings allowed a 500 lb bomb to be carried beneath each wing, theoretically allowing the aircraft to carry three 500 lb bombs when also adding a third beneath the fuselage. As with all late marque Seafires, rockets could also be carried. Air-to-air armament consisted of four 20mm Hispano cannon.

Whilst the Seafire F Mk.47 was praised for its control response, handling and deck landing characteristics, it was criticized for its cramped cockpit, uncomfortable seating position, awkward control positioning and lack of modern features such as a properly heated cockpit.

Whilst the Seafire F Mk.47 was one of the greatest piston engine fighters ever produced, it was unfortunately a fighter out of its time period. Advances in jet aircraft meant that piston fighters were finding themselves outclassed more and more with each passing year, and the Seafire F Mk.47 was no exception.

The F Mk.47 first entered service with 804 Naval Air Squadron at RNAS Ford in January 1948. 90 Seafire F Mk.47s were produced, and first saw action in ground attack sorties against bandits in Malaya in October 1949. 800 NAS embarked aboard HMS Triumph were amongst the first aircraft to take part in the Korean War, taking part in their first offensive sorties in July 1950.

Media

Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.

See also

• [Devblog] Seafire FR.47 & Sea Fury FB 11
• [Vehicle Profile] Supermarine Seafire FR 47

External links

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

• topic on the official game forum;
• encyclopedia page on the aircraft;
• other literature.