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The Hawker Sea Hawk F.B. Mark 3 saw the aircraft develop from a pure interceptor into a capable fighter-bomber, and was the most widely used version of the aircraft. Work on testing the Sea Hawk with under-wing stores begin in 1953, using an Mk.1 aircraft. The first production F.B. Mark 3 made its maiden flight on 18 March 1954. The Mk.3 could carry two 500lb bombs or mines, 3in or 5in rockets, or two 90 gallon drop tanks.
The first aircraft was also used for trials of a four-pylon weapons system that could carry two 500lbs and two drop tanks, four 500lb bombs, twenty 3in rockets with 60ln warheads or a combination of bombs, mines and drop tanks. At this date the Korean War was stretching the Navy's resources so thinly that the service clearance programme for the Mk.3 fell eight months behind schedule, and the four pylon system wasn't approved until the appearance of the F.G.A.4.
The F.B.Mark 3 entered service with No.806 Squadron in 1954, and also served with Nos. 800, 801, 807, 898 and 899 Squadrons. It was only in service for a year before it began to be replaced by the re-engined F.B.Mark 5.
Engine: Rolls Royce Nene R.N.4 (Mk.101)
Power: 5,000lb thrust
Crew: 1
Wing span: 39ft 0in
Length: 39ft 10.5in
Height: 8ft 9in
Empty Weight: 9,190lb
Normal All-up Weight (no drop tanks): 13,220lb
Maximum Overload Weight: 15,225lb
Max Speed at Sea Level: 591mph clean, 581 with drop tanks
Max Speed at 36,000ft: Mach 0.84 clean, Mach 0.79 with two drop tanks
Service Ceiling: 43,000ft (clean), 41,000ft (with tanks)
Endurance (clean): 2hrs 15mins; 3hrs 16mins with tanks
Armament: Armament: Four fixed forward-firing 20mm cannon
Bomb-load: Two 500lb bombs or mines or two 90 gallon drop tanks or 3in or 5in rockets