Spotlight Supermarine Walrus
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Spotlight Supermarine Walrus Scrutinizes the history of... The Supermarine Above lthough originally ‘Mutt’ Summers was at the controls. wings were designed to be folded up When returning to designed to fulfil a Royal Just five days later he flew it at on deck, meaning that an aircraft a launch ship, the Walrus Australian Air Force the Society of British Aerospace with a normal wingspan of 45ft 10in Walrus would land on water and be (RAAF) requirement, the Companies show at Hendon, and (14m) could be effectively reduced AWalrus went on to serve both the surprised spectators – and Mitchell to 17ft 6in for stowage. lifted aboard by a crane. BOTH KEY Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm and the – by successfully looping the aircraft. The Walrus was usually flown by RAF throughout World War Two. The machine had certainly not been just one pilot, though it could be Compared with Supermarine’s most designed with such manoeuvres configured for two, with additional famous design, it was an inelegant in mind, but the feat proved the work stations for a radio operator and rudimentary looking creation, strength of its aluminium alloy and navigator. The type’s detachable but it was undoubtedly fit for construction. The amphibian control column was a particularly purpose and proved to be of great was intended to serve in tropical unusual feature. It could be fitted value in more than one role. climates, and was therefore made in either of two positions, and – Its roots can be traced back to largely of metal rather than wood remarkably – could be unplugged 1929 when the RAAF stated a need (the latter tended to deteriorate in and passed from one position to the for an aircraft capable of being such conditions). other (for example, when the pilot catapult-launched from cruisers. Powered by a Bristol Pegasus was handing control over to the R J Mitchell – who would of course radial engine, the Walrus (as it co-pilot). go on to draw up the Spitfire – became known in British hands) designed a distinctive single-engined was of ‘pusher’ configuration, Going to sea biplane that was initially called the meaning that the propeller faced Following Summers’ memorable Seagull V. Although it resembled the the rear. This was to protect crew demonstration of the new type at manufacturer’s earlier Seagull III, members as they climbed on top Hendon, further trials were carried it was essentially a completely new of the cockpit to pick up mooring out by the Felixstowe-based Marine aircraft. lines, and it kept both the propeller Aircraft Experimental Establishment. Construction was delayed until and most of the engine clear from Shipboard testing took place from 1933 due to other commitments, spray when alighting on water. The HMS Repulse and Valiant, and at but the prototype made a successful engine nacelle also housed electrical Farnborough it became the first first flight on June 21 of that year. equipment and an oil tank – the air aircraft to undergo a catapult launch Supermarine test pilot Joseph intake acted as an oil cooler. The while carrying a full military load. Flt 70 FLYPAST October 2017 SPOT FACT The type was produced from 1936 until 1944 Origin & history Supermarine Walrus AT A GLANCE: RANGE (miles) 0 200 400 600 600 AT A GLANCE: SPEED (mph) Construction: A total of 740 were built. 0 40 80 120 160 First Flight: The prototype fl ew on June 21, 1933, in the hands of Joseph ‘Mutt’ Summers. Powerplant: One 680hp (510kW) Bristol Pegasus VI radial engine driving a four-bladed 135 propeller. Dimension: Span 45ft 10in (14m). Length 37ft 7in. Height 15ft 3in. Wing area 610sq ft (56.7 sq m). Weight: Empty 4,900lb (2,220kg). Loaded 7,200lb. Performance: Max speed 135mph (215km/h) at 4,750ft (1,450m). Service ceiling 18,500ft. Rate of climb 1,050ft per min. Max range 600 miles (965km). AT A GLANCE: CEILING (feet) Armament: Two or three 0.303in Vickers K machine guns, six 100lb (45kg) bombs or two 250lb bombs or two 250lb depth charges. 0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 Crew: Three or four – pilot (sometimes with co-pilot) plus navigator and radio operator. 