Supermarine Type 391

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Type 391
General information
TypeNaval fighter
National originUnited Kingdom
Manufacturer Supermarine
Primary user Royal Navy
Number built0
History
Developed from Supermarine Seafang

The Supermarine Type 391 was the last piston-engined fighter to be proposed by Supermarine. [1]

Contents

History

In 1943, as the design of the Spiteful and Seafang was proceeding, Supermarine presented a brochure to the Air Ministry describing a "High-Performance Aeroplane for the Royal Navy", designated internally as the Supermarine Type 391. [note 1] Of greater length and span than the Seafang, the Type 391 was intended to be used as a carrier-borne fighter, with a secondary role as a strike aircraft. [2]

The wing of the Type 391 was similar in outline to that of the Spiteful/Seafang but was larger and, unlike all previous Supermarine fighters, was mid-mounted. The whole section outboard of the undercarriage hinged up, while a wide centre-section incorporated thick roots with tapered leading-edge air intakes. These fed the engine cooling radiators. Because of the higher-mounted wing, the main undercarriage legs were also longer, with the wheels pivoting when raised to fit into wells in the fuselage. [1] The forward fuselage was lengthened to accommodate the new engine, while the rear had redesigned and enlarged tail surfaces. [1]

The Type 391 was eventually rejected in favour of the Type 392, which became the Supermarine Attacker. [2]

Specifications

Data from [3]

General characteristics

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References

Notes

  1. Pegram gives the date of the only known drawing as the next year, in July 1944

References

  1. 1 2 3 Pegram 2022, pp.89-90.
  2. 1 2 Andrews and Morgan 1981, p.268
  3. Buttler 2004, pp. 30–32.

Bibliography