Short Type 184

Torpedo-dropping trials had been undertaken using a {{convert|160|hp|abbr=on}} Gnome powered Short Admiralty Type 166 but this had proved insufficiently powerful, and so in September 1914 a new specification was formulated for an aircraft to be powered by the {{convert|225|hp|abbr=on}} Sunbeam Mohawk engine currently being developed. Design proposals were invited from Sopwith, J. Samuel White and Short Brothers. Horace Short's response when the requirements were explained him by Murray Sueter, the director of the naval air department, was to say "Well, if you particularly want this done, I will produce a seaplane that will satisfy you", and on the strength of this assurance two prototypes were ordered, for which serial nos. 184 and 185 were reserved, the resultant type so becoming the Type 184.Barnes 1967 p. 110

File:Short Type 184 structure from FlightGlobal Archive.jpg

Similar in basic design to earlier Short floatplanes built for the Navy, the Type 184 was an equal-span three-bay tractor configuration biplane. The fuselage was a conventional wire-braced wooden box-girder, with spruce longerons spindled out to reduce weight and fittings of manganese steel. The top surface of the fuselage was faired to a semi-circular section. The engine was mounted on bearers fixed to pressed steel transverse frames mounted between the longerons and the large rectangular radiator was mounted above and behind the engine, directly in front of the upper wing.

The lower wings were parallel-chord, while the upper wings increased in chord from the centre section to the wingtips. The two prototype aircraft had ailerons on the upper wing only. These were single-acting, relying on the airflow to maintain them in a neutral position unless pulled downwards by using the flight controls. The interplane struts were steel tubing with wood fairings to produce a streamline section. The wings could be swung out from the pilot's position, by means of a hand-winch in the cockpit, locking being accomplished by means of a splined and threaded spigot in the forward spar, locked and unlocked by a quarter-turn in a similar manner to the breech of a field-gun. In the folded position the wings were supported by a transverse shaft mounted in front of the tailplane: this was rotated by a lever in the cockpit so that its upturned ends engaged with slots on the interplane struts in order to lock the wings in the folded position.

The twin unstepped main floats were carried by a two struts attached to the front cross-tube and two pairs of struts attached to the rear cross-tube, both cross-tubes being arched in the middle to accommodate the torpedo crutches. The wooden tail float incorporated a small water-rudder actuated by torque tubes connected to the main rudder, and cylindrical air-bags were fitted beneath the lower wing-tips.

The aircraft was fitted with a radio transmitter and receiver, which was powered by a wind-driven generator mounted on a hinged arm so that it could be folded back when not being used,Bruce 1966, p. 13 and other equipment carried included a basket of carrier pigeons, intended to be used as a back-up for the radio in the event of forced landings.

Initial trials revealed a lack of longitudinal control, and the single-acting ailerons caused problems when taxying downwind, so the two prototypes were fitted with lengths of bungee cord attached to control horns on the upper aileron surface to return the aileron to the neutral position. This only produced a marginal improvement, so ailerons were then added to the lower wings, these being fitted to all the aircraft built apart from the two prototypes. These were linked by cables to the upper ailerons, and the bungee cord to return the ailerons was rigged between the top of the rear interplane struts and the lower ailerons.

File:Short 184 (8359) (6857765499).jpg. While Frederick Rutland's aeroplane survived the First World War intact, it was damaged by bombing during the Second World War.]]

The first aircraft flew in early 1915. An order for ten more aircraft had already been placed, and 936 aircraft were built by ten different British aircraft companies, making it the most successful of Shorts' pre-World War II aircraft.

The two prototype aircraft were embarked upon HMS Ben-my-Chree, which sailed for the Aegean on 21 March 1915 to take part in the Gallipoli campaign.Barnes 1967 p. 113

On 12 August 1915 one of these, piloted by Flight Commander Charles Edmonds, was the first aircraft in the world to attack an enemy ship with an air-launched torpedo. However, the ship had already been crippled by a torpedo fired by the British submarine E14.{{cite book

|title=Guinness Book of Air Facts and Feats

|edition=3rd

|year=1977

|quote=The first air attack using a torpedo dropped by an aeroplane was carried out by Flight Commander Charles H. K. Edmonds, flying a Short 184 seaplane from Ben-my-Chree on 12 August 1915, against a 5,000 ton Turkish supply ship in the Sea of Marmara. Although the enemy ship was hit and sunk, the captain of a British submarine claimed to have fired a torpedo simultaneously and sunk the ship. It was further stated that the British submarine E14 had attacked and immobilised the ship four days earlier.

