Supermarine Stranraer

File:Supermarine Aviation Ltd, Woolston.jpg's works at Woolston, Southampton]]

The Supermarine Stranraer, which was directly derived from the Supermarine Scapa, was the final aircraft in a series of flying boats designed by R. J. Mitchell{{sfn|Thetford|1979|pp=479{{ndash}}480}} for the Royal Air Force (RAF).{{sfn|Morgan|2001|p=53}} It was produced by Supermarine at Woolston, Southampton between 1925 and 1936.{{sfn|Andrews|Morgan|1981|pp=4, 134}} Development of the series began during the early 1930s, with Supermarine's design team headed by Mitchell.{{sfn|Andrews|Morgan|1981|p=134}}

The project was pursued as a response to the Air Ministry's issuing of Specification R.24/31 in 1931,{{sfn|Aeromilitaria|1996|p=88|loc=Spec R.24/31 for twin-engined general purpose boat seaplane}} which called for a general purpose coastal reconnaissance flying boat for the RAF.{{sfn|Andrews|Morgan|1981|p=134}} This specification demandeds included a payload {{convert|1000|lb|kg}} greater than that of the Scapa and the ability to maintain level flight on only a single engine, which the Scapa could not do. Supermarine's initial response to the specification was a larger model of the Scapa; the company competed against a bid from Saunders-Roe.{{sfn|Andrews|Morgan|1981|p=134}}

The Air Ministry favoured Saunders-Roe's proposal and rejected Supermarine's design.{{sfn|Andrews|Morgan|1981|p=134}} Despite this, Supermarine chose to continue development work on the design as a private venture, which was first known as the Supermarine Southampton V.{{sfn|Andrews|Morgan|1981|p=134}}

In 1933{{sfn|Pegram|2016|p=137}} a contract was placed for a single prototype powered by two {{convert|820|hp|kW|lk=on}} Bristol Pegasus IIIM engines, and the type was named the Stranraer. On 27 July 1934 the first prototype, K3973, made its maiden flight, piloted by Joseph Summers.{{sfn|Andrews|Morgan|1981|p=136}} Over the following months, a relatively intense initial flight test programme was conducted. On 24 October 1934 it was delivered to the Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment (MAEE) at RAF Felixstowe for official trials.{{sfn|Andrews|Morgan|1981|pp=136{{ndash}}137}}

On 29 August 1935, soon after the completion of proving flights, an initial order for 17 aircraft (serial numbers K7287 to K7303) was placed by the Air Ministry to fulfil Specification 17/35;{{sfn|Andrews|Morgan|1981|p=137}} six more aircraft (K9676 to K9681) were ordered in May 1936.{{sfn|Robertson|1967|p=107}} The first production standard aircraft made its first flight in December 1936, and entered service operation with the RAF on 16 April 1937.{{sfn|Petrescu|Petrescu|2013|p=175}} The final Stranraer was delivered on 3 April 1939. In addition, a total of 40 Stranraers were manufactured under licence in Canada by Canadian Vickers Limited, as both Supermarine and Canadian Vickers were subsidiaries of Vickers-Armstrongs.

File:Supermarine Stranraer - John Player.jpg depicting the Supermarine Stranraer]]

The Stranraer was a six-seater, twin-engined biplane flying boat.{{sfn|Thetford|1979|pp=479{{ndash}}480}}{{cite magazine |magazine=Flight |date=1 August 1935 |pages=129{{ndash}}131|url=https://archive.org/details/Flight_International_Magazine_1935-08-01-pdf/page/n13/mode/2up?q= |title=The "Stranraer" |issn=0015-3710}} Its empty weight was {{convert|11250|lb}}, with a maximum take-off weight of {{convert|19000|lb}}.{{sfn|March|2000|p=223}}}

