https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supermarine_Walrus
The Supermarine Walrus (originally known as the Supermarine Seagull V) was a
British single-engine amphibious biplane reconnaissance aircraft designed by R.
J. Mitchell and first flown in 1933. It was operated by the Fleet Air Arm (FAA)
and also served with the Royal Air Force (RAF), Royal Australian Air Force
(RAAF), Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) and Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF).
It was the first British squadron-service aircraft to incorporate a fully
retractable main undercarriage, completely enclosed crew accommodation, and an
all-metal fuselage in one airframe.
Designed for use as a fleet spotter to be catapult launched from cruisers or
battleships, the Walrus was later employed in a variety of other roles, most
notably as a rescue aircraft for downed aircrew. It continued in service
throughout the Second World War.
The Walrus was initially developed as a private venture in response to a 1929
Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) requirement for an aircraft to be
catapult-launched from cruisers, and was originally called the Seagull V,
although it only resembled the earlier Supermarine Seagull III in general
layout.
Although the aircraft typically flew with one pilot, there were positions for
two. The left-hand position was the main one, with the instrument panel and a
fixed seat, while the right-hand seat could be folded away to allow access to
the nose gun-position via a crawl-way. An unusual feature was that the control
column was not a fixed fitting in the usual way, but could be unplugged from
either of two sockets at floor level. It became a habit for only one column to
be in use; and when control was passed from the pilot to co-pilot or vice versa,
the control column would simply be unplugged and handed over. Behind the
cockpit, there was a small cabin with work stations for the navigator and radio
operator.
Armament usually consisted of two .303 in (7.7 mm) Vickers K machine guns, one
in each of the open positions in the nose and rear fuselage; with provision for
carrying bombs or depth charges mounted beneath the lower wings. Like other
flying boats, the Walrus carried marine equipment for use on the water,
including an anchor, towing and mooring cables, drogues and a boat-hook.
Role
Amphibious reconnaissance aircraft
National origin
United Kingdom
Manufacturer
Supermarine
Designer
R. J. Mitchell
First flight
21 June 1933
Introduction
1935
Primary users
Royal Navy
Irish Air Corps
Royal Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
Produced
Number built
740
Developed from
Supermarine Seagull
Walrus deliveries to the RAF started in 1936 when the first example to be
deployed was assigned to the New Zealand division of the Royal Navy, on
The Royal Navy Town-class cruisers carried two Walruses during the early part of
the war and Walruses also equipped the York-class and County-class heavy
cruisers. Some battleships, such as Warspite and Rodney carried Walruses, as did
the monitor Terror and the seaplane tender Albatross.
By the start of World War II the Walrus was in widespread use. Although its
principal intended use was gunnery spotting in naval actions, this only occurred
twice: Walruses from Renown and Manchester were launched in the Battle of Cape
Spartivento and a Walrus from Gloucester was used in the Battle of Cape Matapan.
The main task of ship-based aircraft was patrolling for Axis submarines and
surface-raiders, and by March 1941, Walruses were being deployed with Air to
Surface Vessel (ASV) radars to assist in this. During the Norwegian Campaign and
the East African Campaign, they also saw very limited use in bombing and
strafing shore targets. In August 1940, a Walrus operating from Hobart bombed
and machine-gunned an Italian headquarters at Zeila in Somalia.
Specifications (Supermarine Walrus)
General characteristics
Crew: 3-4
Length: 37 ft 7 in (11.45 m)
Wingspan: 45 ft 10 in (14.0 m)
Height: 15 ft 3 in (4.6 m)
Empty weight: 4,900 lb (2,220 kg)
Loaded weight: 7,200 lb (3,265 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 8,050 lb (3,650 kg)
Performance
Maximum speed: 135 mph (215 km/h) at 4,750 ft (1,450 m)
Range: 600 mi (965 km)
Service ceiling: 18,500 ft (5,650 m)
Rate of climb: 1,050 ft/min (5.3 m/s)
Power/mass: 0.094 hp/lb (0.16 kW/kg)
Armament
Bombs: 6 100 lb (45 kg) bombs or 2 250 lb (110 kg) bombs or 2 250 lb (110 kg)
Mk.VIII depth charges
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