}}

However, on 17 August 1915, another Turkish ship was sunk by a torpedo of whose origin there was no doubt. On this occasion Flight Commander Edmonds torpedoed a Turkish transport ship a few miles north of the Dardanelles. His formation colleague, Flt Lt George Dacre, was forced to land on the water owing to engine trouble but, seeing an enemy tug close by, taxied up to it and released his torpedo, sinking the tug. Without the weight of the torpedo Dacre was able to take off and return to the Ben-My-Chree.Bruce Flight 28 December 1956, p. 1000.

The performance of the Type 184 in the climatic conditions of the Mediterranean was marginal, it being necessary to fly without an observer and carry a limited amount of fuel, and the 184 was therefore used either as a bomber, carrying two 112 lb bombs, or for reconnaissance and gunnery observation.Barnes 1967, p. 113

A Short 184, aircraft number 8359,[http://www.fleetairarm.com/exhibit/short-184-8359/1-29-2.aspx Short 184 (8359)] FAA Museum was the only British aircraft to take part in the Battle of Jutland. Flown by Flt Lt Frederick Rutland (who became known afterwards as "Rutland of Jutland") with Assistant Paymaster G. S. Trewin as observer, the aircraft was launched from HMS Engadine at about 3.08 p.m.: flying at about {{convert|90|ft|abbr=on}} due to low visibility, they spotted four cruisers of the German fleet, reporting their presence back to the Engadine at about 3.30.[http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1916/1916%20-%200595.html "Aircraft In The Naval Battle"]Flight 13 July 1916 The aircraft was presented to the Imperial War Museum in 1917, where it was damaged in a German air raid during the Blitz. The unrestored forward section of the fuselage is currently on loan from IWM to Fleet Air Arm Museum where it is on public display.{{cite web|url=http://www.fleetairarm.com/exhibit/short-184-8359/1-29-2.aspx|title=Short 184 (8359)|publisher=Fleet Air Arm Museum |access-date= 28 May 2012}}

The aircraft served in most theatres of the war. Five were used in Mesopotamia, where they were flown from the River Tigris at Ora, and in April 1916 they were used to drop supplies to the besieged garrison at Kut al Amara.Thetford 1982, p2.80

The principal use of the 184 was its use in anti-submarine patrol work. Although a substantial number of submarines were spotted and attacked, no confirmed sinkings were made.

The type was used for a number of experiments by the Port Victoria Marine Experimental Aircraft Depot. On 9 May 1916, a Short 184 seaplane, using a bombsight developed by Bourdillon and Tizard, hit a target with a 500-pound bomb from a height of 4,000 feet.{{cite web| title =Milestones of Flight website: British Military Aviation in 1916 – Part 1| publisher =RAF Museum| url =http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/milestones-of-flight/british_military/1916.html| url-status =dead| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20070318172634/http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/milestones-of-flight/british_military/1916.html| archive-date =18 March 2007}} The 184 was also used for trials of the Davis gun in April 1916

The Type 184 was still in production at the end of the war, and in December 1918 315 remained in service.Bruce 1966, p. 14 After the end of the war they were mainly used for spotting mines, and remained in service at least until the end of 1920. Following the Geddes Report all were struck off charge by the end of 1922.Barnes 1967, p. 120

Post-war, five aircraft were adapted to seat four passengers and used for pleasure flights: two being used by the Eastbourne Aviation Co., two by the Seaplane and Pleasure Trip Co., and one by Manchester Airways.

In 2010, the Estonian Maritime Museum announced it had ordered a non-flying reproduction of the plane to be built for fitting into one of their historic seaplane hangars. The main designer was killed in a glider crash on 11 July of the same year. However, a group of enthusiasts took over the build and the reproduction project was completed in spring 2012. The replica is now displayed in collection of the museum and can be seen at the Seaplane Harbour in Tallinn.{{Cite web|url=http://www.lennusadam.eu/en/.|title = Lennusadam}}

A single example of the Short Type 184 was acquired by the Imperial Japanese Navy and re-designated Yokosuka Navy Short Reconnaissance Seaplane, being used as an engine test-bed.Mikesh, Robert and Shorzoe Abe. Japanese Aircraft 1910–1941. London: Putnam, 1990. {{ISBN|0-85177-840-2}}

The Short 184 was later fitted with a variety of different engines, including the {{convert|240|hp|abbr=on}} Sunbeam Gurkha, the {{convert|260|hp|abbr=on}} Sunbeam Maori and the {{convert|240|hp|abbr=on}} Renault 12F.

