Short Sunderland Long-Range Maritime / Reconnaissance Flying Boat (1937)
The British Short Sunderland is often regarded as the best floatplane of World War Two.
Designed from the airliner transport Short C-class "Empire" model, the Short Sunderland became the militarized version of the same flying boat. Fitted with four engines the aircraft became an integral part of Search and Rescue (SAR) missions, maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare throughout the course of the war. Crew accommodations amounted to 10 personnel including pilots and machine gunners as well as systems and missions specialists as needed.
Standard armament consisted of 2 x bow-mounted 7.7mm fixed, forward-firing machine guns, 2 x machines in a bow turret, 2 x 7.7mm machine guns in a dorsal turret and 4 x 7.7mm machine guns in a rear tail turret. This defensive array allowed the Sunderland to repel enemy fighters when she herself was attacked and she proved quite the capable aircraft for such work. Her network of machine guns earned her the nickname of "Porcupine" from German pilots. However, it was in her ordnance-carrying capacity that the Sunderland would truly shine. She could be outfitted with naval mines, depth charges and conventional drop bombs - enemy submarines being her primary targets. The aircraft series was so feared by German U-boat crews, in fact, that they worked hard to avoid direct entanglements with Sunderlands whenever possible.
Short Sunderlands gained a mighty reputation for their capabilities - most often remembered for their anti-submarine role - but equally respected for their search and rescue capabilities. In the end, nearly 700 examples were produced in four distinct marks - Mk I, Mk II, Mk IIIA and, the most potent form, the Mk V with its Pratt & Whitney radial piston engines - and each varied in powerplants and radar installed through the course of the war. Operational groups based from England could reach out across Greece and Crete airspace as well as other areas in the operating radius. A multitude of British squadrons fielded this versatile flying boat and most were often seen accompanying advancing Allied convoys at sea - a testament to its effectiveness in large scale operations. Additional operators included Australia, Canada, France, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal and South Africa. Text ©2003-2013 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • No Reproduction Permitted
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Specifications for the
Short Sunderland
Long-Range Maritime / Reconnaissance Flying Boat
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Manufacturer: Short Brothers - UK
Initial Year of Service: 1937
Production: 777
Focus Model: Short Sunderland Mk V
Crew: 9 to 11
Length: 85.30ft (26m)
Width: 112.73ft (34.36m)
Height: 34.51ft (10.52m)
Weight (Empty): 36,901lbs (16,738kg)
Weight (MTOW): 60,001lbs (27,216kg)
Powerplant: 4 x Pratt & Whitney R-1830-90 Twin Wasp 14-cylinder air-cooled radial engines generating 1,200hp each.
Maximum Speed: 217mph (349kmh; 188kts)
Maximum Range: 2,961miles (4,765km)
Service Ceiling: 17,864ft (5,445m; 3.4miles)
Rate-of-Climb: 750 feet per minute (229m/min)
Hardpoints: 0
Armament Suite:
2 x 7.7mm forward-fixed firing machine guns
2 x 7.7mm machine guns in dorsal turret
2 x 7.7mm machine guns in bow turret
4 x 7.7mm machine guns in tail turret
Some models as many as 16 x 7.7mm machine guns, Some fielded with additional 2 x 12.7mm Browning heavy machine guns as well.
Maximum bombload of 4,960lbs. Ordnance included bombs, depth charges and naval mines.
Variants:
Mk I - Initial Production Variant; 75 examples produced.
Mk II - Fitted with Pegasus radial engines and ASV.mk II radar system; 55 examples produced; redesigned planing bottom.
Mk IIIA - Fitted with ASV.Mk III radar; 407 examples produced.
Mk V - Final Production Variant; fitted with Pratt & Whitney radial piston engines and ASV.Mk VIc radar system; 143 examples produced.
Operators: Australia; Canada; France; New Zealand; Norway; Portugal; South Africa; United Kingdom
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