As the design of the Stranraer progressed, it was changed from that of the Scapa, having a two-bay structure.{{sfn|Andrews|Morgan|1981|p=134}} The Stranraer's weight, and the surface area and span of its wings, were 12 per cent greater; the elevator was also 7 per cent larger, while the rudders featured trim tabs capable of holding the aircraft straight under single-engine flight. The Rolls-Royce Kestrel was initially considered as a powerplant, but eventually the moderately supercharged Bristol Pegasus IIIM radial engine was selected, .{{sfn|Andrews|Morgan|1981|pp=134{{ndash}}135}} Much of the airframe was alclad, while detailed fittings were made of stainless steel; metal components were anodised as an anti-corrosion measure.{{sfn|Andrews|Morgan|1981|p=136}} For additional strength, a second pair of interplane struts were added.{{sfn|Andrews|Morgan|1981|p=135}} The hull was considerably larger, its cross-section being increased by 18 per cent, yet it had identical hydrodynamic performance. The forward gun was redesigned to be retractable, the middle gunner's position was lowered, and a tail gunner position was added just aft of the control surfaces, completed with a hooded windshield.{{sfn|Andrews|Morgan|1981|p=135}} In general, the equipment of which the aircraft was to be fitted with were the result of lessons learnt from operations of the earlier Southamptons.{{sfn|Andrews|Morgan|1981|p=136}}

The production model of the Stranraer differed in a few ways from the first prototype, chiefly of which was the use of the more powerful {{convert|920|hp|kW}} Pegasus X engine.{{sfn|Andrews|Morgan|1981|p=137}} The engines were placed in nacelles under the upper wing, so that the propellers were well clear of any sea spray. Two petrol tanks, each of {{convert|250|impgal}} capacity, were placed in the centre section of the upper wing; petrol was fed by gravity, but fuel pumps were also incorporated.

The two-bladed wooden propellers of the prototype were replaced by three-bladed metal Fairey-Reed propellers when the aircraft went into production.{{sfn|March|2000|p=223}} The wing structure was redesigned to have two bays. The wings were swept back to move the centre of pressure aft.e.{{sfn|Pegram|2016|pp=137{{ndash}}137}}{{sfn|Oliver|2003|p=27}}

The Stranraer was armed with three {{convert|0.303|inch|adj=on}} Lewis guns, positioned in the nose, dorsal and tail.{{sfn|March|2000|p=223}} The aircraft could carry up to {{convert|1000|lb}} of bombs.{{sfn|March|2000|p=223}}

The Stranraer and its contemporary, the Saro London, were the last multi-engine, biplane flying-boats to see service with the RAF.{{sfn|March|2000|p=191}} The RAF operated 17 Stranraers from 1937, although they were already considered obsolete when they entered service.{{sfn|Pegram|2016|p=137}}{{refn|1=They were ordered by the RAF in August 1935, the month the name was changed to Stranraers.{{sfn|Pegram|2016|p=137}}{{sfn|March|2000|p=223}}|group=note}} Before the war, the type served primarily with No. 228 Squadron, No. 209 Squadron and No. 240 Squadron.{{sfn|Andrews|Morgan|1981|p=137}} Generally, the aircraft was not well-received, with numerous pilots considering its performance being typically marginal.{{sfn|Morgan|2001|pp=58{{ndash}}59}} Others noted that it had superior seaworthiness to several aircraft in common use, such as the Consolidated PBY Catalina.{{sfn|Andrews|Morgan|1981|p=139}} As early as 1938, some Stranraer squadrons had begun to re-equip themselves with other aircraft, such as the Short Sunderland and Short Singapore flying boats.{{sfn|Andrews|Morgan|1981|p=137}}

Early on in its career, Stranraers made several challenging long-distance flights; one such flight, covering {{convert|4000|miles|km}}, was performed during a single exercise during September 1938.{{sfn|Andrews|Morgan|1981|p=137}}

