Seafire LF Mk.III (France)

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).

▄Seafire LF Mk.III

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▄Seafire LF Mk.III

Description

The ▄Seafire LF Mk.III is a rank French fighter with a battle rating of (AB), (RB), and (SB). It was introduced in Update "Winged Lions". This is the only "Spitfire" in the French Tech-Tree.

General info

Flight performance

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		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	+	-
		N/A	N/A	230	~10	~5

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 321	< 400	< 350	> 500

Survivability and armour

The Seafire LF Mk.III has little protection: your enemies' guns will nearly always hit something vital. The pilot is protected in the rear by a 7 mm steel plate covering the seat, but this is not enough to stop 12.7 mm and 20 mm AP rounds, the kind you will most commonly be facing. The pilot is protected from head-ons by a sloped 38 mm pane of bulletproof glass, and a small amount of armour and fuel tanks in the nose.

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)

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).

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:

- Excellent maneuverability

- The motor does not overheat too much

Cons:

- Poor mid and high altitude performance

- Slower than nearly all opponents

- Little ammo for the 20mm, the 7.7 are useless at his rank. No bombs or rockets.

- Outperformed by most other fighters at its tier

History

France received 65 Seafire Mk IIIs, 24 of these being deployed on the carrier Arromanches in 1948 when it sailed for Vietnam to fight in the First Indochina War, the Seafires operating from land bases and from Arromanches on ground attack missions against the Viet Minh before being withdrawn from combat operations in January 1949. After returning to European waters, the Seafire units were re-equipped with Seafire XVs but these were quickly replaced by Grumman F6F Hellcats from 1950.

They were used by the 1F, 12F flotillas, and the 1S, 2S, 3S, 4S, 11S, and 54S squadrons.

These planes had the reputation of being very unstable in flight and on landing. Most of the losses of these aircraft were due to accidents during landings. Planes flipped over, breaking their engine blocks, or ripping their rear fuselages off. Due to the lack of spare parts, these planes were gradually cannibalized, down to the very last one.

Media

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQZkupimhN8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7QeE42BV6M

See also

• Planes of the Seafire sery
• Seafire LF Mk.III
• Seafire F Mk XVII
• Seafire FR 47
• Planes of the French "Aéronavale" in the 50's
• F6F-5 (France)
• SB2C-5 (France)
• F4U-7
• F8F-1B (France)

External links

• https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k33290709.texteImage
• http://www.ffaa.net/aircraft/seafire/seafire_fr.htm