• One example, known as the Short Cut was modified by Commander C.R. Samson. The span of the lower wing was reduced, the wingtip floats were replaced with deflecting boards, and the fin area was reduced. Samson claimed an extra six knots airspeed and a significant increase in rate of climb. This aircraft may have been the inspiration behind the Mann Egerton Type B.Barnes 1967 p. 115
• Type D A conversion into a single-seat bomber, with the pilot's position moved to the rear cockpit, the space previously used for the front cockpit being used to stow nine 65 lb bombs.Barnes 1967 p. 114
• Dover Type 184 Used by the Dover Patrol seaplane stations at Newhaven and Cherbourg, equipped with larger main floats and modified wing-tip floats to cope with rough sea conditions.Barnes 1967, p. 119
• A landplane development of the Short 184, the Short Bomber, was also used by the RFC and the RNAS.

;{{flag|Canada|1921}}

• Royal Canadian Naval Air Service

;{{flag|Chile|1919}}

• Chilean Air Force{{Citation needed|reason=Were these separate to the Naval aircraft?|date=June 2011}}
• Chilean Navy operated six aircraft 1919–1933

;{{flag|Estonia}}

• Estonian Air Force operated 8 aircraft 1919–33[http://www.lennusadam.eu/en/visit-the-museum/museum-highlights?layout=edit&id=337 Seaplane Short 184] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810235137/http://www.lennusadam.eu/en/visit-the-museum/museum-highlights?layout=edit&id=337 |date=10 August 2014 }} Seaplane Harbour

;{{FRA}}

• French Navy

;{{flag|Greece|old}}

• Hellenic Navy

{{JPN}}

• Imperial Japanese Navy

;{{NLD}}

• Dutch Naval Aviation Service

;{{flag|United Kingdom}}

• Royal Naval Air Service

:*Newhaven Seaplane Base

• Royal Flying Corps
• Royal Air Force

{{colbegin}}

:*No. 202 Squadron RAF (1920–1921)

:*No. 219 Squadron RAF (1918–1920)

:*No. 229 Squadron RAF (1918–1919)

:*No. 230 Squadron RAF (1918–1919)

:*No. 233 Squadron RAF (1918–1919)

:*No. 234 Squadron RAF (1918–1919)

:*No. 235 Squadron RAF (1918–1919)

:*No. 237 Squadron RAF (1918–1919)

:*No. 238 Squadron RAF (1918–1919)

:*No. 239 Squadron RAF (1918–1919)

:*No. 240 Squadron RAF (1918–1919)

:*No. 241 Squadron RAF (1918–1919)

:*No. 242 Squadron RAF (1918–1919)

:*No. 243 Squadron RAF (1918–1919)

:*No. 245 Squadron RAF (1918–1919)

:*No. 246 Squadron RAF (1918–1919)

:*No. 248 Squadron RAF (1918–1919)

:*No. 249 Squadron RAF (1918–1919)

:*No. 252 Squadron RAF (1918–1919)

:*No. 253 Squadron RAF (1918–1919)

:*No. 263 Squadron RAF (1918–1919)

:*No. 264 Squadron RAF (1918–1919)

:*No. 265 Squadron RAF (1918–1919)

:*No. 266 Squadron RAF (1918–1919)

:*No. 267 Squadron RAF (1918–1921)

:*No. 268 Squadron RAF (1918–1919)

:*No. 269 Squadron RAF (1918–1919)

:*No. 270 Squadron RAF (1919–1919)

:*No. 271 Squadron RAF (1918–1918)

{{Div col end}}

{{Aircraft specs

|ref=British Aeroplanes 1914–18Bruce 1957, pp. 493–494.

