Curtiss SC Seahawk

<h2 id="design-and-development">Design and development</h2>

<p>Work began in June 1942, following a US Navy <a href="/facts/Bureau_of_Aeronautics/mx6NFuXf">Bureau of Aeronautics</a> request for <a href="/facts/Observation_seaplane/81qgSm4S">observation seaplane</a> 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 class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a> A production order for 500 SC-1s followed in June 1943, prior to the first flight of the prototypes.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a>
</p><p>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) <a href="/facts/M2_Browning_machine_gun/mwbqBGBQ">M2 Browning machine guns</a> were fitted in the wings, and two underwing hardpoints allowed carriage of 250 lb (113 kg) bombs or, on the right wing, surface-scan <a href="/facts/Radar/jk9BTbFA">radar</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a> The wings were foldable.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a> The main float, designed to incorporate a <a href="/facts/Bomb_bay/DheldBBv">bomb bay</a>, suffered substantial leaks when used in that fashion, and was modified to carry an auxiliary fuel tank.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a>
</p><p>The first flight of a prototype XSC-1 took place 16 February 1944 at the <a href="/facts/Columbus%2c_Ohio/mREa53Ub">Columbus, Ohio</a> Curtiss plant.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> 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.
</p>
<h2 id="operational-history">Operational history</h2>
<p>The first serial production Seahawks were delivered on 22 October 1944, to <a href="/facts/USS_Guam_(CB-2)/6z3jcDAK">USS <i>Guam</i></a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a> All 577 aircraft eventually produced for the Navy were delivered on <a href="/facts/Conventional_landing_gear/pJDBtjzg">conventional landing gear</a> and flown to the appropriate <a href="/facts/Naval_Air_Station/IYInxFTQ">Naval Air Station</a>, where <a href="/facts/Float_(nautical)/FJfSk81C">floats</a> were fitted for service as needed.
</p><p>Capable of being fitted with either float or wheeled landing gear, the Seahawk was arguably America's best <a href="/facts/Floatplane/jvu2PaN9">floatplane</a> scout of <a href="/facts/World_War_II/2efV5L1U">World War II</a>. 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 <a href="/facts/Borneo_Campaign_(1945)/GA14f0SY">pre-invasion bombardment of Borneo</a>, that the Seahawk was involved in military action.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a> By the end of the war, seaplanes were becoming less desirable, with the Seahawk being replaced soon afterward by <a href="/facts/Helicopter/chQF7H55">helicopters</a>.
</p><p>Tri-color camouflage and markings on the Seahawk were in accordance with US Navy regulations from 1944, 1945, and later postwar regulations.
</p>
<h2 id="variants">Variants</h2>
XSC-1
Prototype
SC-1
Equipped with single-stage, single-speed R-1820-62 engine, 1300 hp at 2600 rpm at 1,100 feet<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a> :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<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a>: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
<h2 id="specifications-sc-1-float-equipped">Specifications (SC-1, float-equipped)</h2>
<p><i>Data from</i> Curtiss Aircraft 1907–1947<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12"><sup>12</sup></a></p><p>General characteristics
</p><ul><li>Crew: 1</li>
<li>Capacity: Facility for single stretcher patient</li>
<li>Length: 36 ft 4.5 in (11.087 m)</li>
<li>Wingspan: 41 ft 0 in (12.50 m)</li>
<li>Height: 16 ft 0 in (4.88 m) on beaching gear</li>
<li>Wing area: 280 sq ft (26 m2)</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Airfoil/2d3l6hKd">Airfoil</a>: root: <a href="/facts/NACA_airfoil/cBUodM1n">NACA 23017</a>; tip: <a href="/facts/NACA_airfoil/cBUodM1n">NACA 23010</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13"><sup>13</sup></a></li>
<li>Empty weight: 6,320 lb (2,867 kg)</li>
<li>Gross weight: 9,000 lb (4,082 kg)</li>
<li>Powerplant: 1 × <a href="/facts/Wright_R-1820-62_Cyclone/omQKlIo7">Wright R-1820-62 Cyclone</a> 9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 1,300 hp (970 kW)</li>
<li>Propellers: 4-bladed constant-speed propeller</li></ul>
<p>Performance
</p>
<ul><li>Maximum speed: 235 mph (378 km/h, 204 kn) at 2,200 ft (670 m)</li>
<li>Cruise speed: 125 mph (201 km/h, 109 kn)</li>
<li>Range: 625 mi (1,006 km, 543 nmi)</li>
<li>Service ceiling: 37,300 ft (11,400 m)</li>
<li>Rate of climb: 2,500 ft/min (13 m/s)</li></ul>
<p>Armament
</p>
<ul><li>Guns: 2 × .50 in (12.70 mm) <a href="/facts/M2_Browning_machine_gun/mwbqBGBQ">M2 Browning machine guns</a></li>
<li>Bombs: 2 × 325 lb (147 kg) bombs under-wing</li></ul>
<h2 id="see-also">See also</h2>
<p>

