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Type: Maritime patrol flying boat. Origin: Short Models: S.25 Sunderland I, II, III and V Crew: Typically 13 First Flight: October 16, 1937 Service Delivery: May 1938 Final Delivery: June 1946 Number Produced: 739 499 by Short and 240 by Blackburn. Engine: Sunderland I Model: Bristol Pegasus 22 Type: 9-Cylinder air cooled radial Number: Four Horsepower: 1,010 hp Sunderland II & III Model: Bristol Pegasus XVIII Type: 9-Cylinder air cooled radial Number: Four Horsepower: 1,065 hp Sunderland V Model: Pratt & Whitney R-1830-90B Twin Wasp Type: 14-Cylinder air cooled twin-row radial Number: Four Horsepower: 1,200 hp Dimensions: Wing span: 112 ft. 9.5 in. (34.39m) Length: 85 ft. 4 in. (26m) Height: 32 ft. 10.5 in. (10.1m) Wing Surface Area: N/A Weights: Empty: Sunderland III: 34,500 lb. (15,663 kg) Sunderland V: 37,000 lb. (16,783 kg) Loaded: Sunderland III: 58,000 lb. (26,308 kg) Sunderland V: 60,000 lb. (27,216 kg) |
Performance: Max. Speed (III,IV): 213 mph (343 km/h) Initial Climb: Sunderland III: 720 ft/min (220 m/min) Sunderland V: 840 ft/min (256 m/min) Service Ceiling: 17,400 ft. (5300m) Range (III, IV): 2,900 miles (4670 km) Armament: Sunderland I: Two .303 in. Brownings in nose turret. Four .303 in. Brownings in tail turret. Two .303 in. Brownings manually aimed from hatches behind wing roots. Sunderland II & III: Two .303 in. Brownings in nose turret. Four .303 in. Brownings in tail turret. Two .303 in. Brownings in dorsal turret. Sunderland II & III: Two .303 in. Brownings in nose turret. Four .303 in. Brownings in tail turret. Two .303 in. Brownings in dorsal turret. Optional Four .303 in. Brownings fixed forward in nose. Two .50 in. Brownings manually aimed from beam windows in place of dorsal turret. Payload: 2,000 lb. (907 kg.) of bombs, depth charges, or mines. Ordnance moved out of fuselage on underwing rails to release point between fuselage and inner engines. |
A military conversion of a civil flying boat, the Sunderland was developed to meet Specification R.2/33. The Sundrland was a major advance in flying boats and served in numerous roles including transport, anti-submarine, air/sea rescue and patrol work. This aircraft was so well armed that the Luftwaffe named it the "Flying Porcupine". In several instances the Sunderland was able to defend itself against multiple aircraft, in one case shooting down three of the eight Ju 88's that attacked it and driving the others off.
The Mk. III introduced a redesigned planing hull and from 1940 onwards carried ASV radar, Leigh lights and other avionics. The Mk. III was the most numerous type. The Mk. V (later MR.5) served in Korea, Malaya and Singapore, from where the last operational sortie was flown on May 15, 1959.
Gunston, Bill - The Encyclodepia of the Worlds Combat aircraft, 1976, Chartwell Books, Inc., NY
BRITISH AVIATION RESOURCE CENTER > SEAPLANES/FLYING BOAT > PREVIOUS PAGE