The W.20 submarine-launched reconnaissance aircraft

Three W.20 prototypes tested the idea of a small reconnaissance flying boat that could be assembled and dismantled quickly aboard a surfaced submarine. The single-seat aircraft had roughly seventy-five minutes of endurance and a top speed of 63 knots. With a wingspan of about 6.8 metres and an all-up weight below 600 kilograms, it was compact enough for the proposed handling arrangements. The main obstacle was the absence of a suitable submarine, although larger boats were under development. A proposed minelaying application would use the aircraft to watch for hostile ships and aircraft while the submarine laid mines in daylight. The submarine's crew could then check positions visually and place its minefield more accurately than during night operations.