Supermarine Stranraer

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Stranraer
Supermarine Stranraer 3 ExCC.jpg
Role Maritime Reconnaissance
National origin United Kingdom
Manufacturer Supermarine
Designer R. J. Mitchell
First flight 24 July 1934
Introduction 1937
Retired 1957 (civilian use)
Primary users Royal Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
Number built 57
Developed from Supermarine Scapa

The Supermarine Stranraer was a flying boat designed and built by the British Supermarine Aviation Works company. It was developed during the 1930s on behalf of its principal operator, the Royal Air Force (RAF).

Derived from the Supermarine Scapa, the aircraft's design was heavily shaped by Specification R.24/31. While initially rejected by the Air Ministry, Supermarine persisted with development as a private venture under the designation Southampton V. During 1933, a contract was placed for a single prototype; it was around this time that the type received the name Stranraer. First flown on 24 July 1934, the Stranraer entered frontline service with the RAF during 1937; most examples of the type were in service by the outbreak of the Second World War.

The Stranraer's typically undertook anti-submarine and convoy escort patrols during the early years of the conflict. During March 1941, it was withdrawn from frontline service, but continued to be operated in a training capacity up until October 1942. In addition to the British-built aeroplanes, the Canadian Vickers company in Montreal, Quebec, also manufactured 40 Stranraers under licence for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). These Canadian Stranraers served in anti-submarine and coastal defence capacities on both Canada's Atlantic and Pacific coasts, and were in regular service until 1946. Following their withdrawal from military service, many ex-RCAF Stranraers were sold off to fledgeling regional airlines, with whom they served in various commercial passenger and freighter operations into the 1950s.

Design and development[]

Background[]

The Stranraer was directly derived from the Supermarine Scapa.[1] Development commenced during the early 1930s with Supermarine's design team, headed by the aeronautical engineer R. J. Mitchell. The project was pursued in a response to the Air Ministry's issuing of Specification R.24/31, which called for a general purpose coastal reconnaissance flying boat for the Royal Air Force (RAF).[1] This specification listed various requirements, including a payload capacity 1,000lb greater than that of the Scapa and the ability to maintain level flight on only a single engine, both of which were not within the capabilities of the Scapa without enlargement. Thus, Supermarine submitted its initial response to the specification as a larger model of the Scapa; the company competed against a rival bid from Saunders-Roe.[1]

The Air Ministry favoured Saunders-Roe's proposal and rejected Supermarine's design).[1] However, Supermarine opted to continue development work on the design as a private venture, which was first known as the Southampton V. As it progressed, the design deviated to a greater extent from the Scapa, opting for an alternative thin-wing arrangement around a two-bay structure.[1] The wing's span, area, and weight were 12 percent greater; the elevator was also 7 percent larger, while the rudders featured trim tabs capable of holding the aircraft straight under single-engine flight. While some consideration towards adopting the Rolls-Royce Kestrel was made, the moderately supercharged Bristol Pegasus IIIM radial engine was selected instead.[2]

While the airframe was broadly similar to the Scapa, its was cleaner in terms of its aerodynamics.[3] Much of the airframe was composed of alclad, while detailed fittings were fabricated from stainless steel; metallic objects were anodised as an anti-corrosion measure. While the hull had a sheet metal covering, the wings were covered with fabric.[3] For additional structural strength over the preceding Scapa, a pair of interplane struts were introduced.[4] The hull was considerably larger, its cross-section being increased by 18 percent, yet still achieving virtually identical hydrodynamic performance. The forward gun was redesigned to be retractable, the middle gunner's position was lowered, and a tail gunner position was added just aft of the control surfaces, completed with a hooded windshield.[4] In general, the equipment of which the aircraft was to be fitted with were the result of lessons learnt from operations of the earlier Supermarine Southampton.[3]

Prototypes and production[]

