Supermarine Sea Otter
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| Sea Otter | |
|---|---|
 Prototype of Sea Otter |
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| Type | Flying boat |
| Manufacturer | Supermarine |
| Maiden flight | 23 September 1938 |
| Primary users | RAF Royal Navy |
| Produced | 1942–1945 |
| Number built | 292 |
| Developed from | Supermarine Walrus |
The Supermarine Sea Otter was a British flying boat designed and built by Supermarine. It was a longer range development of the Walrus and was the last biplane flying boat to be designed by Supermarine. It was also the last biplane to enter service with the RAF.
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[edit] Development
The main difference between the Walrus and the Sea Otter was in the mounting of the power plant. The Walrus had a rear-facing engine with a pusher propeller. The Sea Otter's engine faced forward with the normal tractor propeller.
There was considerable development of the power plant/propeller combination during the design of the Sea Otter, which at its concept was called the "Stingray". The original test aircraft had a Bristol Perseus XI engine with a two-bladed propeller. This gave insufficient thrust so a two-position three blade was tried. This was changed again to a four-blade with the pairs of blades set at an angle of 35°, instead of the usual 90°. The first flight took place on 23 September 1938, but it was not until January 1942 that the Air Ministry placed a production order. Due to cooling troubles found with the Perseus, the power plant was changed for production aircraft to the Bristol Mercury XXX engine driving a three-bladed airscrew. The Sea Otter was used by both the RAF and the Royal Navy for Air Sea Rescue (ASR) and patrol roles.
[edit] Production
Of the 592 aircraft ordered, only 292 were built due to the end of the Second World War. Eight aircraft were brought for the Royal Danish Air Force, and another eight were supplied to the Dutch Naval Air Arm. The colonial service of France purchased six Sea Otters for use in Indo-China.
[edit] Variants
- Sea Otter Mk I
- Reconnaissance and communications flying boat.
- Sea Otter Mk II
- Air Sea Rescue flying bloat.
[edit] Operators
- Operated by French colonial service in Indochina
- Dutch Naval Aviation Service including SAR duty aboard the light carrier Karel Doorman (R81)
- Royal Air Force
- No. 277 Squadron RAF
- No. 278 Squadron RAF
- No. 279 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
[edit] Specifications (Sea Otter)
General characteristics
- Crew: Four
- Length: 39 ft 10¾ in (12.2 m)
- Wingspan: 46 ft 0 in (14.0 m)
- Height: 15 ft 1½ in (4.61 m)
- Wing area: 620 ft² (56.7 m²)
- Empty weight: 6,805 lb (3086 kg)
- Loaded weight: 10,000 lb (4536 kg)
- Powerplant: 1× Bristol Mercury XXX, 965 hp (720 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 163 mph at 4,500 ft (262.3 km/h at 1371 m)
- Range: 600 miles (1110 km)
- Service ceiling 17,000 ft (5181 m)
- Rate of climb: 870 ft/min to 5,000 ft (265 m/min to 1524 m)
- Extended Range : 920 miles (1480 km) with overloaded tank
Armament
- 1 × Vickers machine gun and twin Vickers K machine guns
- 4 × 250 lb (112 kg) bombs
This aircraft article is missing some (or all) of its specifications. If you have a source, you can help Wikipedia by adding them.[edit] See also
Related lists
[edit] References
- Andrews, C.F. Supermarine Aircraft Since 1914. London: Putnam, 1981. ISBN 0-370-10018-2.
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