Supermarine Sea Otter

The Supermarine Sea Otter was the last flying boat Supermarine company in double-decker design. It was a development of the Supermarine Walrus with the intention to reach a higher range.

Development

The main difference between the Walrus and the Sea Otter is the mounting of the engine. The Walrus had a rear-facing engine with pusher propeller while the engine of the Sea Otter was directed forward and a conventional tractor propeller had.

For the development of the combination of engine and propeller, a large effort has been made in the construction of sea otter that was originally ran under the name " Stingray ", operated. The original experimental aircraft had a Bristol Perseus XI engine and a two-bladed propeller. However, this combination produced is not enough thrust. Then, a four-bladed propeller has been selected at an angle of 35 ° between the blades instead of the usual 90 °. The first flight took place on 23 September 1938. However, the first production commissioned by the Air Ministry was received only in January 1942. Due to cooling problems in the Perseus engine that 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 and patrol flights.

Series production

Of the total 592 aircraft ordered by the end of the Second World War, only 292 units were built. Eight Sea Otter went to the Danish Air Force ( Flyvevåbnet ). A further eight received the Marine Luchtvaart service of the Dutch Navy. The French colonial troops bought six Sea Otter for use in Indochina

Variants

  • Sea Otter Mk I: reconnaissance 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 forces in Indochina
  • Marine Luchtvaart service
  • 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

Specifications

Biplane France Vickers machine gun Vickers K machine gun Supermarine S.4 Supermarine S.5 Supermarine S.6 Supermarine S.6B Supermarine Attacker Supermarine Scapa Supermarine Scimitar Supermarine Seafang Supermarine Seagull (1921) Supermarine Seagull (1948) Supermarine Southampton Supermarine Spitfire Supermarine Spiteful Supermarine Stranraer Supermarine Swift
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