SHORT C-CLASS EMPIRE
BOATS - Long-range
passenger and mail transport flying-boat designed for use on Empire routes
operated by Imperial Airways and developed in parallel with Short
S.25 Sunderland for RAF. Produced in three principal variants, as
follows:
Short S.23: Powered by four 900 hp Bristol Pegasus XC radial engines and
designed to carry 3'/2-ton payload (including 24 passengers). First flown
July 3, 1936, and total of 25 built for Imperial Airways plus six for
Qantas by December 1937. Eight of these lost pre-war; remainder used principally
by Imperial Airways' successor BOAC (retaining British civil registrations)
throughout the war on segments of Empire routes, from Durban to India
and Australia. Two impressed by RAAF in September 1939 (original IA 'boats;
two to IA from Qantas in exchange). Two more ex-Qantas impressed in July
1940, and all four used by No 11 Sqn, RAAF, for coastal patrols and transport
duty, with underwing bomb racks and a miscellany of guns. Later served
with No 33 Sqn as transports; three lost in 1942; fourth returned to Qantas
July 1943 and lost January 1944. Two Short S.23s (ex-BOAC) impressed for RAF
1940 and delivered Spring 1941 to No 119 Sqn, fitted with dorsal and tail
turrets and ASV radar; one lost August 1941 and other returned to BOAC
December 1941 after brief service with No 413 (RCAF) Sqn. Of the remainder,
seven lost and ten survived the war. Max speed, 200 mph (322 kmlh). Service
ceiling, 20,000 ft (6,100 m). Range, 760 mis (1,245 km). Empty weight,
23,500 Ib (10,670 kg). Gross weight, 40,500 Ib (18,380 kg). Span, 114
ft 0 in (34.7 m). Length, 88 ft 0 in (26.8 m). Wing area, 1,500 sq ft
(139.5 m1).
Short S.30: Long-range version intended for transatlantic service; fitted with
815 hp Bristol Perseus XIIC engines, with gross weight of 46,000 Ib (20,866
kg) and first flown September 28, 1939. Nine built, including four equipped
for in-flight refuelling (from HP Harrow tankers) and airborne weights
up to 53,000 Ib (24,040 kg). One lost before war. Two impressed for RAF
early 1940, for ASV radar development trials with Special Duty Flight
at Invergordon; then used to ferry supplies and troops to Norway in April
1940, where both lost. Others used by BOAC and (two) by Tasman Empire
Airways, four surviving the war.
Short S.33: Final two Empire boats, ordered for Imperial Airways as attrition
replacements, with strengthened hulls. First flown April/ May 1940, later
fitted with 835 hp Pegasus XXII engines and gross weight increased to
53,000 Ib (24,040 kg). One operated by BOAC survived the war; second impressed
by RAAF in March 1942 and armed to serve with No 33 Sqn, then with No
41 (Sea Transport) Sqn before return to Qantas in July 1943; lost January
1944.