No Stranraers saw action away from UK territorial waters during World War II.{{sfn|Pegram|2016|p=137}} Immediately following the outbreak of the war in September 1939, Stranraers patrolled the North Sea, intercepting enemy shipping between Scotland and Norway. Aircraft assigned to such duties were typically armed with bombs underneath one wing and a single overload fuel tank underneath the other one. Use of the Stranraer for such patrols came to an end on 17 March 1941.{{sfn|Andrews|Morgan|1981|p=137}} Stranraers saw service with No. 240 Squadron, and limited numbers were deployed at the No. 4 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit.{{sfn|Andrews|Morgan|1981|p=137}} The final Stranraer flight in RAF service was conducted by K7303 at Felixstowe on 30 October 1942.{{sfn|Andrews|Morgan|1981|p=137}}

File:Supermarine Stranraer 2 ExCC.jpg Stranraer in wartime camouflage]]

Having acquired a less than favourable reception by flight and ground crews alike, the Stranraer gained a large number of derisive nicknames during its service life. It was sometimes referred to as a "whistling shithouse" because the toilet opened out directly to the air and when the seat was lifted, the airflow caused the toilet to make a whistling sound.{{sfn|Septer|2001|p=60}} The Stranraer also acquired "Flying Meccano Set", "The Marpole Bridge", "Seymour Seine Net", "Strainer", "Flying Centre Section of the Lion's Gate Bridge", as well as a more genteel variant of its usual nickname, "Whistling Birdcage".{{sfn|Septer|2001|p=60}}

The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Stranraers were exact equivalents of their RAF counterparts. In Canadian service, they were usually employed in coastal patrol against submarine threats in a similar role to the British Stranraers. Aviation author Dirk Septer stated that no enemy action was ever recorded by the RCAF's Stranraers.{{sfn|Septer|2001|pp=60{{ndash}}61}} However, the crew of a 5 Squadron Stranraer, flown by Flight Lieutenant Leonard Birchall, were responsible for the capture of an Italian merchant ship, the Capo Nola, in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, hours after Canada issued its declaration of war on Italy on 10 June 1940.{{sfn|Pigott|2003|p=61}}{{refn|1=Flight Lieutenant Birchall had been tasked with locating any Italian vessels still in Canadian waters as war became imminent. On 10 June, he located the Capo Nola, which had recently departed from Quebec. Birchall had been informed of the declaration of war by radio and so made a low pass over the freighter, as if making an attack. This panicked the captain into running his vessel aground against a sandbank. Birchall then touched down nearby and waited until Royal Canadian Navy vessels reached the scene. The Capo Nola{{'}}s crew were the first Italian prisoners taken by the Allies during the war.{{sfn|Pigott|2003|p=61}}|group=note}} The Canadian Vickers-built Stranraers served with the RCAF throughout the war, the last example being withdrawn on 20 January 1946.{{sfn|Andrews|Morgan|1981|pp=137{{ndash}}139}}

From May 1935, the Stranraer was developed for civilian use into the Type 237.{{sfn|Pegram|2016|p=137}} All the RCAF's Stranraers were struck off charge between June 1939 and January 1946. Of the 40 aircraft acquired by the RCAF, half survived being destroyed or damaged during the war. In November 1944, 20 aircraft that had been withdrawn from active service in February earlier that year were purchased for civilian use, before being registered in Canada or the US.{{sfn|Morgan|2001|pp=60{{ndash}}62}}

After the end of World War II, 13 examples were sold through Crown Assets (Canadian government) and passed into civilian use; several served with Queen Charlotte Airlines (QCA) in British Columbia, operating until 1958.{{sfn|Andrews|Morgan|1981|pp=139{{ndash}}140}} A re-engine project by the airline substituted {{convert|1200|hp|kW}} Wright GR-1820-G202GA engines in place of the original Pegasus units.{{sfn|Andrews|Morgan|1981|p=139}}

Queen Charlotte Airlines became at one point the third-largest airline in Canada; it was popularly known as the Queer Collection of Aircraft. With limited money, it flew a mixture of types that were often the cast-offs of other operators. In QCA use, the Stranraer gained a more suitable reputation and was "well liked" by its crews.{{sfn|Septer|2001|pp=62{{ndash}}63}} A total of eight surplus Stranraers were also sold to Aero Transport Ltd. of Tampa, Florida.{{sfn|Septer|2001|p=62}}

