The idea to fit a Supermarine Spitfire with floats was tried a number of times during the course of the Second World War. Three different Mks were converted to floatplanes but none would enter service. Find out the story of how this concept came about and the aircraft converted.

During the 1920s and 1930s the Schneider Trophy was won four times by Supermarine. The first time was in 1922, but it was the three victories in a row in 1927, 1929 and 1931 with Reginald J Mitchell designed monoplanes with floats that would prove crucial. These aircraft played a role in another Mitchell inspired design, the Supermarine Spitfire. So when the Air Ministry looked at a Spitfire fitted with floats it wasn't entirely new territory for Supermarine.

Origins

The concept of a Spitfire floatplane was formulated after Norway was invaded by Germany in April 1940. The idea was that the aircraft would operate from fjords in Norway. Spitfire Mk I (R6722) was the aircraft chosen for conversion and fitted with floats which were used on the Blackburn Roc and a ventral fin added. With the surrender of Norway and trials of the new aircraft proving disappointing the concept was not taken any further and R6722 was restored back to its original land plane configuration and would see combat during the Battle of Britain, being shot down on the 18th September 1940 with the pilot Sgt. Ian Hutchinson bailing out and surviving.

Spitfire Mk VB Floatplane

With the British Government's declaration of war against Japan on the 8th December 1941 early 1942 saw the idea of a Spitfire floatplane re-considered. This time Folland Aircraft were tasked with the job and would convert Spitfire Mk VB (W3760). Fitted with a 1,100-hp Rolls-Royce Merlin 45 and a four blade propeller instead of the land based Mk VBs three bladed propeller. This gave the aircraft a top speed of 324 mph, a range of 326 miles and a service ceiling of 33,400 ft. Armament was the same as a standard land based Mk VB, two 20mm cannons and four 0.303-in machine-guns.

The design of the Mk VB floatplane was similar to the earlier converted Mk I but it also had a parachute fitted to help recover from a spin. The big change on this prototype was instead of fitting floats from another aircraft Arthur Shirvall designed custom floats, 25ft by 7in, for the aircraft. It had been Arthur who had designed the floats for Supermarine's Schneider Trophy entries.

The prototype made its first flight on the 12th October 1942 with Jeffrey Quill at the controls. After further trials the decision was taken to convert a further two Spitfire Mk VBs (EP751) and (EP794). Folland Aircraft were again tasked with the job. With three Mk VBs converted to floatplanes the plan was for the aircraft to be based around the Dodecanese which consisted of 15 large and 150 small Greek islands in the South West Aegean Sea and intercept German transports flying over the Eastern Mediterranean. This would see the aircraft shipped to Egypt during October 1943. The following month though saw the British held Kos and Leros Islands, part of the Dodecanese islands, captured by the Germans and the three aircraft stayed in Egypt. Two of the three Spitfire floatplanes were struck off charge with (W3760) on the 28th January 1944 and (EP751) on the 28th December 1944 with the fate of the third aircraft unknown.

Supermarine Spitfire Mk VB (EP751) floatplane.

Spitfire Mk IX Floatplane

Folland Aircraft would also convert the last of five Spitfires to be used as a floatplane. This time it was Mk IX (MJ892) which was to be used in the Pacific theatre of war. Powered by a 1,720-hp Rolls-Royce Merlin it would become the fastest floatplane of World War 2 with its top speed of 377 mph. Its range was 460 miles and service ceiling was 38,000 ft. The armament for the Mk IX would be the same as the Mk VB version, two 20mm cannons and four 0.303-in machine-guns. The 18th June 1944 saw this version make its maiden flight.

Like the previous Spitfire floatplane projects this would never enter service and the idea was finally shelved with (MJ892) struck off charge on the 22nd November 1945.

Technical Details