SHORT STIRLING
- The Short S.29 Stirling was designed under the direction of Arthur Gouge
as Short's response to Specification B.I2/36, which defined a heavy bomber
to meet Operational Requirement OR. 40 drawn up by the Air Staff in 1936.
Two prototypes ordered 1937, for competitive evaluation with Supermarine
Type 316. Powered by four 1,150 hp Bristol Hercules Is, the first Short
Stirling, L7600, flew at Rochester on May 14, 1939, but was damaged beyond
repair when u/c collapsed on landing. Second prototype, L7605, flew on
December 3, 1939, by which time Shorts had flown a l/2-scale Short Stirling
(see Short S.31), and first Short Stirling
production order had been placed.
Short Stirling I: Initial production version, with orders
eventually totalling 267 by Shorts at Rochester, 266 by Short & Harland
at Belfast and 191 by Austin Motors at Longbridge. First production Short
Stirling flown on May 7, 1940, at Rochester, and first at Belfast on October
28, 1940. Initial aircraft were Series 1 (320 built) with 1,375 hp Hercules
II engines and armament of eight 0.303-in (7.62-mm) m/gs in FN5A nose,
FN4A tail and FN25A retractable ventral turrets. Bomb-load was up to 14,000
Ib (6,350 kg), and crew of seven carried. Found operationally unfit, first
ten Srs 1s classified as Short Stirling Trainers.
Short Stirling I Srs 2 (117 built)
introduced 1,590 hp Hercules XI engines with two-speed superchargers in
Short-designed pow-erplants, and had two beam m/gs in FN55A mounts to
replace ventral turret. The Srs 3 (307) had Hercules XIs in Bristol-designed
powerplants and FN7A or FN50A two-gun dorsal turret in place of beam guns;
some aircraft (perhaps Srs 4) later had provision for a remotely-controlled
FN64A ventral turret, and an FN20A rear turret. Short Stirling Is also used
1,400 hp Hercules III and 1,420 hp Hercules X engines. Deliveries began
late 1940 to No 7 Sqn, which flew first operation on night of February
10/11, 1941. No 7 later became only Short Stirling unit in Pathfinder Force;
all other Short Stirling bomber squadrons, comprising four by end-1941, three
more in 1942 and further four in 1943, served in No 3 Group, Bomber Command;
seven of these squadrons flew Short Stirling Is.
Short Stirling II: Proposed Canadian production version
to be built at St Hubert, PQ, by Canadian Associated Aircraft, with 1,600
hp Wright R-2600-A5B Cyclone engines. Three Mk I airframes completed as
Mk II prototypes in UK, with first flight at Rochester August 1941. Planned
production of 140 in Canada cancelled, as also was proposed Mk II production
at new shadow factory operated by Shorts at South Marston, near Swindon.
One Mk II later converted to Mk III prototype.
Short Stirling III: Improved Mk I Srs 3 with 1,615 hp
Hercules VI (and, later, Hercules XVI) engines in powerplants with under-slung
oil coolers. Two Mk Is converted to Mk III prototypes (one having previously
served as third Mk II), the first flying at Rochester in June 1942. Production
switched from Mk'I to Mk III late 1942 and 1,037 built (266 by Shorts
at Rochester/ South Marston, 342 at Belfast and 429 by Austin). A few
Mk Is also converted to Mk Ills. Standard armament comprised FN5A nose,
FN50A dorsal and FN20A tail turrets; provision for FN64A ventral turret,
seldom fitted. Installation of H2S with distinctive ventral radome soon
became standard on Mk Ills, and in early 1944 aircraft in at least five
squadrons fitted with additional 0.50-in (12.7-mm) gun in aft escape hatch
for rear defence. Mk III operations began in February 1943 and this variant
used by nine squadrons.
Max speed, 200 mph (322 kmlh) at 15,000ft (4,572 m). Time to 15,000 ft
(4,572 m), 30min. Ceiling, 20,000 ft (6,096 m). Range, 590 mis (949 km)
with 14,000 Ib (6,350 kg) bomb-load. Empty weight, 44,000 Ib (19,504 kg).
Gross weight, 70,000 Ib (31,751 kg). Span, 99 ft 1 in (30.2 m). Length,
87 ft 3 in (26.59 m). Wing area, 1,322 sq ft (122.81 m2).
Short Stirling IV: Adaptation of Mk III as glider tug
and/or paratroop transport. Nose and dorsal turrets removed. For glider-towing,
fitted with coupling on stirrup mount round tail turret (which sometimes
removed). As paratrooper carrying 20, had glazed cupola in place of tail
turret, and no coupling; exit hatch in rear fuselage aft of bomb cells.
One prototype of each version converted from Mk Ills, flown in August
1943. Production of Mk Ills thereafter switched to Mk IVs and delivery
commenced in last quarter of 1943.
Production totals were ten by Short and 450 by Short & Harland, with
at least a further 130 Mk Ills converted. Deliveries began early 1944
and operational use, on SOE sorties, started by March; two squadrons in
UK and one in North Africa flew Mk IVs (and some Mk Ills) for this purpose.
Eleven other squadrons eventually flew Short Stirling IVs in troop-transport
and GT role; as a tug, could tow one Hamilcar, two Horsas or up to five
Hotspurs.
Short Stirling V: Unarmed personnel, cargo and vehicle
transport derivative of Mk III, to carry 20 paratroops, 40 troops, two
jeeps with trailers or 12 stretchers and 14 sitting wounded. Lengthened
nose fairing, hinged to give access to cargo compartment, and large loading
door in starboard side. One prototype conversion of Mk III, first flown
at Rochester August 1944, and 160 built at Belfast (ending November 1945)
principally to be used by Tiger Force in Far East. Deliveries began September
1944, and five squadrons flying Mk Vs when war with Japan ended.
Max speed, 280 mph (451 kmlh) at 6,000 ft (1,829 m). Gross weight, 72,000
Ib (32,659 kg). Span, 99 ft 1 in (30.2 m). Length, 90 ft 7 in (27.61 m).
