Seafire F Mk XVII

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

Seafire F Mk XVII

Seafire LF Mk.III

Seafire FR 47

Seafire F Mk XVII

Seafire LF Mk.III

Seafire FR 47

Britain

IV Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
5.3	5.3	5.7

Class:

Fighter

Naval aircraft

Research:46 000

Purchase:155 000

Show in game

Description

The Seafire F Mk XVII is a rank IV British naval fighter with a battle rating of 5.3 (AB/RB) and 5.7 (SB). It was introduced in Update 1.49 "Weapons of Victory".

The first thing to know is that the XVII is a low altitude fighter, unlike the next Seafire - the FR 47 which is a high altitude fighter. Climb rate is fantastic until 2,500 m, where it can still perform quite well until 3,500 m but going over is not recommended as the engine will fail to provide enough power. It is recommended to climb at the beginning of the game until 2,000 m, targeting enemy Attacker aircraft, retreating, climbing up to 3,500 m, baiting down enemy fighters and finishing them on your own turf (under 2,000 m).

The Seafire Mk XVII has excellent manoeuvrability, stock turn time is 18.3 s (AB) and 18.6 s (RB/SB) and once fully upgraded it reaches 16.6 s (AB) and 17 s (RB/SB). Once the first pass of an enemy is dodged, sticking to its tail is not a difficult task as it can out turn many of its opponents especially Germans and Americans.

Stock, the plane is very difficult to handle, the climb rate is average (17 m/s in AB, 19.5 m/s in RB/SB), energy retention is lacking, ammunition is ineffective, speed isn't as high as its contemporaries (603 km/h max speed in AB, 586 km/h max speed in AB/SB). Players will have a bitter time unlocking each and every module of the plane and should stick to a boom and zoom strategy until the performance modules are fully unlocked and installed. The 20 mm ammo belts should be researched as soon as it is available to research, but focusing on performance upgrades is the key, 7.7 mm and bombs should be left as the last modules to unlock. Stock, the plane is not worth playing in RB, play it in AB until you have at least unlocked all the performance modules.

The 2 x Hispano Mk.V 20 mm guns are much more effective once the air belt is equipped, composed of 1 tracer round followed by a twice-repeating sequence of 1 HEI and 1 SAP-I round (T/HEI/SAP-I/HEI/SAP-I) it wrecks others fighters in small bursts and does not require much more for medium bombers if used at a convergence point. On the other hand the 7.7 mm appears like an archaic weapon, ineffective but kept as a souvenir of the "good old days" of the Spitfire Mk Ia. Whilst ineffective, they can be used as a guide for the 20 mm Stealth belts should one decide to use them.

Unfortunately the plane is lacking rockets for ground attacks like its elder brother the Seafire FR 47, nevertheless, it can equip up to 2 x 250 lb + 500 lb bombs which are enough to easily destroy medium tanks or finish a damaged base. The payload is useful in late RB game but it should be avoided to start a game with as it affects performance significantly.

General info

Flight performance

Arrestor gear

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

Max speed

at 3 962 m635 km/h

Turn time17 s

Max altitude10 900 m

EngineRolls-Royce Griffon-VI

TypeInline

Cooling systemWater

Take-off weight5 t

Characteristics	Max Speed (km/h at 3,962 m)		Max altitude (metres)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (metres/second)		Take-off run (metres)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	606	585	10900	18.0	18.7	19.5	19.5	480
Upgraded	676	635		16.3	17.0	31.0	24.2

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	+	-
787.5	260	N/A	N/A	260	~10	~6

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

Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
1,880 m	1,480 hp	1,953 hp
Setting 2
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
4,200 m	1,350 hp	1,782 hp

Survivability and armour

Crew1 person

Speed of destruction

Structural788 km/h

Gear260 km/h

• 38 mm Bulletproof glass - Armoured windscreen
• 4 mm Steel - Armoured plates in the pilot seat
• 6-7 mm Steel - Armoured plates behind pilot's seat
• 1 mm Steel - Armoured plate between fuel tanks
• 3 mm Steel - Armoured boxes around wing ammunition

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB2 044 → 2 587

RB4 821 → 6 103

SB7 104 → 8 993

Total cost of modifications40 200

77 800

Talisman cost1 400

Crew training45 000

Experts155 000

Aces820

Research Aces440 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

90 / 190 / 410 %

160 / 160 / 160 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Fuselage repair Research: 2 000 Cost: 3 900 160 Radiator Research: 2 000 Cost: 3 900 160 Compressor Research: 3 000 Cost: 5 800 240 Wings repair Research: 2 500 Cost: 4 800 200 Engine Research: 2 500 Cost: 4 800 200 Engine injection Research: 3 300 Cost: 6 400 270	Airframe Research: 3 000 Cost: 5 800 240 Cover Research: 3 300 Cost: 6 400 270	bmg303_belt_pack Research: 2 000 Cost: 3 900 160 SMBC mk.2 Research: 2 000 Cost: 3 900 160 SMBC mk.3 Research: 3 000 Cost: 5 800 240 bmg303_new_gun Research: 2 500 Cost: 4 800 200 hispano_belt_pack Research: 2 500 Cost: 4 800 200 hispano_mk5_new_gun Research: 3 300 Cost: 6 400 270 MBC mk.3 Research: 3 300 Cost: 6 400 270

Armaments

Offensive armament

Weapon 12 x 20 mm Hispano Mk.V cannon

Ammunition240 rounds

Fire rate750 shots/min

Weapon 24 x 7.7 mm Browning machine gun

Ammunition1 400 rounds

Fire rate1 000 shots/min

The Seafire F Mk XVII is armed with:

