History

The Sea Otter was developed to succeed the Supermarine Walrus and made its maiden flight on September 23, 1938.
It had a great resemblance with it predecessor, but was equipped with a pulling air screw.

The Sea Otter was also faster and had a larger range.

Initially, the prototype was equipped with a Bristol Perseus XI with a two-bladed propeller, which was soon replaced by a three-bladed propeller.

Only in January 1942 the first production order was received. Due to problems with the cooling with the Perseus engine, the engine for the production aircraft became a Bristol Mercury XXX.

The Seaotter was used by both the RAF and the Royal Navy for Air-Sea Rescue (ASR) and patrol work.
Ultimately, there are 290 units built, all by Saunders-Roe, as Supermarine did not have any capacity available.

Versions

Sea Otter I:
for reconnaissance and communications duties.
Sea Otter II:
for air sea rescue.

 

Technical information
Dimensions:
Length: 12,19 m Wingspan: 14,02 m
Height: 4,93 m Wing area: 56 m2
Weights:
Empty weight: - kg Max. start weight: . kg
Performances:
Max. speed: 247 km/hr Rate of climb: 265 m/min
Cruising speed: 193 km/hr    
Range: 1550 km Service ceiling: 5181 m
Miscellaneous:
Engine type: One Bristol Mercury XXX of 955 hp
Crew: Three men
Armament: None

The RNlNAS bought at the beginning of the fifties eight Sea Otters. Three of these were originally civil aircraft, the others were ex RAF. The RAF aircraft were revised at Supermarine. Two aircraft were equipped with a hook, for deck landing on the aircraft carrier Karel Doorman.
The Sea Otters were part of 320 squadron at air base Valkenburg.
During the late fifties three other civil aircraft were bought. These aircraft were dismantled for spare parts.
The last Ex-RAF Sea Otter, serialled R-08, was deliver in December 1950. In the same period the aircraft were re-serialled with L-serials. It is very likely that the new serial was applied to R-8 in England.
The first Sea Otter, L-4, was withdrawn from use in February 1951, because of its bad technical condition. The L-4 was replaced with L-2, which had been stored.
April 24, 1952 L-6 landed on the Westeinder lakes and made a nose cog and had to be written of because of the great damage.
L-5 crashed on July 24, 1952 near Moerdijk, killing one of the crew W.H. Brusse.
L-3 was withdrawn from store to replace both aircraft.
May 1951 the OSRD (OpSporings- en ReddingsDienst = SAR-flight) was raised as part of the RNLNAS (MLD).
The Sea Otters from squadron 320 were transferred to this flight. When 320 squadron transferred to the Lockheed Harpoon, the Sea Otters went to squadron 5, mainly a training squadron. Later the new squadron 8 received the Mitchells and Sea Otters from squadron 5.
February 1953 the Sea Otters made many rescue flights. August 1953 the remaining Sea Otter were all with drawn from us.
Their SAR task were taken over by Catalina’s P-212 and P-214 and Sikorsky S-55 H-2 and H-4.

 


Serial
Serial
2nd Serial
2nd Serial
RAF Serial
RAF Serial
Constr. nr.
Constr. nr.
Date in service
Date in service
Date out of service
Date out of service
Notes
notes
  12-1 JM977 52/04991 07-03-1951 06-07-1953 Bought in October 1949 from Fa. Van Andel, ex G-AKRF.
Overhauled at Aviolanda. Withdrawn from use and sold.
  12-2 JM818 52/04807 04-04-1951 19-09-1953 Bought in October 1949 from Fa. Van Andel, ex G-ALVB;
Overhauled at Aviolanda. Withdrawn from use and sold.
  12-3 JM966 52/02954 08-08-1952 27-10-1953 Bought in October 1949 from Fa. Van Andel, ex G-AJVR,
Overhauled at Aviolanda. Withdrawn from use and sold.
18-4 12-4 JN107 52/05005 17-11-1949 20-02-1951 Export-serial G15-76; RAF-serial possibly JN017.
Withdrawn from use and sold.
18-5 12-5 JN141 52/05034 11-01-1950 26-01-1953 Export-serial G-15-77; Sold
18-6 12-6 JN142 52/05035 12-05-1950 24-04-1952 Export-serial G15-78;
Withdrawn from use because of accident.
18-7 12-7 JN186 52/05039 30-06-1950 16-01-1952 Export-serial G15-79.
Crashed
18-8 12-8 JM984   14-12-1950 05-05-1953 Export-serial G-15-108;
Sold
    JM764   03-1950 03-1950 e-G-AKID.
Scrapped for spare parts.
    JM826   03-1950 03-1950 ex-G-AKIC.
Scrapped for spare parts.
    JM827 53/0802 03-1950 03-1950 ex-G-ALTX.
Scrapped for spare parts.