During 1933, a contract was placed for a single prototype powered by two 820 horsepower (610 kW) Bristol Pegasus IIIM engines and the type became known as the Stranraer. On 27 July 1934, the first prototype, K3973, conducted its maiden flight, piloted by Joseph Summers.[3] Over the following months, a relatively intense initial flight test programme was conducted. On 24 October 1934, the Stranraer prototype was delivered to the Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment (MAEE) at RAF Felixstowe for official trials.[5] On 29 August 1935, quickly after the completion of proving flights, an initial order was placed for 17 aircraft (serial numbers K7287 to K7303) was placed by the Air Ministry to fulfil Specification 17/35.[6]

The production model of the Stranraer different in a few aspects from the first prototype, chiefly of which being the installation of the more powerful 920 horsepower (690 kW) Pegasus X engine.[6] The first production standard aircraft made its first flight during December 1936, and entering service operation with the RAF on 16 April 1937. An additional order for six aircraft (K9676 to K9681) was placed in May 1936, but subsequently cancelled. The final Stranraer was delivered on 3 April 1939. In addition, a total of 40 Stranraers were manufactured under licence in Canada by Canadian Vickers Limited; Supermarine and Canadian Vickers being subsidiaries of Vickers-Armstrongs.

Operational history[]

Military use[]

RCAF Stranraer in wartime camouflage

In RAF service, only 17 Stranraers were operated between 1937 and 1942; the type serving primarily by No. 228, No, 209 and No. 240 Squadrons along with limited numbers at the No. 4 OTU.[6] Generally, the aircraft was not well-received, with numerous pilots considering its performance being typically marginal.[7] Others noted that it had superior seaworthiness to several aircraft in common use, such as the Consolidated PBY Catalina.[8] As early as 1938, some Stranraer squadrons had begun to reequip themselves with other aircraft, such as the Short Sunderland and Short Singapore flying boats.[6]

Early on in its career, the Stranraer performed several challenging long distance flight; one such flight, covering 4,000 miles, was performed during a single exercise during September 1938.[6] During September 1939, immediately following the outbreak of the Second World War, patrolling Stranraers begun to intercept enemy shipping between Scotland and Norway. Aircraft assigned to such duties were typically armed with bombs underneath one wing and a single overload fuel tank underneath the other; use of the Stranraer for such patrols came to an end on 17 March 1941.[6] The final Stranraer flight in RAF service was conducted by K7303 at Felixstowe on 30 October 1942.[6]

Having acquired a less than favourable reception by flight and ground crews alike, the Stranraer gained a large number of derisive nicknames during its service life. It was sometimes referred to as a "whistling shithouse" because the toilet opened out directly to the air and when the seat was lifted, the airflow caused the toilet to whistle. The Stranraer also acquired "Flying Meccano Set", "The Marpole Bridge", "Seymour Seine Net", "Strainer", "Flying Centre Section of the Lion's Gate Bridge", as well as a more genteel variant of its usual nickname, "Whistling Birdcage".[9]

The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Stranraers were exact equivalents of their RAF counterparts. In Canadian service, they were usually employed in coastal patrol against submarine threats in a similar role to the British Stranraers. Aviation author Dirk Septer stated that no enemy action was ever recorded by the RCAF's Stranraers.[10] However, the crew of a 5 Squadron Stranraer, flown by Flight Lieutenant Leonard Birchall, were responsible for the capture of an Italian merchant ship, the Capo Nola, in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, hours after Canada issued its declaration of war on Italy on 10 June 1940.[11][Note 1]

The Canadian Vickers-built Stranraers served with the RCAF throughout the war, the last example being withdrawn on 20 January 1946.[12]

Civilian use[]

Thirteen examples were sold through Crown Assets (Canadian government) and passed into civilian use following the end of the conflict; several served with Queen Charlotte Airlines (QCA) in British Columbia and operated until 1958.[13] A re-engine project by the airline substituted 1,200 horsepower (890 kW) Wright GR-1820-G202GA engines in place of the original Pegasus units.[8]

