After being phased out due to the radar development, the Walrus found a new role in the air-sea rescue in both the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. The specialized RAF Air Sea Rescue Service squadrons flew a mixed variety of aircraft, like Spitfires and Boulton Paul Defiants to patrol areas for downed pilots, Avro Ansons to drop supplies and dinghy boats and Walruses to pick up aircrew from the water. Air-Sea Rescue squadrons were deployed to cover the waters around the United Kingdom, the Mediterranean sea and the Bay of Bengal. It's stimated that over a thousand aircrew were rescued during those operations, with No.277 Squadron being responsible for, at least 598 of those.
The Walrus was also used briefly with experimental purposes. In 1939, two Walruses were used at Lee-on-Soilent, Hampshire, for trials on ASV (Air to Surface Vessel) radar, with the dipole aerials being mounted on the forward interplane struts. In 1940 another Walrus was fitted with a forward-firing Oerlikon 20mm cannon, intended to use it against German E-Boats. The Walrus proved to be a stable gun-platform, but the muzzle flash blinded the pilot, so the idea was discarded.
Sources:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supermarine_Walrus
2. https://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.asp?aircraft_id=588
3. Hall Park Books - Warpaint 39 - Supermarine Walrus
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