The Supermarine Walrus was a British reconnaissance flying boat, which was in service with the Royal Navy between 1935 and 1950. During World War II, it flew observation sorties and reconnaissance missions over the Atlantic, North Sea, and Mediterranean. The Walrus operated from cruisers, battleships, and aircraft carriers, taking off from launching catapult and flight deck. During the British Norwegian Campaign and East Africa Campaign, it was also used in bombing and strafing missions against enemy positions on sea shores. Once a combat sortie ended, it landed on the sea water alongside the cruiser or battleship, which lifted it off the water with a crane and put it back on its catapult platform. The Australian Royal Navy used it in the Pacific Theater.
Developed from the Seagull, the Supermarine Walrus was conceived by Reginald J. Mitchell. The prototype first flew on June 21, 1933. During the flight trials, it proved to be a reliable aircraft, with remarkable aerobatic qualities. Since the prototype was fitted with landing gear, the Walrus was classified an amphibian aircraft, since it could also land and take off from ground airbase. With the trials complete, the Air Ministry admitted that the results were impressive. It entered service with the Australian Royal Air Force on June 20, 1935, as the Walrus Mk I. The Mk II variant would also be produced. A total of 740 amphibian flying boats had been manufactured by the end of the war. After this armed conflict, it would be used in search and rescue operations, and it was exported to several countries, including Argentina.
Technical Description
The Supermarine Walrus was a single-engine biplane flying boat, with amphibian capability. The hull (fuselage) was of all-metal, stressed skin construction, with an integral lower fin. The landing gear had hydraulic retraction arms set into the hull sides. Both upper and lower wings were made with metal spars, with metal ribs interspaced with wooden ribs; they were fabric-covered, with areas of ply reinforcement. The upper fin and the whole of the horizontal stabilizer and elevator were wooden construction, with stainless steel fittings; the rudder was metal, with fabric covering. Fuel tanks were fitted in the inner ends of upper wing. The aircraft was powered by one Bristol Pegasus VI, 9-cylinder, radial, piston engine, which put out 750 horsepower.
Specifications
Type: amphibian flying boat
Length: 11.46 m (37 feet, 7 inches)
Wing Span: 13.97 m (45 feet, 10 inches)
Wing Area: 57 m2 (610 square feet)
Height: 4.65 m (15 feet, 3 inches)
Power Plant: one 750-HP, Bristol Pegaus VI radial engine
Maximum Speed: 217 km/h (135 mph)
Range: 970 km (600 miles)
Service Ceiling: 5,600 m (18,500 feet)
Crew: four
Armament: two 7.7-mm (.303-cal.) Vickers K machine guns; six 45-kg (100-lb) bombs.
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| Walrus Mk I in late 1935. |
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| Walrus, with serial # K5780, code WM, on deck of carrier. |
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| Two Walrus Mk.I flying boats flying over the Atlantic before the war broke out. |