Seafire

[Kev367th]

Been away for quite awhile thought I would remind the bosses about our IIc

Apart from the initial batch of F Vb's converted to Seafire IIb's the IIc is the rarest Seafire and hardly representative of the Series.

a) If our Seafire is based on our Vb then I am not even sure it existed! A Merllin 45 Seafire with 120 cannon rounds?. Surely it would have been the Merlin 46.

b) Then Merlin 46 Seafire IIc was only built for approx 2 months, then it was changed to a Merlin 32. In time ALL the Merlin 46 built ones were re-engined with the 32.

So, could we have either -
a) Merlin 32 Seafire L IIc
or
b) The much more common L III with a Merlin 55M, around 3x the Seafire IIc (both versions)

Not in addition to, but in place of the current one.

Thanks.

[theNewB]

Im all for it, good one.

[Angus]

True enough. The one Spitfire that was a little lost when the batch was fixed.

[Krusty]

Out of simple curiousity, what are the shipped-to-units dates for the IIc and the III?

Would choosing either one or the other leave a gap in the planeset for earlier war or later war, for example?

Or was the II broomed so fast the III was really the only major model?

[Karnak]

The Merlin 32 Seafire II like we have was pretty short in service duration.  I seem to recall the Merlin 46 Seafire II served quite awhile before the Seafire III appeared.

[Kev367th]

The Merlin 32 Seafire II like we have was pretty short in service duration.  I seem to recall the Merlin 46 Seafire II served quite awhile before the Seafire III appeared.

Wrong way around -
The Merlin 46 Seafire was relatively short lived. It was realised very quickly the 46 wasn't up to the job, so after around two months producion all remainder were built with Merlin 32's (L IIc).
All the original 46 batch were converted to 32's.

We don't have the 32 Seafire, I believe it is our Merlin 45 Vb with the IIc 'trimmings'. (Which I don't think ever existed, closest is the original converted Vb's)

Seafire III was in service Nov 43. Again it started off for a very short time as an F III, but was changed to a Merlin 55M and redesignted L III. A few (<10), F III survived the change, and were fitted with cameras, and became FR III's.

By the end of the war only 1 or 2 sqns were still flying L IIc's rest being L III's. No Merlin 46 IIc's survived much beyond mid 43.

[SgtPappy]

Perhaps the F III would make more sense to have simply so it could be used in the Mid-war arena.
If we had the L III, (which I prefer anyway), then we'd have no Mid-war Seafire for Malta operations.

[715]

Can someone point out what the differences relevant to the game are, i.e. what effect would the change have on boost and ammo load? 
(In other words: I'm too lazy to pick up my big book on Spits and try to figure it out for myself )

[Kev367th]

Can someone point out what the differences relevant to the game are, i.e. what effect would the change have on boost and ammo load? 
(In other words: I'm too lazy to pick up my big book on Spits and try to figure it out for myself )

Seafire IIc - Merlin 46 @ 1415hp, +12lbs, best alt 14,000ft (first few months of manufacturing only)
Seafire LIIc - Merlin 32 @ 1645hp, +18lbs, best alt 2500ft (from Nov 42, all IIc's were refitted to this standard)
Seafire FIII - Merlin 50 @ 1470hp, +16lbs, best alt 10,500ft (very short lived, only a few converted to FRIII)
Seafire LIII - Merlin 55M @ 1585hp, +18lbs, best alt 2750ft (service Nov 43 onwards, also flew with clipped wings off cv's)

All with 2 x 20mm cannons (120rnds as the Vc), and 4 x.303MG

What has always surprised me -
Even after realising the Merlin 46 fitted to the IIc just wasn't up to the task (most interceptions were occurring at low alts) and going to the Merlin 32 to markedly improve low alt performance.
They once again started with a standard Merlin 50 for the III. Admitedly they very, very quickly realised that the low alt 55M was a far better choice.

[Noir]

If the Seafire LIIC comes to AH the spit9 will become a hangar queen for sure  +1 anyway

[SgtPappy]

Oh, Kev, if your dates of service for the L III are accurate, then maybe that'd be a fine mid-war Seafire.

[StokesAk]

What spitfire is most like the seafire?

[Kev367th]

@Noir - I disagree. The IX would run rings around at it best alt. Both the LIIc and LIII are suited for low alts.

@SgtPappy - Seen two dates to be honest, Nov 43 and March 44. First deliveries began Sep 43.

@StokesAk - IIc most like FVc, LIIc most like early LFVc, and LIII most like late LFVc with cropped impellor.

By the end of the war -
4 x FAA sqns with LIIc
8 x FAA sqns with LIII