• 2 x 20 mm Hispano Mk.V cannons, wing-mounted (120 rpg = 240 total)
• 4 x 7.7 mm Browning machine guns, wing-mounted (350 rpg = 1,400 total)

Suspended armament

List of setups (3)

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

Setup 23 x G.P. 250 lb Mk.IV bomb

Setup 32 x G.P. 250 lb Mk.IV bomb
1 x G.P. 500 lb Mk.IV bomb

The Seafire F Mk XVII can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

• Without load
• 2 x 250 lb G.P. Mk.IV bombs (500 lb total)
• 3 x 250 lb G.P. Mk.IV bombs (750 lb total)
• 1 x 500 lb G.P. Mk.IV bomb + 2 x 250 lb G.P. Mk.IV bombs (1,000 lb total)

Usage in battles

The Seafire F Mk XVII is a fighter that does best at low altitudes. Here, below 2,500 m, it climbs exceptionally well, and its engine has a great power output, but as soon as the plane passes that altitude, engine power begins to fall significantly. The best performance is had below 2,000 m of altitude, and above 3,500 m, engine performance is very much inadequate. Because of this, it is wise to pick and choose which engagements to commit to. It is often unwise to attack heavy bombers, both because the Seafire's armament can be lacking against such large enemies and because heavy bombers are usually found at high altitudes, where the Seafire's performance is greatly hampered. Instead, low-altitude dogfights are where the Seafire shines. It can also be used to defend ground units against enemy ground-attackers.

This vehicle has excellent manoeuvrability like so many other British fighters. With such control, the pilot will have no trouble keeping on an enemy's tail. And, the plane can certainly handle itself in a one on one dogfight.

The Seafire is armed with 2 x 20 mm cannons and 4 x 7.7 mm machine guns. The 20 mm cannons can pull their weight, but are limited by a rather small ammo count. So, trigger discipline is necessary and spraying at enemies is not recommended. Instead, it's often better to get close and aim precisely, firing in short bursts to conserve ammo. The 7.7 mm machine guns have more ammunition than the cannons, and can last quite a bit longer. Alone, they won't do much damage against enemy planes, but they can destroy unarmoured ground targets. Also, the 7.7 mm machine guns can be fired independently of the cannons, and looking at the path of the rounds can help the pilot to lead and aim the more powerful 20 mm cannons. This is especially useful if the enemy is farther away and flying in a relatively straight line.

The Seafire is able to carry up to 1,000 lbs of bombs, which can be used in either Air Realistic battles to destroy armoured ground targets, or in Ground Realistic battles, where they can be used for ground-attack to great effect. And once the bombs have been dropped, the Seafire can act as a great air superiority fighter in mixed battles. Additionally, it can use its 7.7 mm machine guns to spot ground targets for teammates on the ground to destroy.

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

Seafire XVII on a night sortie

Pros:

• Very manoeuvrable
• Good bomb load for a Spitfire: up to 2 x 250 lb + 500 lb bombs
• Good climb rate at low altitudes

Cons:

• Poor high-altitude performance
• .303 calibre machine guns do little damage
• Low cannon ammunition count

History

Archive of the in-game description

By late 1944 the Seafire had already seen a number of major components changes, modifications and variations. The previous Seafire, the Mk.XV, came immediately after the Mk.III and was named thus in an attempt to standardize with the Spitfire lineage. Westland had taken a Seafire Mk.XV and, after some trial and error with various canopies, followed the progression of the Spitfire family and fitted a high visibility teardrop canopy along with a modified rear fuselage. The last 30 Seafire Mk.XVs therefore acted as an interim transition marque into the new Seafire Mk.XVII. The Mk.XVII also included a number of further modifications – perhaps most importantly, the undercarriage was significantly improved for carrier operations. Previous Seafires had been forced to persevere with what was effectively a Spitfire undercarriage, designed for operating from grass strips with an aircraft some three quarters of a ton lighter. The new undercarriage was strengthened for the heavier Seafire and also made longer; not only did this new deck clearance make landing safer and easier, it also permitted greater operating weights which allowed the Seafire Mk.XVII to carry more fuel and ordnance. The cut down, lighter rear fuselage also allowed an additional internal fuel tank, or reconnaissance cameras. The overall strengthening of the airframe allowed installation of further hard points, and the Seafire Mk.XVII could now carry double the number of rockets and bombs, with a 250 lb bomb now being carried under each wing in addition to the centerline 500 lb bomb. Air to air weaponry remained the same as previous Seafires, with two 20 mm Hispano Mk.V cannon and four 0.303 Browning machine guns. An enlarged tail fin also led to increased stability and improved handling characteristics. The same Rolls-Royce Griffon VI that powered the previous Seafire Mk.XV was also used in the Mk.XVII. This was a single-stage, two-speed supercharger engine which gave 1,815 hp at 4,500 feet with +15 lbs of boost. The Seafire Mk.XVII reached its top speed of 383 mph at 23,000 feet – slightly quicker than the Mk.XV at all heights, but the rate of climb was slightly less impressive. 807 Naval Air Squadron was the first squadron to receive the new Seafire Mk.XVII in December 1945 after returning to Britain from the Far East. With a total of 232 fighters equipping five front line squadrons and a number of reserve, training and second line squadrons, the Seafire Mk.XVII was finally retired in late 1954.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the Seafire F Mk XVII from live.warthunder.com.

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

• reference to the series of the aircraft;
• links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links

• Official data sheet - more details about the performance