You are not logged in.

1

Wednesday, August 7th 2013, 1:12am

Flying Boats and Seaplanes

Lioré-et-Olivier LeO 400; The LeO 400 was developed to replace earlier shipborne floatplanes such as the Loire 130, the Breguet Br790 Nautilus, and the Latécoère Late-298 floatplane. The LeO 400 design emphasized a balance of compact size, decent range, good speed, and good visibility. 40 were ordered from France in 1941 to replace the Hawker Osprey in service aboard Battleships and Cruisers and to add an additional Reconnaissance Squadron. Armament is 4 7.92mm MG (2 in nose, 2 on pivot mount in rear cockpit for observer) and 6 mounting points capable of carrying either 2 × 100kg bombs, 4x50kg bombs, or 6x25kg bombs.
Dimensions; 41.5/ 35.8/ 16.8/ 296 sq ft; 1 × 1590hp Gnome et Rhône 14R; max speed 293mph; range 1,096 miles and service ceiling 35,096ft.

Short S.25 Sunderland; four ex RAF Mk I Sunderlands were supplied by Britain in early 1938.
Dimensions; 112.9/ 85.3/ 34.6/ 1,687 sq ft; 4x 1,010hp Bristol Pegasus XXII; max speed 195mph; range 2,500 miles and service ceiling 17,400ft.

Supermarine Stranraer; this six-seat flying boat has an all-metal hull and fabric covered biplane wings and the armament is three twin 7.92mm Browning MG mounts and a bombload of 1,000lbs. Greece brought 48 in 1934.
Dimensions; 85/ 54.10/ 21.9/ 1,457 sq ft; 2x 875hp Bristol Pegasus X; max speed 165mph; range 1,000 miles and service ceiling 18,500ft.

Hawker Osprey; A navalised Hart with or without floats and folding wings and strengthened for catapult launching. From 1930 45 entered service and all have been upgraded to Osprey IV standard with a 630hp Kestrel II engine. Armament is one dorsal 7.92mm MG.
Dimensions; 37/ 29.4/ 10.5/ 339 sq ft; 1x 640hp RR Kestrel V; max speed 176mph; range 400 miles and service ceiling 25,000ft.