; {{flag|Canada|1921}}

File:Supermarine Stranraer 912.jpg]]

• RCAF – Operational Squadrons of the Home War Establishment (HWE) (Based in Canada)
• Eastern Air Command
• No. 5 Squadron RCAF Used Supermarine Stranraer (Nov 38 – Sep 41){{sfn|Kostenuk|Griffin|1977|pp=25{{ndash}}26}}
• No. 117 Squadron RCAF Used Supermarine Stranraer (Sep 41 – Oct 41){{sfn|Kostenuk|Griffin|1977|p=50}}
• Western Air Command
• No. 4 Squadron RCAF Used Supermarine Stranraer (Jul 39 – Sep 43){{sfn|Kostenuk|Griffin|1977|pp=24{{ndash}}25}}
• No. 6 Squadron RCAF Used Supermarine Stranraer (Nov 41 – May 43){{sfn|Kostenuk|Griffin|1977|p=27}}
• No. 7 Squadron RCAF Used Supermarine Stranraer (Feb 43 – Mar 44){{sfn|Kostenuk|Griffin|1977|p=28}}
• No. 9 Squadron RCAF Used Supermarine Stranraer (Dec 41 – Apr 43){{sfn|Kostenuk|Griffin|1977|p=31}}
• No. 13 (OT) Squadron RCAF Used Supermarine Stranraer (Oct 41 – Nov 42){{sfn|Kostenuk|Griffin|1977|p=36}}
• No. 120 Squadron RCAF Used Supermarine Stranraer (Nov 41 – Oct 43){{sfn|Kostenuk|Griffin|1977|p=55}}
• (OT)-Operational Training;

; {{UK}}

File:Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1939-1945- Supermarine Stranraer. CH2551.jpg]]

• Royal Air Force
• No. 201 Squadron RAF
• No. 209 Squadron RAF
• No. 210 Squadron RAF
• No. 228 Squadron RAF
• No. 240 Squadron RAF{{sfn|Bowyer|1991|p=161}}

;{{flag|United States|1912}}

• Aero Transport Ltd.{{sfn|Petrescu|Petrescu|2013|p=175}}

;{{flag|Canada|1921}}

• Pacific Western Airlines{{sfn|Morgan|2001|p=62}}
• Queen Charlotte Airlines{{sfn|Morgan|2001|p=62}}
• Wardair

{{Aircraft specs

|ref= Supermarine Aircraft since 1914,{{sfn|Andrews|Morgan|1981|pp=128{{ndash}}140}} Database: Supermarine Stranraer{{sfn|Morgan|2001|pp=54{{ndash}}56}}

