Supermarine Sea Otter
| Supermarine Sea Otter | |
|---|---|
|
|
| Type: | Flying boat |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
September 23, 1938 |
| Production time: |
1942-1945 |
| Number of pieces: |
292 |
The Supermarine Sea Otter was the last flying boat from the Supermarine company in a double-decker design. It was an evolution of the Supermarine Walrus with the intention of reaching a greater range.
development
The main difference between the Walrus and the Sea Otter is the way the engine is attached. The Walrus had a rear-facing engine with a pusher propeller, while the Sea Otter's engine was forward-facing and had a conventional pulling propeller.
A great deal of effort was put into developing the combination of motor and propeller when designing the Sea Otter, the concept of which was originally called the "Stingray". The original test aircraft had a Bristol Perseus XI engine and a two-bladed propeller. But this combination did not generate enough thrust. A four-blade propeller with an angle of 35 ° between the blades was then chosen instead of one with the otherwise usual 90 °. The first flight took place on September 23, 1938. The first production order from the Air Ministry was not received until January 1942. Due to cooling problems with the Perseus engine, it was replaced by the Bristol Mercury XXX with a three-blade propeller. The Sea Otter was used by both the Royal Air Force and the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy for Search and Rescue (SAR) rescue missions and patrol flights.
Series production
Of the total of 592 aircraft ordered, only 292 had been built by the end of World War II . Eight Sea Otters went to the Danish Air Force (Flyvevåbnet). Another eight received the Marine Luchtvaartdienst of the Dutch Navy . The French colonial troops bought six Sea Otters for use in Indochina .
The Sea Otter was built in series at Saunders Roe . The first order was for 250 Mk.I., of which the last 27 were delivered as ASR.II. In addition to the two prototypes 223 Mk.I and 78 ASR.II.
| year | number |
|---|---|
| 1943 | 29 |
| 1944 | 138 |
| 1945 | 108 |
| 1946 | 16 |
| total | 291 |
variants
- Sea Otter Mk I : Reconnaissance aircraft and liaison flying boat .
- Sea Otter Mk II : SAR sea rescue flying boat.
operator
-
Royal Australian Navy
- No. 723 Squadron RAN
- Danish Flyvevåbnet
- French colonial troops in Indochina
- Marine Luchtvaartdienst
-
Royal Air Force
- No. 276 Squadron RAF
- No. 278 Squadron RAF
- No. 281 Squadron RAF
- No. 282 Squadron RAF
- No. 292 Squadron RAF
- No. 1350 Flight RAF
- No. 1351 Flight RAF
- No. 1352 Flight RAF
- Royal Navy
Technical specifications
| Parameter | Data |
|---|---|
| crew | 4th |
| length | 12.2 m |
| span | 14 m |
| height | 4.61 m |
| Wing area | 56.7 m² |
| Empty mass | 3086 kg |
| Max. Takeoff mass | 4536 kg |
| Cruising speed | ? km / h |
| Top speed | 262.3 km / h |
| Service ceiling | 5181 m |
| Range | 1480 km |
| Engines | 1 × radial engine Bristol Mercury XXX with 720 kW |
| Armament | 1 × Vickers machine gun and a twin Vickers K -MG four 112 kg bombs under the wings |
See also
literature
- Andrews, CF Supermarine Aircraft Since 1914 . Putnam, London 1981. ISBN 0-370-10018-2 .