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
</p>
<ul><li><a href="/facts/Vought_OS2U_Kingfisher/ktYIeFcx">Vought OS2U Kingfisher</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Nakajima_A6M2-N/f5XF76gz">Nakajima A6M2-N</a></li></ul>
<p>
Related lists
</p>
<ul><li><a href="/facts/List_of_aircraft_of_World_War_II/bxsNPfvu">List of aircraft of World War II</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/List_of_United_States_Navy_aircraft_designations_(pre-1962)/UGbsewE2">List of United States Navy aircraft designations (pre-1962)</a></li></ul>

<h3>Notes</h3>

<h3>Bibliography</h3>

<ul><li><a href="/facts/Peter_M._Bowers/tT1EbYVp">Bowers, Peter M.</a> <i>Curtiss Aircraft 1907–1947</i>. London: Putnam, 1979. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 0-370-10029-8.</li>
<li>Bridgeman, Leonard. "The Curtiss Seahawk". <i>Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War II</i>. London: Studio, 1946. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 1-85170-493-0.</li>
<li>Green, William. <i>War Planes of the Second World War: Volume Six: Floatplanes</i>. London: Macdonald, 1962.</li>
<li>Mondey, David. <i>American Aircraft of World War II</i> (Hamlyn Concise Guide). London: Bounty Books, 2006. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 978-0-7537-1461-4.</li>
<li>Swanborough, Gordon and Peter M. Bowers.  <i>United States Navy Aircraft since 1911</i>. London: Putnam, Second Edition 1976. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 0-370-10054-9.</li></ul>

<h2 id="external-links">External links</h2>

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Curtiss SC Seahawk.

<ul><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120319105317/http://www.fortunecity.com/meltingpot/portland/971/Reviews/usaaf/sc-1-seahawk.htm">Review by Richard Stracey of the SMER model of the Curtiss SC Seahawk</a></li></ul>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1"><p>Bridgeman 1946, pp. 221–222. <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:2"><p>Bridgeman 1946, pp. 221–222. <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:3"><p>Swanborough and Bowers 1976, p. 153. <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:4"><p>Bridgeman 1946, pp. 221–222. <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:5"><p>"Fleet Has Fast New Scout Seaplane in Curtiss Seahawk". Popular Science. 147 (2). New York: Popular Science Publishing: 72. August 1945. <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=GSEDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA72" target="_blank">https://books.google.com/books?id=GSEDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA72</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:6"><p>Bridgeman 1946, pp. 221–222. <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:7"><p>Green 1962, p. 166. <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:8"><p>Green 1962, p. 167. <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:9"><p>Bridgeman 1946, pp. 221–222. <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:10"><p>"Navy SAC, SC-1 "Seahawk"" (PDF). <a href="https://www.aahs-online.org/images/Navy_SAC/SC-1.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.aahs-online.org/images/Navy_SAC/SC-1.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:11"><p>"NAVY SAC, SC-2 "Seahawk"" (PDF). <a href="https://www.aahs-online.org/images/Navy_SAC/SC-2.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.aahs-online.org/images/Navy_SAC/SC-2.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:12"><p>Bowers, Peter M. (1979). Curtiss aircraft, 1907-1947. London: Putnam. pp. 446–449. ISBN 0370100298. <a href="0370100298" target="_blank">0370100298</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:13"><p>Lednicer, David. "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". m-selig.ae.illinois.edu. Retrieved 16 April 2019. <a href="https://m-selig.ae.illinois.edu/ads/aircraft.html" target="_blank">https://m-selig.ae.illinois.edu/ads/aircraft.html</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
</ol>

Curtiss SC Seahawk open-in-new

Curtiss SC Seahawk