|prime units?= imp

|crew= 6–7

|length ft= 54

|length in= 9

|length note=

|span ft= 85

|span in= 0

|span note=

|height ft= 21

|height in= 9

|height note=

|wing area sqft= 1,457

|wing area note=

|aspect ratio=

|airfoil=

|empty weight lb= 11,250

|empty weight note=

|gross weight lb= 19,000

|gross weight note=

|max takeoff weight lb=

|max takeoff weight note=

|fuel capacity=

|more general=

|eng1 number= 2

|eng1 name= Bristol Pegasus X

|eng1 type= nine-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines

|eng1 hp= 920

|prop blade number= 3

|prop name= variable-pitch metal propellers

|prop dia ft=

|prop dia in=

|prop dia note=

|max speed mph= 165

|max speed note= at {{cvt|6000|ft}}

• Alighting speed: {{cvt|58.5|mph|kn km/h}}

|cruise speed mph= 105

|cruise speed note=

|stall speed mph=

|stall speed note=

|never exceed speed mph=

|never exceed speed note=

|minimum control speed mph=

|minimum control speed note=

|range miles= 1,000

|range note= at {{cvt|105|mph|kn km/h}} and {{cvt|5000|ft}}

|combat range miles=

|combat range note=

|ferry range miles=

|ferry range note=

|endurance=

|ceiling ft= 18,500

|ceiling note=

|g limits=

|roll rate=

|climb rate ftmin= 1,350

|climb rate note=

|time to altitude= {{cvt|10000|ft}} in 10 minutes

|wing loading lb/sqft= 13

|wing loading note=

|fuel consumption lb/mi=

|power/mass= {{cvt|0.097|hp/lb|kW/kg}}

|more performance=

|guns= Three × 0.303 British Lewis guns

|bombs= {{cvt|1000|lb|0}} of bombs or depth charges on external racks under the mainplanes

::::Eight × {{cvt|20|lb|0}} bombs housed in internal bays in the lower mainplanes

}}

File:Supermarine Stranraer.jpg, 2021]]

A single Stranraer, 920/CF-BXO, survives in the collection of the Royal Air Force Museum London.{{cite web |title=Supermarine Stranraer |url=https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/research/collections/supermarine-stranraer/ |publisher=Royal Air Force Museum |access-date=23 November 2021}}{{sfn|London|2003|p=176}} This aircraft was built in 1940, one of 40 produced by Canadian Vickers. In service with the RCAF, it flew with several squadrons, on anti-submarine patrols, as a training aircraft and carrying passengers. In 1944, it was disposed of. It was flown by the civilian airline Canadian Pacific Airlines until 1947, then by Queen Charlotte Airlines, who replaced its original engines with American Wright R-1820 Cyclone engines. Queen Charlotte Airlines flew the aircraft on passenger flights until 1952, flying from Vancouver along the Pacific coast of British Columbia. It flew with several other private owners until it was damaged by a ship in 1966. In 1970, it was bought by the RAF Museum and transported to the UK.{{cite web |url= http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/london/collections/aircraft/aircraft_histories/70-AF-645%20Stranraer.pdf |title= Individual History: Supermarine Stranraer 920/CF-BX) |first= Andrew |last = Simpson |year= 2007 |publisher= Royal Air Force Museum |access-date= 30 October 2009 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110605071013/http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/london/collections/aircraft/aircraft_histories/70-AF-645%20Stranraer.pdf |archive-date= 5 June 2011 |df= dmy-all}}

Parts of a second Stranraer, 915/CF-BYJ, are owned by the Shearwater Aviation Museum, Halifax, Canada. This aircraft also operated with Queen Charlotte Airlines until it crashed on Christmas Eve 1949 at Belize Inlet, British Columbia. Most of the aircraft was recovered in the 1980s, with the exception of the forward fuselage and cockpit.