 


Scale 1/72

  • Aeroclub
    • Kit XX: Supermarine Sea Otter Mk 2
  • Azur
    • Kit 047: Supermarine Sea Otter
    • Kit 104: Supermarine Sea Otter Mk.I "Civilian Service"
    • Kit 101: Supermarine Sea Otter Mk.I "WWII Service"
    • Kit 090: Supermarine Sea Otter Mk.I/ASR Mk.II "Foreign Service"
Super Marine ASR Mk II Sea Otter AKleijn
A model of a Supermarine Sea Otter, kit used is the Aeroclub kit, built by Adri Kleijn.

 

Modelling add-on

  • Radial engines and wheels
    • Set 72016:Bristol Mercury engine

Decals

  • Dutch Decal
    • Set 72034: Decalset for several aircraft such as Sea Otter 18-6

Scale 1/48

  • --
    • Kit --: --

Modeling add-on

  • --
    • Set --: --

Decals

  • --
    • Set --: --

SchemeColour nameFS numberBS numberHumbrolXtraColorVallejo Model ColorVallejo Model Air
Standard #1Overall Yellow     154 X213 70.953 71.078

Check www.paint4models.com for an extensive conversion table with lots of colour and paint systems.

Supermarine_Seaotter-1
Supermarine Seaotter: delivery scheme: overall yellow.
Supermarine_Seaotter-2
Supermarine Seaotter: overall yellow.

 


Literature.

Zestig jaar Marineluchtvaartdienst in Beeld. Hugo Hooftman Pag. 106 - 107 1977 Uitgever Europese Bibliotheek, Zaltbommel
Dutch Military Aviation 1945-1978 Paul A. Jackson pag. 117 - 118 1978 Uitgever Midland Countries Publications, Leicester
Nederlandse Marinevliegtuigen Thijs Postma & Nico Geldhof Pag. 50 - 1978 Uitgever Omniboek, 's Gravenhage
Luchtvaartwereld; 1e jaargang nummer 11: De Sea Otters van de MLD Theo Wesselink Pag. 334 - 335 1984 Uitgeverij Ten Brink, Meppel
70 Jaar Marine-LuchtvaartDienst Nico Geldhof pag. 102 1987 Uitgeverij Eisma b.v., Leeuwarden
Vliegen voor de Vloot: 70 jaar Marineluchtvaartdienst Harm J. Hazewinkel Pag. 40 1987 Uitgever Rebo Produkties, Sassenheim
Nieuwsbrief nummer 57 April 1996: De Vickers-Armstrong Supermarine Sea Otter Nico Geldhof Pag. 15 - 23 1996 Uitgever St. Vrienden v.h. Mil. Luchtv. Museum, Soesterberg
Camouflage en Kentekens J.Greuter e.a.   1997 Bonneville – Bergen (NH)
85 JAAR Marineluchtvaartdienst in beeld: Van Farman tot NH 90 Helikopter Peter Korbee Pag. 102 - 103 2002 Uitgever Korbee MLD Promotie, Valkenburg

 

Websites.