Queen Charlotte Airlines became at one point the third largest airline in Canada; however, it was popularly known as the Queer Collection of Aircraft. With limited money, it flew an eclectic mixture of types that were often the cast-offs of other operators. However, in QCA use, the Stranraer gained a more suitable reputation and was "well liked" by its crews.[14] A total of eight surplus Stranraers were also sold to Aero Transport Ltd. of Tampa, Florida.[15]

Operators[]

Military[]

Canadian Red Ensign 1921-1957.svg Canada
Supermarine Stranraer 912 of the RCAF at RCAF Station Jericho Beach
 United Kingdom

Civilian[]

 United States
  • Aero Transport Ltd. (United States)
 Canada

Specifications (Stranraer)[]

Data from Supermarine aircraft since 1914,[25] Database: Supermarine Stranraer [26]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 6-7
  • Length: 54 ft 9 in (16.69 m)
  • Wingspan: 85 ft 0 in (25.91 m)
  • Height: 21 ft 9 in (6.63 m)
  • Wing area: 1,457 sq ft (135.4 m2)
  • Empty weight: 11,250 lb (5,103 kg)
  • Gross weight: 19,000 lb (8,618 kg)
  • Powerplant: 2 × Bristol Pegasus X nine-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines, 920 hp (690 kW) each
  • Propellers: 3-bladed variable-pitch metal propellers

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 165 mph (266 km/h, 143 kn) at 6,000 ft (1,800 m)
  • Alighting speed: 58.5 mph (50.8 kn; 94.1 km/h)
  • Cruise speed: 105 mph (169 km/h, 91 kn)
  • Range: 1,000 mi (1,600 km, 870 nmi) at 105 mph (91 kn; 169 km/h) and 5,000 ft (1,500 m)
  • Service ceiling: 18,500 ft (5,600 m)
  • Rate of climb: 1,350 ft/min (6.9 m/s)
  • Time to altitude: 10,000 ft (3,000 m) in 10 minutes
  • Wing loading: 13 lb/sq ft (63 kg/m2)
  • Power/mass: 0.097 hp/lb (0.159 kW/kg)

Armament

  • Guns: Three × 0.303 in (7.70 mm) Lewis guns
  • Bombs: 1,000 lb (454 kg) of bombs or depth charges on external racks under the mainplanes
Eight × 20 lb (9 kg) bombs housed in internal bays in the lower mainplanes

Surviving aircraft[]

The RAF Museum London's Stranraer, 2015

A single intact Stranraer, 920/CF-BXO, survives in the collection of the Royal Air Force Museum London.[27] This aircraft was built in 1940, one of 40 built by Canadian Vickers. In service with the Royal Canadian Air Force, it flew with several squadrons, on anti-submarine patrols, as a training aircraft and carrying passengers. In 1944, it was disposed of. In civil service, it was flown by Canadian Pacific Airlines until 1947, then Queen Charlotte Airlines, who replaced its original British engines with American Wright R-1820 engines. Queen Charlotte Airlines flew it on passenger flights until 1952, flying from Vancouver along the Pacific coast of British Columbia. It flew with several other private owners until damaged by a ship in 1966. In 1970, it was bought by the RAF Museum and transported to the UK.[28]

Parts of a second Stranraer, 915/CF-BYJ, are owned by the Shearwater Aviation Museum, Halifax, Canada. This aircraft also operated with Queen Charlotte Airlines until it crashed on Christmas Eve 1949 at Belize Inlet, British Columbia. Most of the aircraft was recovered in the 1980s, with the exception of the forward fuselage and cockpit.[28]

See also[]

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

Notes[]

  1. ^ Flight Lieutenant Birchall had been tasked with locating any Italian vessels still in Canadian waters as war became imminent. On 10 June, he located the Capo Nola, which had recently departed from Quebec. Birchall had been informed of the declaration of war by radio and so made a low pass over the freighter, as if making an attack. This panicked the captain into running his vessel aground against a sandbank. Birchall then touched down nearby and waited until Royal Canadian Navy vessels reached the scene. The Capo Nola's crew were the first Italian prisoners taken by the Allies during the war.

