The Seagull entered production in 1935 and served well into 1944, despite being largely replaced by more modern aircraft. The Seagull was of biplane configuration with one main float and two smaller stabilizing floats. Most could have the floats replaced with wheeled landing gear for use from land bases or aircraft carriers. As late as 1940, the Seagull was the primary (catapult-launched) plane carried on US battleships and cruisers (2-4 were embarked per ship with flagships getting an extra plane). Later in the war those fitted with wheels were sometimes operated from escort carriers as well as land bases.

The SOC-1 had a crew of two: pilot (who fired the nose Browning and dropped any bombs) and observer/gunner (who manned the rear Browning). The SOC-1 uses 20.1 gallons of aviation gas at routine usage.

Design Notes
The historical wing area of 342 sf has been used. Design speed was 162 mph. Design flotation rating was 3.9 tons. The cost, weight and HP of the chassis and each subassembly was divided by two to lower weight, but in the end design weight still had to be reduced 10%.

Performance assumes both hardpoints loaded with 100-lb bombs.

The floats cost about $1,400 and weigh about .5 tons. One source claims the wheeled versions of the OSC could carry a bomb under the fuselage.