Misplaced Pages

Short Singapore: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editNext edit →Content deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 23:21, 26 March 2019 editNigel Ish (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers76,851 edits →References: cite format← Previous edit Revision as of 23:51, 26 March 2019 edit undoNigel Ish (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers76,851 edits →Specifications (Singapore III to R.14/34): switch template, tweak specs according to citeNext edit →
Line 65: Line 65:
**] **]


==Specifications (Singapore III to R.14/34)== ==Specifications (Singapore III)==
{{Aircraft specifications {{Aircraft specs
|ref=Singapore: Short's Last Biplane Boat<ref name="AE39p47">{{Harvnb|Green|Swanborough|1989|p=47}}</ref>
|plane or copter?=plane
|prime units?=imp
|jet or prop?=prop
<!--
|ref=Singapore: Short's Last Biplane Boat<ref name ="AE39">Green and Swanborough 1989, pp. 43–50.</ref>
General characteristics
|crew=six
-->
|genhide=

|crew=6–7<ref name=Greenv5p92">{{Harvnb|Green|1968|p=92}}</ref>
|capacity= |capacity=
|payload main= |length m=
|length ft=64
|payload alt=
|length main= 64 ft 2 in |length in=2
|span m=
|length alt=19.56 m
|span main=90 ft |span ft=90
|span alt=27.43 m |span in=0
|height m=
|span sweep= 5 degrees
|height main=23 ft 7 in |height ft=23
|height alt= 7.19 m |height in=6
|area main= 1,465 sq ft |wing area sqm=
|area alt= 136.1 m² |wing area sqft=1465
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=<!-- sailplanes -->
|airfoil= |airfoil=
|empty weight main= 20,364 lb |empty weight kg=
|empty weight alt= 9,237 |empty weight lb=20364
|loaded weight main= 28,160 lb |empty weight note=
|loaded weight alt= 12,773 kg |gross weight kg=
|gross weight lb=28160
|useful load main=
|gross weight note=(normal weight)
|useful load alt=
|max takeoff weight main= 32,390 lb |max takeoff weight lb=32390
|max takeoff weight alt= 14,692 kg |max takeoff weight note=(max overload)
|fuel capacity={{convert|786|impgal|USgal L|abbr=on}} normal, {{convert|1266|impgal|USgal L|abbr=on}} overload
|more general= |more general=
<!--
|engine (prop)=] VIII/IX
Powerplant
|type of prop=piston (pusher/tractor configuration)
-->
|number of props=4
|eng1 number=4
|power main= 675 hp
|eng1 name=] VIII/IX
|power alt=503 kW
|eng1 type=liquid-cooled ]s (pusher/tractor configuration)
|power original=
|eng1 kw=<!-- prop engines -->
|max speed main= 136 mph
|eng1 hp=610<!-- prop engines -->
|max speed alt=118 knots, 219 km/h
|eng1 shp=<!-- prop engines -->
|max speed more= (at 5,000 ft and normal weight)
|power original=(derated) - at {{convert|4500|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|cruise speed main= 123 mph

|cruise speed alt=107 knots, 198 km/h
|prop blade number=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|stall speed main=
|prop name=
|stall speed alt=
|prop dia m=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|never exceed speed main=
|prop dia ft=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|never exceed speed alt=
|prop dia in=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|range main= 1,000 mi<ref name="London p262-3">London 2003, pp. 262–263.</ref>
|prop note=
|range alt=870 ], 1,610 km
<!--
|endurance=6 hours 15 minutes
Performance
|ceiling main= 15,000 ft
-->
|ceiling alt= 4,570 m
|perfhide=
|climb rate main= 700 ft/min

|climb rate alt= 3.6 m/s
|max speed kmh=
|loading main=
|max speed mph=136
|loading alt=
|max speed kts=
|thrust/weight=
|max speed note=at {{convert|5000|ft|m|-1|abbr=on}} and normal weight
|power/mass main=
|cruise speed kmh=<!-- if max speed unknown -->
|power/mass alt=
|cruise speed mph=104
|cruise speed note=(econ. cruise, max weight)

|range km=
|range miles=1000
|range note=<ref name="London p262-3">{{harvnb|London|2003|pp=262–263}}</ref>
|combat range km=
|endurance=11.9 hr (at econ cruise)
|ceiling m=
|ceiling ft=14800
|g limits=<!-- aerobatic -->
|roll rate=<!-- aerobatic -->
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate ftmin=
|time to altitude=7 min to {{convert|5000|ft|m|-1|abbr=on}}
|lift to drag=
|wing loading kg/m2=
|wing loading lb/sqft=
|wing loading note=
|more performance= |more performance=
<!--
|guns= Up to three ] ]
Armament
|bombs= Up to {{convert|1100|lb|lk=on}} of bombs under wings.
-->
|guns= 3× ] ] in nose, waist and tail positions
|bombs= Up to {{convert|1100|lb|lk=on}} of bombs under wings
|avionics= |avionics=
}} }}

