SO3C Seamew

Curtiss SO3C Seamew
So3c.jpg Curtiss Seamew
Description
Role	Seaplane scout
Crew	2
First Flight	1941
Entered Service	1942
Manufacturer	Curtiss
Dimensions
Length	36 ft 10 in	11.25 m
Wingspan	38 ft 0 in	11.6 m
Height	15 ft 0 in	4.6 m
Wing area	290ft²	27 m²
Weights
Empty	4284 lb	1943 kg
Loaded	lb	kg
Maximum takeoff	5729 lb	2599 kg
Powerplant
Engines	1 Ranger XV-770 inline
Power	600 hp	kW
Performance
Maximum speed	172 mph	277 km/h
Combat range	miles	km
Ferry range	1150 miles	1850 km
Service ceiling	15,800 ft	4815 m
Rate of climb	ft/min	m/min
Wing loading	lb/ft²	kg/m²
Power/Mass	hp/lb	kW/kg
Avionics
Avionics	-		Armament
Guns	1 .30 machine guns in cowling 1 .50 MG in rear cockpit
Bombs	2 100 lb
Missiles	-		Rockets	-		Other	1 325 lb depth charge

The Curtiss SO3C Seamew was intended as a replacement for the SOC Seagull as the U.S. Navy's standard floatplane scout. Entering service in 1942, the type suffered a variety of problems, primarily with the Ranger XV-770 engine which was a dismal failure, and was withdrawn by 1944.

Royal Navy service

A number of the SO3C-1s, not a floatplane but a fixed undercarriage version, were ordered by the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm under the terms of Lend-Lease. In RN service the SO3C was given the designation "Seamew" a name used again in the 1950s for the Short Seamew. Crews gave it the more appropriate name "Sea Cow".

The first batch for the RN had a centreline bomb rack and arrestor gear. Later versions , known as the Seamew 1 were the SO3-2C variant. Two hundred and fifty Seamews were delivered, the last batch was refused in favour of additional Vought Kingfishers. Deliveries to the RN started in January 1944. It was declared obsolete in Spetember the same year and completey removed from service in 1945.

The SO3-1K was to have been taken into service as the Queen Seamew but an order of 30 was cancelled.

Seamews served with No. 744 NAS, No. 745 NAS at Nova Scotia Canada, and No. 755 NAS based in Hampshire, UK.

Operators

* United States, United Kingdom.