The Curtiss SOC Seagull entered service in 1935 and remained in use through 1945; 322 were built. It served the U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps from ships and island positions. A fixed forward machine gun and a flexible rear gun provided limited self-defence, and the aircraft could carry up to 650 pounds of bombs. Its streamlined central float supported useful speed while preserving a range of roughly 675 nautical miles. A floatplane Swordfish could carry a torpedo, but leaving the water with that load imposed handling and performance penalties. Spotting, attack, basing, and endurance imposed different requirements, so navies accepted different floatplane compromises.
Notable Point · 17:55-19:43
Curtiss SOC Seagull: an American spotting floatplane
The Curtiss SOC Seagull served ships and island bases as a spotter whose range and flexibility mattered more than a large weapons load.