FAIREY SEAFOX
- The Fairey Seafox was designed to Specification S.I 1/32 for a two-seat
reconnaissance floatplane to be carried on RN light cruis-ers. Powered
by a 365 hp Rapier VI, the first of two prototypes was flown on May 27,
1936, and followed by 64 production Fairey Seafox Is delivered from April
1937 onwards. One prototype and one production Fairey Seafox were flown
as landplanes, all others being floatplanes for catapult launching and
subsequent landing along-side their parent ships for recovery. Equipped
five catapult flights (which merged to form No 700 Squadron in January
1940) and operated during Battle of the River Plate to spot for the guns
of HMS Ajax, Achilles and Exeter.
Max speed, 124 mph
(200 km/h) at 5,860 ft (1,786 m); Gross weight, 5,420 Ib (2,559 kg). Span,
40ft 0 in (12.19 m). Length, 33 ft 5 in (10.20m).
