https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtiss_SOC_Seagull
The Curtiss SOC Seagull was an American single-engined scout observation biplane
aircraft, designed by Alexander Solla of the Curtiss-Wright Corporation for the
United States Navy. The aircraft served on battleships and cruisers in a
seaplane configuration, being launched by catapult and recovered from a sea
landing. The wings folded back against the fuselage for storage aboard ship.
When based ashore or on carriers the single float was replaced by fixed wheeled
landing gear.
Curtiss delivered 258 SOC aircraft, in versions SOC-1 through SOC-4, beginning
in 1935. The SOC-3 design was the basis of the Naval Aircraft Factory SON-1
variant, of which the NAF delivered 64 aircraft from 1940.
The SOC was ordered for production by the United States Navy in 1933 and first
entered service in 1935. The first order was for 135 SOC-1 models, which was
followed by 40 SOC-2 models for landing operations and 83 SOC-3s. A variant of
the SOC-3 was built by the Naval Aircraft Factory and was known as the SON-1.
Role
Scout
National origin
United States
Manufacturer
Curtiss-Wright
First flight
April 1934
Introduction
12 November 1935
Retired
1945
Primary users
United States Navy
United States Coast Guard
United States Marine Corps
Produced
1935-1940
Number built
322 (258 by Curtiss, 64 by the NAF)
The first ship the SOC was assigned to was the light cruiser USS Marblehead in
November 1935; by the end of the decade, the SOC had replaced its predecessor
throughout the fleet. Production came to an end in 1938. By 1941, most
battleships had transitioned to the Vought OS2U Kingfisher and cruisers were
expected to replace their aging SOCs with the third generation SO3C Seamew. The
SO3C, however, suffered from a weak engine and plans to adopt it as a
replacement were scrapped. The SOC, despite belonging to an earlier generation,
went on to execute its missions of gunfire observation and limited range
scouting missions.
Through the first six months of naval service, the SOC was known as the XO3C-1,
The designation was changed to SOC when it was decided to merge its scouting and
observation roles. The SOC was not called the Seagull until 1941, when the U.S.
Navy began the wholesale adoption of popular names for aircraft in addition to
their alpha-numeric designations. The name 'Seagull' had earlier been given to
two civil Curtiss aircraft, a Curtiss Model 18 and a Model 25, both converted
Curtiss MF flying boats.
When operating as a seaplane, returning SOCs would land on the relatively smooth
ocean surface created on the sheltered side of the vessel as it made a wide
turn, after which the aircraft would be winched back onto the deck.
When the SOC was replaced by the OS2U Kingfisher, most remaining airframes were
converted into trainers; they remained in use until 1945. With the failure of
the Curtiss SO3C Seamew, many SOCs in second line service were returned to
frontline units starting in late 1943. They saw service aboard warships in the
combat zone for the rest of World War II. This is one of the few instances in
aviation history of an older aircraft type that was retired or sent to second
line service, replacing the new aircraft type that was supposed to replace it.
Specifications (SOC-1 floatplane)
General characteristics
Crew: two, pilot and observer
Length: 31 ft 5 in (9.58 m)
Wingspan: 36 ft 0 in (10.98 m)
Height: 14 ft 9 in (4.50)
Airfoil: NACA 0010 (upper wing); NACA 2212 (lower wing)
Empty weight: 3,788 lb (1,722 kg)
Loaded weight: 5,437 lb (2,471 kg)
radial engine, 550 hp (410 kW)
Performance
Maximum speed: 165 mph (143 knots, 266 km/h) at 5,000 ft (1,500 m)
Cruise speed: 133 mph (116 knots, 214 km/h)
Stall speed: 55.9 mph (90 km/h)
Range: 675 mi (587 nmi, 1,086 km)
Service ceiling: 14,900 ft (4,540 m)
Rate of climb: 915 ft/min (4.64 m/s)
Power/mass: 0.10 hp/lb (0.17 kW/kg (9.6 lb/hp))
Armament
mounted rear-firing 0.30 in (7.62 mm) Browning M2 AN machine gun
Bombs: 650 lb (295 kg) of bombs
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