• Source: Curtiss SC Seahawk

The Curtiss SC Seahawk was a scout seaplane designed by the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company for the United States Navy during World War II. The existing Curtiss SO3C Seamew and Vought OS2U Kingfisher were gradually replaced by the Seahawk in the late stages of the war and into peacetime.




Design and development



Work began in June 1942, following a US Navy Bureau of Aeronautics request for observation seaplane proposals. Curtiss submitted the Seahawk design on 1 August 1942, with a contract for two prototypes and five service test aircraft awarded on 25 August. A production order for 500 SC-1s followed in June 1943, prior to the first flight of the prototypes.
While only intended to seat the pilot, a bunk was provided in the aft fuselage for rescue or personnel transfer. Two 0.5 in (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns were fitted in the wings, and two underwing hardpoints allowed carriage of 250 lb (113 kg) bombs or, on the right wing, surface-scan radar. The wings were foldable. The main float, designed to incorporate a bomb bay, suffered substantial leaks when used in that fashion, and was modified to carry an auxiliary fuel tank.
The first flight of a prototype XSC-1 took place 16 February 1944 at the Columbus, Ohio Curtiss plant. Flight testing continued through 28 April, when the last of the seven pre-production aircraft took to the air. Nine further prototypes were later built, with a second seat and modified cockpit, under the designation SC-2; series production was not undertaken.




Operational history


The first serial production Seahawks were delivered on 22 October 1944, to USS Guam. All 577 aircraft eventually produced for the Navy were delivered on conventional landing gear and flown to the appropriate Naval Air Station, where floats were fitted for service as needed.
Capable of being fitted with either float or wheeled landing gear, the Seahawk was arguably America's best floatplane scout of World War II. However, its protracted development time meant it entered service too late to see significant action in the war. It was not until June 1945, during the pre-invasion bombardment of Borneo, that the Seahawk was involved in military action. By the end of the war, seaplanes were becoming less desirable, with the Seahawk being replaced soon afterward by helicopters.
Tri-color camouflage and markings on the Seahawk were in accordance with US Navy regulations from 1944, 1945, and later postwar regulations.
There are no known surviving examples of the Seahawk today.




Variants


XSC-1
Prototype
SC-1
Equipped with single-stage, single-speed R-1820-62 engine, 1300 hp at 2600 rpm at 1,100 feet :Top speed in level flight 235 miles per hour (378 km/h) at 2,200 feet (670 m) with two wing bomb racks equipped and droppable AN/APS-4 radar on right wing rack
SC-2
Upgraded engine for improved altitude performance: Equipped with single-stage, two-speed R-1820-76 engine, 1425 hp at 2700 rpm at 1,000 feet, 1,100 hp at 2700 rpm at 11,600 feet:Top speed in level flight 261 miles per hour (420 km/h) at 17,400 feet (5.3 km) with two wing bomb racks equipped and undroppable AN/APS-4 radar on special fitting




Specifications (SC-1, float-equipped)


Data from Curtiss Aircraft 1907–1947General characteristics
Crew: 1
Capacity: Facility for single stretcher patient
Length: 36 ft 4.5 in (11.087 m)
Wingspan: 41 ft 0 in (12.50 m)
Height: 16 ft 0 in (4.88 m) on beaching gear
Wing area: 280 sq ft (26 m2)
Airfoil: root: NACA 23017; tip: NACA 23010
Empty weight: 6,320 lb (2,867 kg)
Gross weight: 9,000 lb (4,082 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Wright R-1820-62 Cyclone 9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 1,300 hp (970 kW)
Propellers: 4-bladed constant-speed propeller
Performance

Maximum speed: 235 mph (378 km/h, 204 kn) at 2,200 ft (670 m)
Cruise speed: 125 mph (201 km/h, 109 kn)
Range: 625 mi (1,006 km, 543 nmi)
Service ceiling: 37,300 ft (11,400 m)
Rate of climb: 2,500 ft/min (13 m/s)
Armament

Guns: 2 × .50 in (12.70 mm) M2 Browning machine guns
Bombs: 2 × 325 lb (147 kg) bombs under-wing




See also



Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Vought OS2U Kingfisher
Nakajima A6M2-N

Related lists

List of aircraft of World War II
List of United States Navy aircraft designations (pre-1962)




References






= Notes

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= Bibliography

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External links



Review by Richard Stracey of the SMER model of the Curtiss SC Seahawk

Kata Kunci Pencarian:

• Curtiss SC Seahawk
• Sea Hawk
• Vought OS2U Kingfisher
• Curtiss-Wright
• AN/APS-4 search radar
• List of aircraft of the United States during World War II
• Curtiss F7C Seahawk
• Observation seaplane
• List of equipment of the United States Army during World War II
• SC1