|prime units?=imp

|crew=Two

|capacity=

|length m=

|length ft=40

|length in=7+1/2

|span m=

|span ft=63

|span in=6+1/4

|height m=

|height ft=13

|height in=6

|wing area sqm=

|wing area sqft=688

|wing area note=

|aspect ratio=

|airfoil=

|empty weight kg=

|empty weight lb=3703

|empty weight note=

|gross weight kg=

|gross weight lb=5363

|gross weight note=

|fuel capacity=

|more general=

|eng1 number=1

|eng1 name=Sunbeam

|eng1 type=

|eng1 kw=

|eng1 hp=260

|more power=

|prop blade number=

|prop name=

|prop dia m=

|prop dia ft=

|prop dia in=

|prop note=

|perfhide=

|max speed kmh=

|max speed mph=88.5

|max speed kts=

|max speed note=at {{convert|2000|ft|m|abbr=on}}

|cruise speed kmh=

|cruise speed mph=

|cruise speed kts=

|never exceed speed kmh=

|never exceed speed mph=

|never exceed speed kts=

|range km=

|range miles=

|range nmi=

|combat range km=

|combat range miles=

|combat range nmi=

|endurance=2{{frac|3|4}} hr

|ceiling m=

|ceiling ft=9000

|climb rate ms=

|climb rate ftmin=

|time to altitude=

• 8 min 35 s to {{convert|2000|ft|m|abbr=on}}
• 33 min 50 s to {{convert|6500|ft|m|abbr=on}}

|guns= 1 × .303 in (7.7 mm) Lewis Gun in rear cockpit

|bombs= 1 × 14 in (356 mm) torpedo or up to 520 lb (236 kg) of bombs

|avionics=

}}

Barnes 1967, p. 510,

1. Brush Electrical Engineering Co. Ltd. (190)
2. Frederick Sage & Co. Ltd. (72)
3. J. Samuel White (110)
4. Mann, Egerton & Co. Ltd. (22)
5. Phoenix Dynamo Manufacturing Company (62)
6. Robey & Co. Ltd.{{cite web

|url=http://www.therobeytrust.co.uk/about%20robey%20page.htm

|title=The Robey Trust

}} (256)

1. S E Saunders Limited (80)
2. Short Brothers, Rochester (117)
3. Supermarine Aviation Works Ltd. (15)
4. Westland Aircraft Works Ltd. (12)

• Sempill Mission

{{Aircontent

|related=

• Mann Egerton Type B
• Short Bomber

|similar aircraft= *Wight Converted Seaplane

|sequence=

|lists=

• List of aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm
• List of aircraft of the Royal Air Force

|see also=

}}

{{Reflist}}

• Barnes, C.H. Shorts Aircraft Since 1900 London: Putnam. 1967.
• Bruce, J.M. British Aeroplanes 1914–18. London: Putnam, 1957.
• Bruce, J.M. [http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1956/1956%20-%201835.html "The Short Seaplanes: Historic Military Aircraft No. 14: Part 3"]. Flight, 28 December 1956, pp. 999–1004.
• Bruce, J.M. The Short 184 Leatherhead, Surrey: Profile Publications, 1966.
• {{cite magazine

|last=Gerdessen

|first=F.

|title=Estonian Air Power 1918–1945

|magazine=Air Enthusiast

|issue= 18

|date=April–July 1982

|pages=61–76

|issn=0143-5450

}}

• {{cite journal |last1=Klaauw|first1=Bart van der|title=Unexpected Windfalls: Accidentally or Deliberately, More than 100 Aircraft 'arrived' in Dutch Territory During the Great War |journal=Air Enthusiast |date=March–April 1999 |issue=80 |pages=54–59 |issn=0143-5450}}
• Mikesh, Robert and Shorzoe Abe. Japanese Aircraft 1910–1941. London: Putnam, 1990. {{ISBN|0-85177-840-2}}
• Thetford, Owen. British Naval Aircraft Since 1912. London: Putnam, 1982 {{ISBN|0-370-30021-1}}
• Thomas, Andrew. "In the Footsteps of Daedulus: Early Greek Naval Aviation". Air Enthusiast, No. 94, July–August 2001, pp. 8–9. {{ISSN|0143-5450}}

{{Commons category|Short Type 184}}

• [http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1957/1957%20-%200023.html The Short Seaplanes: Historic Military Aircraft No. 14 (Pt. 4)]

{{Short Brothers aircraft}}

{{Admiralty aircraft type numbers}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1910s British military reconnaissance aircraft

Category:1910s British bomber aircraft

Category:Biplanes

Type 184

Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft

Category:Aircraft first flown in 1915