Under the project designation P.10, Westland began to study early in 1944 a long-range shipboard day fighter for Naval use, with the added capability of carrying a torpedo, rockets or bombs for anti-shipping strikes. Around this proposal, Specification N. 11/44 was written, and, in November 1944, a contract was confirmed for six prototypes (including two in land-based RAF configuration to Spec F.13/44). Redesignated W.34, and subsequently named the Wyvern TF Mk 1, the West-land aircraft was a low-wing monoplane of relatively conventional layout, but larger and heavier than any previous British single-seat Naval fighter. It had upward-folding outer wing panels with hinged tips, and a 3500hp Rolls-Royce Eagle 24-cylinder liquid-cooled H-type engine driving eight-blade contraprops. Provision was made in the design for the later introduction of a turboprop engine, such as the Rolls-Royce Clyde. Basic armament comprised four 20-mm Hispano Mk V cannon in the wings, with the possibility of carrying an 46cm Mk VIII torpedo under the fuselage three 464kg bombs or eight 27kg rocket projectiles. In August 1946, an order for 20 pre-series Wyverns with Eagle engines was confirmed, but a planned batch of 10 for the RAF was dropped, together with the F.13/44 prototypes. Subsequently, the pre-production batch was halved. The first of six prototypes flew on 16 December 1946. However, a turboprop version with the Armstrong Siddeley Python had meanwhile been given the go-ahead and the Wyvern TF Mk 1s were assigned to various development tasks, never becoming operational. All six prototypes were flown, as were six pre-series TF Mk 1s, but the final four of the latter, although built, remained unflown as all development effort switched to the TF Mk 2.

3-View

A three-view drawing (800 x 539)