Supermarine Southampton: Difference between revisions
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|number built = 83 |
|number built = 83 |
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|unit cost = |
|unit cost = |
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|developed from= [[Supermarine Swan]] |
|developed from = [[Supermarine Swan]] |
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|variants with their own articles =[[Supermarine Scapa|Scapa]]<br />[[Supermarine Stranraer|Stranraer]] |
|variants with their own articles = [[Supermarine Scapa|Scapa]]<br />[[Supermarine Stranraer|Stranraer]] |
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}} |
}} |
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The '''[[Supermarine]] Southampton''' was one of the most successful [[flying boat]]s of the between-war period. It was a development of the [[Supermarine Swan]], which was used for a 10 passenger service between England and France. |
The '''[[Supermarine]] Southampton''' was one of the most successful [[flying boat]]s of the between-war period. It was a development of the [[Supermarine Swan]], which was used for a 10 passenger service between England and France. |
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== History == |
== History == |
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The Southampton was designed by the team of [[ |
The Southampton was designed by the team of [[R. J. Mitchell]], better known as the designer of the later [[Supermarine Spitfire|Spitfire]]. Due to the success of the Swan, the [[Air Ministry]] ordered six Southamptons direct from the drawing board, which was very unusual. As the Swan had acted in effect as a [[prototype]], development time was short. The first flight of a production aircraft was made on [[10 March]] [[1925]], and delivery to the [[RAF]] started in the middle of 1925. |
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Further aircraft were sold to a number of other countries. Eight were sold to |
Further aircraft were sold to a number of other countries. Eight were sold to [[Argentina]], while [[Turkey]] and [[Australia]] brought one aircraft each. [[Japan]] also purchased a single aircraft which was later converted into an 18 passenger cabin airliner. One aircraft was placed on the British Civil [[Aircraft registration|Register]] (G-AASH) and was operated by [[Imperial Airways]]. |
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In all 83 Southamptons were constructed, excluding the three |
In all 83 Southamptons were constructed, excluding the three-engined '''Southampton MK X''' which was a single prototype. |
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== Description == |
== Description == |
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The Southampton was a two-engine [[biplane]] flying boat. The '''Southampton Mk I''' had both its hull and its wings manufactured from wood. The '''Southampton Mk II''' had a hull with a single thickness of metal ([[Duralumin]]) (the Mk I had a double wooden bottom). This change gave a weight saving of 900 lb (409 kg) allowing for an increase of range of approximately 200 |
The Southampton was a two-engine [[biplane]] flying boat. The '''Southampton Mk I''' had both its hull and its wings manufactured from wood. The '''Southampton Mk II''' had a hull with a single thickness of metal ([[Duralumin]]) (the Mk I had a double wooden bottom). This change gave a weight saving of 900 [[pound (mass)|lb]] (409 [[kilogram|kg]]) allowing for an increase of range of approximately 200 [[mile]]s (325 [[kilometre|km]]). In 1929 24 of the Mk I were converted by having newly-built metal hulls replacing the wooden ones. Some of the later aircraft were built with metal wings and were probably designated as Mk III. |
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There were three positions for [[machine guns]], one in the nose and two staggered in the rear fuselage. |
There were three positions for [[machine guns]], one in the nose and two staggered in the rear fuselage. |
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;{{ARG}} |
;{{ARG}} |
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;{{AUS}} - |
;{{AUS}} - |
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*[[Royal Australian Air Force]] |
* [[Royal Australian Air Force]] |
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** Coastal Reconnaissance Flight RAAF |
** Coastal Reconnaissance Flight RAAF |
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** No. 1 Flying Training School's |
** No. 1 Flying Training School's [[Seaplane Squadron RAAF]] |
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;[[Image:Naval Ensign of Japan.svg|22px]] [[Japan]] |
;[[Image:Naval Ensign of Japan.svg|22px]] [[Japan]] |
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;{{UK}} |
;{{UK}} |
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*[[Royal Air Force]] |
* [[Royal Air Force]] |
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** [[No. 201 Squadron RAF]] |
** [[No. 201 Squadron RAF]] |
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** [[No. 203 Squadron RAF]] |
** [[No. 203 Squadron RAF]] |
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|related = |
|related = |
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*[[Supermarine Scapa]] |
* [[Supermarine Scapa]] |
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*[[Supermarine Stranraer]] |
* [[Supermarine Stranraer]] |
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<!-- aircraft similar in appearance or function to this design: --> |
<!-- aircraft similar in appearance or function to this design: --> |
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|similar aircraft = |
|similar aircraft = |
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==References== |
==References== |
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<references/> |
<references/> |
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*[http://www.britishaircraft.co.uk/aircraftpage.php?ID=191 British Aircraft Directory] |
* [http://www.britishaircraft.co.uk/aircraftpage.php?ID=191 British Aircraft Directory] |
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{{Supermarine aircraft}} |
{{Supermarine aircraft}} |
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Revision as of 07:40, 6 March 2008
The Supermarine Southampton was one of the most successful flying boats of the between-war period. It was a development of the Supermarine Swan, which was used for a 10 passenger service between England and France.
History
The Southampton was designed by the team of R. J. Mitchell, better known as the designer of the later Spitfire. Due to the success of the Swan, the Air Ministry ordered six Southamptons direct from the drawing board, which was very unusual. As the Swan had acted in effect as a prototype, development time was short. The first flight of a production aircraft was made on 10 March 1925, and delivery to the RAF started in the middle of 1925. Further aircraft were sold to a number of other countries. Eight were sold to Argentina, while Turkey and Australia brought one aircraft each. Japan also purchased a single aircraft which was later converted into an 18 passenger cabin airliner. One aircraft was placed on the British Civil Register (G-AASH) and was operated by Imperial Airways. In all 83 Southamptons were constructed, excluding the three-engined Southampton MK X which was a single prototype.
Description
The Southampton was a two-engine biplane flying boat. The Southampton Mk I had both its hull and its wings manufactured from wood. The Southampton Mk II had a hull with a single thickness of metal (Duralumin) (the Mk I had a double wooden bottom). This change gave a weight saving of 900 lb (409 kg) allowing for an increase of range of approximately 200 miles (325 km). In 1929 24 of the Mk I were converted by having newly-built metal hulls replacing the wooden ones. Some of the later aircraft were built with metal wings and were probably designated as Mk III. There were three positions for machine guns, one in the nose and two staggered in the rear fuselage.
Variants
Different power plants were fitted in variants:
- Mk I
- Napier Lion V engine, 23 built
- Mk II
- Napier Lion Va, 69 built
- Argentina - Lorraine-Deitrich 12E
- Turkey - Hispano-Suiza 12Nbr
- Bristol Jupiter IX and Rolls-Royce Kestrel in experiments
Operators
Military Operators
- Royal Australian Air Force
- Coastal Reconnaissance Flight RAAF
- No. 1 Flying Training School's Seaplane Squadron RAAF
Civil Operators
Specifications (Southampton II)
Data from Supermarine Aircraft since 1914[1]
General characteristics
- Crew: Five (2 pilots and 3 gunners)[2]
Performance
- Climb to 6,000 ft (1,829 m) 29 minutes 42 seconds
- Endurance 6.3 hours
Armament
- Guns:
- Three Lewis guns, one in bows and two amidships.
- Bombs:
- 1,100 lb of bombs under the wings.
See also
Related development
Related lists
References
- ^ Andrews, CF (1987). Supermarine Aircraft since 1914 (2nd edition ed.). London: Putnam. ISBN 0 85177 800 3.
{{cite book}}:|edition=has extra text (help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Southampton