18,500 Note: performance and weights varied according to role and confi guration. Lt Sydney Richard Ubee, later an Air version of the Walrus called the Sea successfully struck Italian headquarters Below Vice-Marshal, was at the controls for Otter. Nearly 300 were made, but at Zeila, Somalia in August 1940. Supermarine Walrus I this challenging first ‘mission’. they never entirely replaced the older From 1943, catapult-launched G-AHFN was fl own by test pilot and air racer The RAAF placed an initial order for amphibian, instead serving alongside aircraft were being withdrawn, as John Grierson to win the 24 Seagull Vs, with aircraft entering them, usually in the air-sea rescue role. increasingly advanced radar rendered Folkestone Trophy in 1946. Walrus service from 1935. The RAF’s first The Walrus was well established in them obsolete. Walruses were instead order was for 12 examples – the first British service by the time World War used to rescue downed crews of its aircraft, K5772, made its debut Two broke out. Its main task from the sea, often flight on March 16, 1936. There were in the early years of operating from carriers. a few aerodynamic modifications the conflict was A handful remained made to the production fleet, the to search in Argentine Navy main one being the addition of for enemy service into the late Handley Page slats on the upper submarines 1950s, with a few wings. and other flying in civilian Three versions were produced, vessels, and by hands elsewhere. the Seagull V for Australia, and the March 1941 aircraft Today only four Walrus I and II for British forces. The were fitted with survive, including Mk.II was built by Saunders-Roe and new Air to Surface one Seagull V, but was mostly made of wood, as Vessel radar systems. none are currently the preferred light alloy was in A few of the biplanes airworthy. great demand elsewhere. were used for bombing Supermarine and strafing in both the also created Norwegian campaign a similar and in East Africa. A but more Royal Australian powerful Navy Walrus were used at Lee-on-Solent for trials of Air to Surface Vessel radar 2 October 2017 FLYPAST 71 Spotlight Supermarine Walrus The Sea Shall Not Have Them Graham Pitchfork relates the exploits of two brave and determined life-savers ffervescent, outspoken and sometimes rebellious, Tom Fletcher did not see eye-to- eye with his commanding Eofficer. Training completed, the sergeant pilot had joined 43 Squadron to fly Spitfires; but the CO took the opportunity to transfer Tom to another Spitfire unit, 91 Squadron. Tasked with coastal patrols, 91 supported and escorted aircraft engaged on air-sea rescue (ASR) operations. Attracted to the role, Fletcher soon joined 277 Squadron at Hawkinge, Kent, to fly the Westland Lysander and the amphibious Supermarine Walrus. The Lysanders had been pressed 72 FLYPAST October 2017 SPOT FACT The rst Walrus Men Behind Mk.II ew in May 1940 the Walrus The Sea Shall Not Have Them into service for ASR duties. During Channel, landed in the sea four miles volunteered for the task. He carried Far left the summer of 1942, while flying off the French coast on the edge of a out the rescue with conspicuous Aircrew of the the former army co-operation type, minefield. [This was very likely Sgt gallantry… he ignored all dangers Hawkinge ASR Flight with Tom Fletcher Tom located a number of aircrew M H F Cooper of 616 Squadron and through coolness, considered second from left. in the sea and directed RAF high- and Mk.VI BR159 – ED.] His leader judgement and skill, succeeded in speed launches (HSLs) to the scene. orbited the dinghy and transmitted an picking up the fighter pilot.” Below left Within three months he had been emergency call. In the event, Tom was awarded an A 277 Squadron Walrus responsible for saving nine airmen. Naval authorities at Dover immediate DFM, the next-highest at Warmwell in January considered it impossible to get a gallantry award available for a senior 1944. Snatched from launch through the minefield and too non-commissioned officer at that Below capture dangerous for a Walrus to have a go. time. With crewmen in the On October 2,1942 a Spitfire pilot, Despite this advice, Tom immediately bow and rear hatches, a forced to bale out over the English volunteered to try and make a rescue Friend or foe Walrus prepares to pick attempt and took off, with a Spitfire Late in the afternoon of December up a survivor. squadron providing an escort. 14, six men were found adrift on a He arrived on the scene as another raft 10 miles (16km) east of Dover. Spitfire squadron engaged enemy Tom located them in the rough fighters trying to interfere with the sea and immediately landed, even rescue. He located the dinghy, alighted though he could see that it would be 150 yards (137m) away and taxied impossible to take off again. In failing towards the survivor who failed to light he made three passes to pick up grasp the boathook on the first pass, individuals but others had been swept and in doing so fell out of his dinghy. from the raft. In the strong wind and choppy sea, Continuing to manoeuvre his Tom tried once again, and this time Walrus, which had started to fill with the pilot was hauled aboard.