References[]

Citations[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Andrews and Morgan 1981, p. 134.
  2. ^ Andrews and Morgan 1981, pp. 134-135.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Andrews and Morgan 1981, p. 136.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b Andrews and Morgan 1981, p. 135.
  5. ^ Andrews and Morgan 1981, pp. 136-137.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g Andrews and Morgan 1981, p. 137.
  7. ^ Morgan 2001, pp. 58–59.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b Andrews and Morgan 1981, p. 139.
  9. ^ Septer 2001, p. 60.
  10. ^ Septer 2001, pp. 60–61.
  11. ^ Pigott 2003, p. 61.
  12. ^ Andrews and Morgan 1981, pp. 137-139.
  13. ^ Andrews and Morgan 1981, pp. 139-140.
  14. ^ Septer 2001, pp. 62–63.
  15. ^ Septer 2001, p. 62.
  16. ^ Kostenuk and Griffin, 1977, pp. 25–26
  17. ^ Kostenuk and Griffin, 1977, p. 50
  18. ^ Kostenuk and Griffin, 1977, pp. 24–25
  19. ^ Kostenuk and Griffin, 1977, p. 27
  20. ^ Kostenuk and Griffin, 1977, p. 28
  21. ^ Kostenuk and Griffin, 1977, p. 31
  22. ^ Kostenuk and Griffin, 1977, p. 36
  23. ^ Kostenuk and Griffin, 1977, p. 55
  24. ^ Bowyer 1991, p. 161.
  25. ^ Andrews and Morgan 1981, pp. 128–140.
  26. ^ Morgan 2001, pp. 54-56.
  27. ^ London 2003, p. 176.
  28. ^ Jump up to: a b Simpson, Andrew (2007). "Individual History: Supermarine Stranraer 920/CF-BX)" (PDF). Royal Air Force Museum. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 30 October 2009.

Bibliography[]

  • Andrews, C.F. and E.B. Morgan. Supermarine Aircraft Since 1914. London: Putnam, 1981. ISBN 0-370-10018-2.
  • Andrews, C.F. and E.B. Morgan. Supermarine Aircraft Since 1914. London: Putnam Books Ltd., 2nd revised edition 2003. ISBN 0-85177-800-3.
  • Bowyer, Michael J.F. Aircraft for the Few: The RAF's Fighters and Bombers in 1940. Sparkford, Nr. Yeovil, Somerset, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd., 1991. ISBN 1-85260-040-3.
  • Kightly, James and Roger Wallsgrove. Supermarine Walrus & Stranraer. Sandomierz, Poland/Redbourn, UK: Mushroom Model Publications, 2004. ISBN 83-917178-9-5.
  • Kostenuk, S. and J. Griffin. RCAF Squadron Histories and Aircraft: 1924–1968. Toronto: Samuel Stevens, Hakkert & Company, 1977. ISBN 0-88866-577-6.
  • London, Peter. British Flying Boats. Stroud, Gloucestershire, UK: Sutton Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0-7509-2695-3.
  • Morgan, Eric. "Database: Supermarine Stranraer." Aeroplane, Volume 29, no. 4, issue 235, April 2001.
  • Septer, Dirk. "Canada's Stranraers." Aeroplane, Volume 29, no. 4, issue 235, April 2001.
  • Taylor, John W.R. "Supermarine Stranraer." Combat Aircraft of the World from 1909 to the present. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1969. ISBN 0-425-03633-2.
  • Thetford, Owen. British Naval Aircraft Since 1912, Fourth Edition. London: Putnam, 1978. ISBN 0-370-30021-1.

Further reading[]

  • Pigott, Peter (2003). Taming the Skies: A Celebration of Canadian Flight. Dundurn. ISBN 1550024698.
  • Shelton, John (2008). Schneider Trophy to Spitfire - The Design Career of R.J. Mitchell (Hardback). Sparkford: Hayes Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84425-530-6.

External links[]

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