Short SB.6 Seamew

Short Brothers · United Kingdom · first flew 1953 · transport aircraft

The Short SB.6 Seamew was a British carrier-based anti-submarine warfare aircraft of the early 1950s, designed to provide a simple and economical ASW platform for the Royal Navy.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	High-mounted, straight
E — Engines	1 × turboprop, nose-mounted
F — Fuselage	12.5 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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1950s British carrier-based ASW aircraft with high wing
Single turboprop with large four-blade propeller
Fixed undercarriage with arrester hook for carrier ops

High-wing turboprop monoplane with a distinctively boxy fuselage and fixed undercarriage — unusual for an ASW type of its era. The single large propeller and non-retractable undercarriage give it a utilitarian appearance.

Specifications

The Short SB.6 Seamew has a length of 12.5 m (41 ft).
It has a wingspan of 16.76 m (55 ft).
Its maximum speed is 380 km/h (236 mph).
Typical crew: 2.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

First flown in 1953, the Seamew was intended to be an inexpensive, easy-to-maintain ASW aircraft for operation from smaller escort carriers. Despite entering limited production, the programme was cancelled in 1957 as the Royal Navy reduced its carrier fleet.

Variants

Two versions were built: the Seamew AS.1 for the Royal Navy and a civil variant; neither reached large-scale use.

Where you'll see it

Briefly operated by the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm before the programme was cancelled; a small number were delivered.

Related aircraft

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