Short Stirling

Short Stirling
Name	Short Stirling
Type	Heavy bomber
Manufacturer	Short Brothers
Designer	Arthur Gouge
First flight	14 May 1939
Introduced	1940
Retired	1946
Primary user	Royal Air Force
Number built	2,371
Status	Retired

Short Stirling. The Short Stirling was the first four-engined heavy bomber to enter operational service with the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Designed and built by Short Brothers to meet Air Ministry Specification B.12/36, it served as a key component of RAF Bomber Command's early strategic bombing campaign. Despite limitations imposed by its design, the aircraft performed vital service until being supplanted by more advanced types like the Avro Lancaster and Handley Page Halifax.

Development

The development of the aircraft was initiated by the Air Ministry's 1936 requirement for a new generation of heavy bombers capable of carrying a significant payload over long distances. The design team at Short Brothers, led by chief designer Arthur Gouge, began work on what would become the Stirling. A key constraint was the insistence that the aircraft's wingspan fit within existing RAF hangar dimensions, which critically impacted its aerodynamic performance. The prototype, powered by four Bristol Hercules radial engines, first flew from Short Brothers' facility at Rochester, Kent in May 1939. Early flight tests revealed stability issues, leading to modifications such as an increased tailplane span before the type entered production at factories in Belfast and across the United Kingdom.

Design

The aircraft was a high-wing monoplane with a distinctive, deep fuselage and a twin-tail configuration. Its structure was primarily of all-metal construction, utilizing a stressed-skin design. The most notable design feature was its relatively short wingspan, a direct result of the Air Ministry's hangar restrictions, which resulted in a high wing loading and poor high-altitude performance. The defensive armament typically consisted of eight Browning .303 machine guns in three turrets, operated by a crew of seven or eight. The bomb bay was divided into sections, which initially prevented it from carrying the largest bombs used by RAF Bomber Command. The landing gear was unusually complex, featuring a novel arrangement to accommodate the large bomb bay.

Operational history

The type entered service with No. 7 Squadron RAF in August 1940 and conducted its first operational raid against fuel storage tanks at Rotterdam in February 1941. It formed the initial equipment for many squadrons within RAF Bomber Command during the early years of the strategic bombing offensive against Nazi Germany. The aircraft participated in major raids such as the first 1,000-bomber raid on Cologne during Operation Millennium. Its operational ceiling proved a severe limitation over heavily defended targets, leading to high loss rates. By 1943, it was gradually withdrawn from the main bomber stream, being reassigned to Coastal Command for maritime patrol and minelaying duties, as well as towing Airspeed Horsa gliders for Airborne forces during operations like the invasion of Sicily and D-Day.

Variants

The primary production model was the Stirling I, which was followed by the improved Stirling III featuring more powerful Bristol Hercules XVI engines and a dorsal turret upgrade. The Stirling IV was a dedicated transport and glider-tug variant with all defensive turrets removed, extensively used by RAF Transport Command. The final variant was the Stirling V, a pure transport aircraft with a redesigned nose section. Several specialized prototypes were also built, including the Stirling II, which was fitted with Wright R-2600 engines but did not enter production. Experimental conversions tested different armament configurations and even a Parnall gun turret.

Operators

The principal operator was the Royal Air Force, with numerous squadrons in Bomber Command, Coastal Command, and Transport Command. Other operators included the Royal Canadian Air Force, which flew the type with several Article XV squadrons. The type was also supplied to the Polish Air Forces in exile, with crews serving within the framework of the RAF. Post-war, a small number were briefly used by the Egyptian Air Force. The aircraft was not provided to other Allied air forces like the United States Army Air Forces or the Soviet Air Forces.

Specifications (Short Stirling I)

* **Crew:** 7 (pilot, co-pilot, navigator, bomb aimer, front gunner, rear gunner, wireless operator) * **Length:** 87 ft 3 in (26.6 m) * **Wingspan:** 99 ft 1 in (30.2 m) * **Height:** 22 ft 9 in (6.9 m) * **Empty weight:** 44,000 lb (19,950 kg) * **Max takeoff weight:** 70,000 lb (31,750 kg) * **Powerplant:** 4 × Bristol Hercules XI 14-cylinder radial engines, 1,590 hp (1,190 kW) each * **Maximum speed:** 270 mph (435 km/h) at 14,500 ft (4,420 m) * **Range:** 2,330 mi (3,750 km) * **Service ceiling:** 17,000 ft (5,200 m) * **Armament:** 8 × .303 Browning machine guns; up to 14,000 lb (6,350 kg) of bombs

Category:World War II British bombers Category:Four-engined aircraft Category:Short Brothers aircraft