Supermarine Walrus
| Supermarine Walrus
|
|
|
| Description
|
| Role | Reconnaissance amphibian
|
| Crew | 3-4
|
| First Flight | June 21, 1933
|
| Entered Service | 1935
|
| Manufacturer | Supermarine
|
| Dimensions
|
| Length | 33ft 7in | 10.2 m
|
| Wingspan | 45ft 10in | 14.0 m
|
| Height | 15ft 3in | 4.6 m
|
| Wing area | 610 ft² | 56.7 m²
|
| Weights
|
| Empty | 4,900 lbs | 2,220 kg
|
| Loaded | 7,200 lbs | 3,265 kg
|
| Maximum takeoff | lbs | kg
|
| Powerplant
|
| Engine | Bristol Pegasus VI
|
| Power | 680 hp | 510 kW
|
| Performance
|
| Maximum speed | 135 mph @ 4,750ft | 215 km/h @ 1,450m
|
| Combat range | 600 miles | 965 km
|
| Ferry range | miles | km
|
| Service ceiling | 18,500 ft | 5,650 m
|
| Rate of climb | 1,050 ft/min | 320 m/min
|
| Wing loading | 11.8 lb/ft² | 57.6 kg/m²
|
| Power/Mass | 0.094 hp/lb | 0.16 kW/kg
|
| Armament
|
| Guns | 2 × Vickers 'K' (1 in bows, 1 aft)
|
| Bombs/depth charges | 760 lbs | 345 kg
|
The Supermarine Walrus was a reconnaissance amphibian operated by the Fleet Air Arm. It also served with the Royal Air Force and the RAAF and RNZAF. Developed
from the earlier Supermarine Seagull amphibian exported to Japan, Spain, etc. it was delivered for service from cruisers from 1935.
It was designed to be launched from ship-borne catapults, and was the first amphibious aircraft in the world to be launched by catapult with a full military load. The wings could be folded on ship, giving a storage width of
17ft 11in (5.5 m).
740 Walrus were built and they saw service in home waters, the Mediterranean and the Far East. Walrus are credited with sinking or damaging at least 5 enemy submarines. Some of them were still in service in 1947.
