The Fairey Seafox was built to satisfy Air Ministry Specification S.11/32 for a two-seat spotter-reconnaissance floatplane.

The fuselage was of all-metal monocoque construction, the wings being covered with metal on the leading edge, otherwise fabric.

The Seafox handled well but it was criticised for being underpowered, engine cooling was poor and landing speeds were higher than desired.

In 1939, a Seafox played a part in the Battle of the River Plate against the German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee, by spotting for the naval gunners.

Seafoxes operated during the early part of the war from the cruisers HMS Emerald, Neptune, Orion, Ajax, Arethusa and Penelope and the armed merchant cruisers HMS Pretoria Castle, Asturias and Alcantara.