{{Portal|Aviation}}

• Short Knuckleduster

{{Aircontent

|related =

• Supermarine Southampton
• Supermarine Scapa

|similar aircraft =

• Saro London

|lists =

• List of aircraft of the Royal Air Force
• List of aircraft of World War II

}}

{{reflist|group=note}}

{{Reflist|2}}

• {{cite book |last1=Andrews |first1=C. F. |last2=Morgan |first2=Eric B. |title=Supermarine Aircraft since 1914 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p3NTAAAAMAAJ |date=1981|edition=|publisher=Putnam |location=London |isbn=978-03701-0-018-0}}
• {{cite book |last1=Bowyer |first1=Michael J.F. |title=Aircraft for the Few: the RAF's fighters and bombers in 1940 |date=1991 |publisher=Patrick Stephens Ltd. |location=Sparkford, UK |isbn=978-1-85260-040-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sYnfAAAAMAAJ }}
• {{cite book |last1=Kostenuk |first1=S. |last2=Griffin |first2=J. |title=RCAF Squadron Histories and Aircraft: 1924–1968 |date=1977 |publisher=Samuel Stevens, Hakkert & Company |location=Toronto |isbn=978-0-88866-577-5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Pm4fP9g1fGcC }}
• {{cite book |last1=London |first1=Peter |title=British Flying Boats |url=https://archive.org/details/britishflyingboa0000lond/page/n1/mode/2up |date=2003 |publisher=Sutton Publishing |location=Stroud, UK |isbn=978-0-7509-2695-9 |url-access=registration}}
• {{cite book |last1=March |first1=Daniel J. |title=British Warplanes of World War II |date=2000 |publisher=Aerospace Publishing Ltd. |location=Hoo (Rochester), UK |isbn=1-84013-391-0 |page=|url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/britishwarplanes0000unse/page/n5/mode/2up?view=theater}}
• {{cite magazine |last=Morgan |first=Eric |date=2001 |issue=235 |title=Database: Supermarine Stranraer |url= |magazine=Aeroplane |location=Stamford, UK |publisher=Key Publishing |access-date= |pages=53{{ndash}}65}}
• {{cite book |last1=Oliver |first1=David |title=Wings over Water: a chronicle of the flying boats and amphibians of the twentieth century |date=2003 |publisher=Quantum |location=London |isbn=978-08628-8-559-5 |url=https://archive.org/details/wingsoverwaterch0000oliv/page/n3/mode/2up?q=}}
• {{cite magazine |title=Operational Requirements |magazine=Aeromilitaria |year=1996 |issue=4 |publisher=Air Britain |pages=87–106 |issn=0262-8791 |url=https://air-britain.com/pdfs/aeromilitaria/Aeromilitaria_1996.pdf |ref={{harvid|Aeromilitaria|1996}}}}
• {{cite book |last1=Pegram |first1=Ralph |title=Beyond the Spitfire: The Unseen Designs of R.J. Mitchell |date=2016 |publisher=The History Press |location=Cheltenham, UK |isbn=978-0-7509-6515-6}}
• {{cite book |last1=Petrescu |first1=Relly Victoria |last2=Petrescu |first2=Florian Ion |title=The Aviation History: New Aircraft I - Color |date=2013 |publisher=GmbH |location=Norderstedt |isbn=978-38482-6-639-5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=id9kQCuqepQC}}
• {{cite book |last1=Pigott |first1=Peter |title=Taming the Skies: A Celebration of Canadian Flight |date=2003 |publisher=Dundurn |location=Toronto; Oxford |isbn=978-1-55002-469-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K6GG1poUaAAC}}
• {{cite book |last1=Robertson |first1=Bruce |title=British Military Aircraft Serials 1912{{ndash}}1966 |date=1967 |publisher=Ian Allan ltd. |location=London |isbn=|oclc=6400372 |page=|url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/britishmilitarya0000bruc/page/n3/mode/2up}}
• {{cite magazine |last=Septer |first=Dirk |date=April 2001 |title=Canada's Stranraers |url= |magazine=Aeroplane |location=Stamford, UK |publisher=Key Publishing |issue=235 |access-date= }}
• {{cite book |last1=Thetford |first1=Owen |title=Aircraft of the Royal Air Force since 1918 |date=1979 |publisher=Putnam |location=London |isbn=978-03703-0-186-0 |page=|url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/aircraftofroyala0000thet_q8h0/page/n5/mode/2up}}

• {{cite book |last1=Kightly |first1=James |last2=Wallsgrove |first2=Roger |title=Supermarine Walrus & Stranraer |date=2004 |publisher=Mushroom Model Publications |location=Sandomierz, Poland; Redbourn, UK |isbn=978-83-917178-9-9 |ref=none}}

{{Commons}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20101205224208/http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/v2/equip/hst/stranraer-eng.asp Canada's Air Force: Supermarine Stranraer]

{{Supermarine aircraft}}

{{Canadian Vickers aircraft}}

{{Aircraft manufactured in Canada}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1930s British military reconnaissance aircraft

Category:Aircraft first flown in 1934

Category:Biplanes

Category:Flying boats

Stranraer

Category:Twin piston-engined tractor aircraft

Category:Twin-tail aircraft