The Sea Otter first flew in 1938 but did not receive production orders until 1942. In this interpretation, the Walrus remained adequate for the North Atlantic and Mediterranean, whereas Far Eastern operations made additional range and capability more valuable. The Sea Otter replaced the Walrus's pusher arrangement with a tractor propeller and used a Bristol Mercury engine as an evolutionary response to a different theater. Its original Stingray name also shows how an aggressive designation could outlive the more workmanlike mission the aircraft actually performed.
Notable Point · 31:32-33:46
Sea Otter adapts the Walrus for a Far East war
The Sea Otter's greater range and refined layout answer operational demands that became pressing with war in the Far East.