Revision as of 23:51, 26 March 2019

Singapore
Singapore Mark III, K8565 ‘Q’.
Role Military flying boatType of aircraft
Manufacturer Short Brothers
First flight 17 August 1926 (Mk.I) 15 June 1934 (Mk.III)
Introduction 1935
Retired Retired by RAF in 1941, last flight flown by RNZAF in 1942
Status Phased out of service
Primary users Royal Air Force
Royal New Zealand Air Force
Produced 1934–1937
Number built 37
Developed from Short Cromarty

The Short Singapore was a British multi-engined biplane flying boat built after the First World War. The design was developed into two four-engined versions: the prototype Singapore II and production Singapore III. The latter became the Royal Air Force's main long-range maritime patrol flying boat of the 1930s and saw service against the Japanese with the Royal New Zealand Air Force during the Second World War.

Design and development

Short Singapore I prototype (N179) in its final form, with Rolls-Royce H.10 Buzzard engines and Handley Page auto-slots on the upper wings.

The first prototype of the Short Singapore, also known as the Short S.5 (military designation Singapore I), was a metal hull version of the wooden-hulled Short Cromarty. The biplane design included a single fin and rudder, and was originally powered by two Rolls-Royce Condor IIIA 650 horsepower (480 kW) engines. Its maiden flight was made from Rochester on 17 August 1926, piloted by Short's Chief Test Pilot John Lankester Parker. The type did not enter production, but was used by Sir Alan Cobham for a survey flight around Africa. Registered G-EBUP, it left Rochester on 17 November 1927 and arrived at the Cape on 30 March 1928, returning to Rochester on 4 June 1928. It was displayed at the Olympia in July 1929.

Short Singapore II prototype (N246) early in its development, with four engines, single tail, open cockpit and no ailerons on the lower wings.

The Singapore II (manufacturer's designation Short S.12) which followed was a development of the Singapore I with four engines, mounted in tractor/pusher pairs (better known as the push-pull configuration). The single example of this aircraft to be built was first flown on 27 March 1930, also by John Lankester Parker.

From the Singapore II came a design with four engines and triple fins. In 1933 the British Air Ministry ordered four flying boats based on the Singapore II for trials with squadrons under specification R.3/33. These would be followed by a further production order to specification R.14/34. These aircraft, the Singapore III (manufacturer's designation Short S.19), had all-metal hulls and fabric-covered metal flying surfaces. They were powered by four 675 hp (503 kW) Rolls-Royce Kestrel IX mounted between the wings in two tandem push-pull pairs, similar to the Singapore IIs. The crew of six was located in a central cabin and fore, aft, and midships open gun positions (Vickers machine gun or Lewis gun). A long-range fuel tank could be carried externally on the dorsal hull. The first Singapore III flew on 15 June 1934. Although obsolescent by the time the first aircraft entered service with 210 Squadron in January 1935, the type arrived just in time to benefit from the arms race of the late 1930s and 37 were built. Production terminated in June 1937.

Operational history

Short Singapore III flying boat of 230 Squadron at Alexandria, mid-1930s.

230 Squadron was the first squadron equipped with Singapore IIIs. It was posted to Alexandria in 1935. During 1937 the Singapores of 209 Squadron and 210 Squadron moved from RAF Kalafrana in Malta to Algeria as part of an international effort to prevent gun running during the Spanish Civil War.

Replacement of the Singapore with the Short Sunderland was well underway by the outbreak of the Second World War. However, 19 survivors saw limited service in secondary theatres, mainly in a training role. The last RAF unit operating the type was No. 205 Squadron RAF in, appropriately enough, Singapore which relinquished its aircraft in October 1941. Four 205 squadron aircraft found their way to No. 5 Squadron RNZAF in Fiji, for use against German raiders. When Japan attacked in December, the New Zealand aircraft found themselves in the front line. They accounted for a Japanese submarine and conducted several air-sea rescues before being replaced by the Consolidated Catalinas from No. 6 Squadron RNZAF in April 1943.

