The Sea Venom was the
navalised version of the Venom NF.2 two-seat night fighter, and was used as an all-weather
interceptor by the Fleet Air Arm (FAA). The necessary modifications for use on the Royal Navy's
aircraft carriers included
folding wings, a
tailhook (which retracted into a characteristic "lip" over the jetpipe) and strengthened, long-stroke
undercarriage. The canopy was modified to allow ejection from underwater. The first prototype made its first flight in 1951, and began carrier trials that same year. A further two prototypes were built. The first production Sea Venom took the
designation FAW.20 (Fighter, All-Weather). It was powered by a single
de Havilland Ghost 103 turbojet engine and its armament was the same as the RAF version. The next variant was the
FAW.21, which included the modifications introduced in the Venom NF.2A and NF.3. Some of these modifications included the Ghost 104 engine, a clear-view canopy and American radar. The final Royal Navy variant was the
FAW.22 powered by the Ghost 105 engine. A total of 39 of this type were built in 1957–58. Some were later fitted out with the
de Havilland Firestreak air-to-air missile. Seven FAW.21s were modified in 1958 for
Electronic countermeasures (ECM) purposes, with the cannon replaced by the ECM equipment. These became the
ECM.21.
831 Naval Air Squadron, the sole squadron to be equipped with it, was shore-based at
RAF Watton from 1963 and disbanded in 1966. Converted FAW.22s were similarly known as the
ECM.22. A modernised Sea Venom project, the DH.116 with swept wings and upgraded radar was considered, but cancelled as the Royal Navy believed that any replacement needed two engines. The
de Havilland Sea Vixen ultimately replaced the Sea Venom. ==Operational history==