Table of Contents
Nordland Seewespe
| Nordland Seewespe / WS.2 Sea Wasp | |
|---|---|
 WS.2C Sea Wasp, 1955 |
|
| Role | Strike aircraft |
| National origin | Wingarde |
| Manufacturer | Nordland Flugzeugwerke |
| First flight | 26 April 1944 |
| Introduction | 12 December 1945 |
| Retired | 1976–1986 |
| Primary users | Wingarde Federal Navy Wingarde Federal Air Force Lucretian Republican Air Force |
| Produced | 1945–1968 |
| Major variants | • Carrier-borne Navy mod • Land-based Air Force mod |
The Nordland Seewespe (English: Sea Wasp), later redesignated WS.2 Sea Wasp (Wasp for Air Force variants) under the post-WW2 New Standard, was a Wingardian single-seat, carrier-based strike aircraft which served between 1945 and well into the 1970s, and beyond in allied nations.
TBX
Variants
- WS.2 (1945): The original Sea Wasp was carrier-based, able to perform as both a torpedo and dive bomber.
- WS.2B (1947): The initial Air Force variant was land-based and structurally reinforced to provide reliable close air support.
- WS.2C (1954): The second naval variant adopted much of the Air Force's improvements to improve carrier-borne support for amphibious operations.
- WS.2B2 (1962): Further airframe reinforcements as well as an upgraded Doppelmäher engine.
- WS.2C2 (1963): Carrier-capable variant of the B2, by the 1960s more focused on ground support than naval strike.
- WS.2B3 (1968): Final production version, modernized cockpit and armour plating in key locations.
Specifications (WS.2C2 Sea Wasp)
General characteristics
- Crew: 1 pilot
- Length: 13.1 m (43 ft)
- Wingspan: 14 m (46 ft), folded 6 m (20 ft)
- Height: 4.77 m (15 ft 8 in)
- Empty weight: 7,250 kg (15,984 lb)
- Max. takeoff weight: 12,210 kg (26,918 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Falken Doppelmäher II turboprop engine, 4,000 hp (2,983 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 600 km/h (373 mph) up to 3,000 m (10,000 ft)
- Range: 1,520 km (944 mi, 821 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 8,000 m (26,000 ft)
Armament
- Guns: 4 × 20mm Krauser Ordnance FK45-2 cannon, mounted in the wings
- Ordnance: 10 × payload stations (2 centerline, 8 underwing), maximum combat allowance of 4,000 kg (8,818 lb) with a combination of:
- 2 × 1,000 kg torpedoes OR 1 × 1,500 kg heavyweight torpedo (centerline)
- 500 kg, 250 kg, 125 kg, 3×50 kg bombs (general purpose or cluster munitions)
- 8 to 16 × unguided rockets
- 2 × 30mm underwing gun pods
- Mine dispensers
- Smoke canisters