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Supermarine Seal

Supermarine Seal

Supermarine Seal II

Based on the Supermarine Commercial Amphibian which achieved second place in an Air Ministry competition in 1920, the Supermarine Seal II prototype first flew on 21 May 1921. The designation Seal II is presumed to come from the Commercial Amphibian which was briefly named Seal before it crashed and was written off.

Testing by the RAF of the Seal II resulted in several changes, including a more powerful engine and relocation of the fuel tanks to the upper wing. Two additional prototypes were ordered, but were renamed Seagull before delivery. See these pages for photos and a brief history of the resulting Seagull II Seagull III and Seagull V (which became the Supermarine Walrus).

The Seal II and one of the prototypes were sold to the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service for evaluation.

Supermarine Seagull V

Supermarine Seagull V A2-1 being launched from HMAS Canberra

Supermarine Seagull V

The Supermarine Seagull V was initially developed as a private venture in response to a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) request for an observation seaplane to be catapult-launched from cruisers. The Seagull V resembled the proceeding Supermarine Seagull III in general layout. Although construction commenced in 1930, the aircraft was delayed by more pressing projects and the first Seagull V did not fly until June 1933.

The prototypes was initially marked as N-1 but this was later changed to N-2 (as there was already an aircraft with this registration). The Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment at Felixstowe undertook trials on behalf of the RAAF from Royal Navy ships (HMS Valiant and HMS Repulse).

The RAAF ordered 24 Seagull Vs which were delivered in 1935 and 1936. They were used as spotter aircraft from the Royal Australian Navy cruisers and land bases. Post-World War Two, several Seagulls were sold into the civilian market where they operated into the 1960s. The primary civilian operator was Amphibious Airways of Rabaul, which operated four aircraft.

The RAF also ordered the aircraft, but renamed it the Walrus.

Prototype

A2-1

A2-2

A2-3

A2-4

A2-5

A2-6

A2-7

A2-8

A2-9

A2-10

A2-11

A2-12

A2-13

A2-14

A2-15

A2-16

A2-17

A2-18

A2-19

A2-20

A2-21

A2-22

A2-23

A2-24

HMAS Australia

HMAS Canberra

HMAS Perth

HMAS Sydney

Supermarine Seagull III

Supermarine Seagull III A9-6

Supermarine Seagull III

An improved version of the Supermarine Seagull II, the Seagull III was specifically built for the Royal Australian Navy for operations from the seaplane tender HMAS Albatross. Compared to the Mk II, the Mk III had a more powerful engine ( a Napier Lion V while the Mk. II had a Lion III). The first six aircraft arrived in January 1926, with a further three arriving the following year.

The Seagulls were operated by No. 101 Flight RAAF, and initially worked with HMAS Moresby during 1926 and 1927, assisting in the photographic survey of the Great Barrier Reef. From February 1929 to April 1933, six of the Seagulls served on board HMAS Albatross, where they served as spotting, shadowing and reconnaissance aircraft. They were transferred to HMAS Canberra and HMAS Australia when Albatross became held in reserve in 1932. The Seagull IIIs were withdrawn from active service or scrapped in 1936; they were superseded by the Supermarine Seagull V.

Supermarine Seagull A9-1

Supermarine Seagull A9-2

Supermarine Seagull A9-3

Supermarine Seagull A9-4

Supermarine Seagull A9-5

Supermarine Seagull A9-6

Supermarine Seagull A9-7

Supermarine Seagull A9-8

Supermarine Seagull A9-9

Supermarine Seagull Unidentified

Supermarine Seagull III Amphibians Operating From HMAS Albatross

Supermarine Seagull III Amphibians Operating From HMAS Australia

Supermarine Seagull III Amphibians Operating From HMAS Canberra