by Roger Lambert
The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) acquired three Supermarine Sea Otters in 1948. From 1948 to 1953, the aircraft were employed in carrier-borne air-sea rescue duties by 723 Squadron. The Sea Otters embarked on HMAS Sydney and Vengeance as well as being shore-based at HMAS Albatross, Naval Air Station, Nowra, NSW. Having been replaced by Bristol Sycamore helicopters, RD914 was sold and scrapped, RD917 was returned to the Royal Navy. JN200 was sold in 1954 into civilian hands (an article with details of these RAN airframes will be in issue 36/4).
The then Sydney-based firm, Air Sea Research, converted JN200, registered as VH-BQI, with the intention of using the Sea Otter on a regular service between Rose Bay, Sydney and Newcastle. The concept was for the ferrying fresh fruit to the Sydney markets. Unfortunately, during trials on Lake Macquarie, NSW, VH-BQI was holed by a submerged wooden stump. The Sea Otter was beached, repaired and moved to a farm at Ryhope (Ryhope is a small rural locality in NSW approximately eight kilometres (five miles) West of the town of Toronto and West of Lake Macquarie).
Although the Royal Newcastle Aero Club had undertaken fund raising to relocate the relatively complete Sea Otter to a more permanent home, just before collection in 1967, a scrap metal merchant removed the aircraft. The forward hull was retrieved and was presented to the Fleet Air Arm Museum at Nowra. At the time of writing, this is the largest section of a Sea Otter remaining world-wide.
Two further Sea Otters were brought to Australia in the 1950s. These were JN188, registered as VH-AJN, and JN242, registered as VH-AJO. Both aircraft were erected for the Australasian Petroleum/Vacuum Oil Company for work in New Guinea. VH-AJO was struck off the register when it sank at its moorings at Port Moresby on 21 January 1952. VH-AJN was struck off the register after also sinking at its moorings on 3 June 1953.
Dimensions:
Length - 12.2 m (39 ft 10.75 in)
Span - 14 m (46 ft 0 in)
Width Wings Folded - 5.49 m (18 ft 0 in)
Height - 4.61 m (15 ft 1.5 in)
Wing Area - 56.7 sq m (610 square ft)
Weights:
Empty - 3,086 kg (6,805 lb)
Loaded - 4,536 kg (10,000 lb)
Powerplant:
1 x Bristol Mercury XXX nine-cylinder air cooled radial, 965 hp
Performance:
Top Speed - 262 kph (163 mph)
Cruise Speed - 161 kph (100 mph)
Range - 1,110 km (690 miles)
Service Ceiling - 5,181 m (17,000 ft)
1/72 Scale:
Aeroclub - Kit No K027 - Supermarine Sea Otter II
Azur - Kit No 101 - Supermarine Sea Otter Mk I "WWII Service"
Azur - Kit No 104 - Supermarine Sea Otter Mk I "Civilian Service" (contains decals for VH-AJN and VH-AJO) (kit may be discontinued)
Azur - Kit No A090 - Supermarine Sea Otter Mk I/ASR Mk II "Foreign Service"
Azur - Kit No A047 - Supermarine Sea Otter ASR Mk II "FAA Post War Service"
Special Hobby - Kit No 72429 - Supermarine Sea Otter Mk I/ASR Mk II "Foreign Service"
Special Hobby - Kit No 72429 - Supermarine Sea Otter Mk I "WWII Service" (Changed Box)
1/48 Scale:
There are no known 1/48 scale kits; however, refer to 'In Miniature 36/4' - Modelling the Supermarine Sea Otter in Royal Australian Navy Service' for a suggested method of scratch-building a 1/48 Supermarine Sea Otter.
1/72 Scale:
Azur Kit A104 Decals. The Azur kit decal sheet is shown to illustrate that the three Australian subjects of this article are covered by the sheet; the decals also support the use of the St.Andrew’s Cross of Scotland on the rudders of VH-AJN and VH-AJO. Note however the comments in the Civilian Colours section below.
1/48 Scale:
There are no known 1/48 scale after-market decals for VH-BQI, VH-AJN and VH-AJO.
1/72 Scale:
Peewit - M72283 - Canopy Masks for Special Hobby Kit
1/48 Scale:
There are no known 1/48 scale masks to suit a scratch-build.
