What is it?

pmirl · 20 July 2004, 05:35 PM

This was in with some photos I bought on E-Bay. Can someone tell me what it is?

Thanks,

Paul

Dan_San_Abbott · 20 July 2004, 06:07 PM

Paul:
It is a Short 320 torpedo bomber. it could carry 1 Mark IX 18" diameter, 1000 lb. Torpedo. The type designation comes from the horse power of the 320 hp Sunbeam Cossack engine that power this seaplane.
They were used by No.263 Squadron based in Taranto and No.268 Squadron in Malta They were used in an anti-submarine rôle to fight German subrmarines operating in the Mediterranean Sea. They were also used by the U.S.Navy at the Killinghome Naval Air Station,on the channel coast of England. they were also used by RAF Naval Air stations, Calshot, Felixstowe, Great Yarmouth and the Isle of Grain and Killinghome.
Seventy-five were built by Short Bros. Belfast, Ireland and fifty by Sunbeam. At war's end fifty remained in service. Seveteen were at home naval air stations, two at other home stations, one in transit and thirty at Mediterranean air stations, Taranto and at Malta.
Blue skies,
Dan-San

pmirl · 20 July 2004, 06:31 PM

Thanks Dan-San! I've never seen one before and couldn't even begin to figure it out!!

Paul

CodyPaul · 21 July 2004, 06:04 PM

Was it strictly a seaplane, or did they also have wheels and operate from land bases?

R Pope · 21 July 2004, 08:37 PM

Can't find any reference to them ever using wheeled U/C. They seldom even used torpedoes, mostly being employed as bombers, despite their original intent.

R Pope · 22 July 2004, 04:55 AM

There was a Short Bomber, which looks like a land-based version with longer, three-bay wings, but it was a development of the earlier Type 184 seaplane.

Volker_Nemsch · 22 July 2004, 06:28 AM

This is a three view picture of a "Short Bomber". Probably this is the aircraft you are looking for.

Volker_Nemsch · 22 July 2004, 06:31 AM

Sorry, I forgot to mention the website. Here it is:

http://www.geocities.com/ww1fighters...op_britain.htm

Volker_Nemsch · 22 July 2004, 06:35 AM

And here is a photo of a Short 184, mentioned by R Pope ...

Dan_San_Abbott · 22 July 2004, 01:15 PM

Gentlemen:
Mr.Pope is correct, the Short Bomber was derived from the Short 184.
the Short 184 was successful in sinking three Turkish ships with torpedo in 1915. After these sinkings the RNAS was never able to repeat these early successes.
Blue skies,
Dan-San