Survivors

None are known to have survived.

Variants

Short S.5 / Singapore I
First design aircraft powered by two Rolls-Royce Condor IIIA engines (665 hp), one aircraft built.
Short S.12 / Singapore II
A development of the Singapore I powered by four engines, single example built.
Short S.19 / Singapore III
A development of the Singapore II powered by four Rolls-Royce Kestrel IX engines and equipped with triple fins. 37 were built.

Operators

Short Singapore III flying boat of 205 Squadron, in flight below three 'vic' formations of Vickers Vildebeest torpedo bombers of 100 Squadron. Both units were based at RAF Seletar.
 New Zealand
 United Kingdom

Specifications (Singapore III)

Data from Singapore: Short's Last Biplane Boat

General characteristics

  • Crew: 6–7
  • Length: 64 ft 2 in (19.56 m)
  • Wingspan: 90 ft 0 in (27.43 m)
  • Height: 23 ft 6 in (7.16 m)
  • Wing area: 1,465 sq ft (136.1 m)
  • Empty weight: 20,364 lb (9,237 kg)
  • Gross weight: 28,160 lb (12,773 kg) (normal weight)
  • Max takeoff weight: 32,390 lb (14,692 kg) (max overload)
  • Fuel capacity: 786 imp gal (944 US gal; 3,570 L) normal, 1,266 imp gal (1,520 US gal; 5,760 L) overload
  • Powerplant: 4 × Rolls-Royce Kestrel VIII/IX liquid-cooled V12 engines (pusher/tractor configuration), 610 hp (450 kW) (derated) - at 4,500 ft (1,400 m) each

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 136 mph (219 km/h, 118 kn) at 5,000 ft (1,520 m) and normal weight
  • Cruise speed: 104 mph (167 km/h, 90 kn) (econ. cruise, max weight)
  • Range: 1,000 mi (1,600 km, 870 nmi)
  • Endurance: 11.9 hr (at econ cruise)
  • Service ceiling: 14,800 ft (4,500 m)
  • Time to altitude: 7 min to 5,000 ft (1,520 m)

Armament

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References

Notes
  1. Barnes 1967, p. 198.
  2. London 2003, pp. 98–99.
  3. Darby 1978, p. 20.
  4. Prince, Ivan. "New Zealand Military Aircraft Serial Numbers: Short Singapore Mk III". www.adf-serials.com. Retrieved 26 March 2011.
  5. Jefford 2001, p. 177.
  6. Green & Swanborough 1989, p. 47
  7. Green 1968, p. 92
  8. London 2003, pp. 262–263
Bibliography
  • Barnes, C.H. (1967). Shorts Aircraft since 1900. London: Putnam. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Barnes, C. H.; James, Derek N. (1989). Shorts Aircraft since 1900. London: Putnam. ISBN 0-85177-819-4. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Darby, Charles (1978). RNZAF: The First Decade, 1937–46. Dandenong, Melbourne, Australia: Kookaburra Technical Publications Pty Ltd. ISBN 0-85880-031-4. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Green, William (1968). Warplanes of the Second World War, Volume Five: Flying Boats. London: Macdonald & Co. (Publishers) Ltd. ISBN 0-356-01449-5. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help).
  • Green, William; Swanborough, Gordon (May–August 1989). "Singapore: Short's Last Biplane Boat". Air Enthusiast. No. 39. pp. 43–50. ISSN 0143-5450. {{cite magazine}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Jefford, C. G. (2001). RAF Squadrons: A Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of All RAF Squadrons and their Antecendents Since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-84037-141-2. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • London, Peter (2003). British Flying Boats. Stroud, UK: Sutton Publishing. ISBN 0-7509-2695-3. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)

External links

Short Brothers aircraft
Pre-1921
Early 'S'
sequence:
'N' sequence:
Admiralty Types:
Post-1921
sequence
S.B.A.C
sequence
Names
By type
Airships:
Bombers:
Experimental:
Fighters:
Gliders:
Racers:
Maritime patrol &
reconnaissance:
Trainers:
Transports
& airliners:
Under licence
Categories: