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MILITARY AIRCRAFT Air Forces Annual National Aircraft Index Military Aircraft Types
Supermarine Attacker
 
Supermarine Attacker
Country: UK
Type: Fighter
Manufacturer: Supermarine
Service: 1951 - 1956
First Flight: 27 July 1946
Production: 183

The Supermarine Attacker was a British single-seat naval jet fighter built by Supermarine for the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm (FAA). It was the first jet fighter in FAA service.

The Attacker developed from a Royal Air Force (RAF) fighter jet project which was cancelled. In response, Supermarine offered a navalised version of the project to the Admiralty. The prototype Attacker, Prototype 392, was first flown on the 27 July 1946, by test pilot Jeffrey Quill.

The Attacker had a brief career with the Fleet Air Arm, not seeing any action during her time with the FAA and being taken out of first-line service in 1954. It remained in service with the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR) for a little while longer; taken out of service in 1956. The Attacker was replaced by the more capable Hawker Sea Hawk and de Havilland Sea Venom. The Attacker was only exported to one country; Pakistan. Between 1952-53, thirty-six Attackers were sold to the Pakistani Air Force (PAF). The aircraft was eventually replaced in the PAF in the 1960s.


TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS ( Attacker F.1)

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 37 ft 1 in (11.3 m)
  • Wingspan: 36 ft 11 in (11.25 m)
  • Height: 9 ft 6.5 in (2.9 m)
  • Wing area: 227,2 ft (21 m)
  • Empty weight: 8,426 lb (3,822 kg)
  • Loaded weight: 12,211 lb (5,539 m)
  • Powerplant: 1 x Rolls-Royce Nene turbojet, 5,000 lb st (2,313 kg)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 590 mph (950 km/h)
  • Range: 1,200 mi (1,900 km)
  • Service ceiling 45,000 ft (13,716 m)
  • Wing loading: 51 lb/ft (248 kg/m)
  • Thrust/weight: 0.44

Armament

  • 4 x 20 mm Hispano Mk. V cannon in wings (125 rounds per gun, 500 rounds total)
  • 2 x 1,000 lb bombs

or

  • 4 x 300 lb rocket projectiles under the wings