Supermarine Southampton

The Supermarine Southampton was a pioneering British flying‑boat developed by Supermarine in the early 1920s. Conceived as a successor to the company’s earlier Sea Eagle and as a sea‑going version of the land‑plane Seagull, the Southampton first flew on 21 March 1925 and entered service with the Royal Air Force the following year. It featured a sleek, all‑wood hull built around a framework of spruce and mahogany, covered with waterproof varnish, and a single‑bay biplane wing of duralumin ribs and fabric covering. Power was supplied by two 650 hp Rolls‑Royce Condor IIIA V‑12 engines mounted on the upper wing, giving a top speed of 115 mph and a range exceeding 600 mi. The aircraft could carry a crew of three and a modest bomb load, making it suitable for maritime patrol, reconnaissance and training duties. Between 1925 and 1931 Supermarine produced 77 Southamptons, many of which served in RAF squadrons stationed around the British Empire, notably in Egypt, Hong Kong and Australia. The Southampton established a reputation for reliability and helped Supermarine refine hull‑hydrodynamics and high‑power engine integration, knowledge that directly fed into later iconic designs such as the Scapa flying boat and, ultimately, the wartime Spitfire.

Supermarine

Supermarine Southampton

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