Short Stirling
| Stirling | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Stirling N6101 from No. 1651 Heavy Conversion Unit at Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire, being "bombed up". | |
| Role | Heavy bomber Glider tug |
| National origin | United Kingdom |
| Manufacturer |
Short Brothers, Rochester Short Bros. and Harland, Belfast Austin Motor Company |
| Designer | Arthur Gouge |
| First flight | 14 May 1939 |
| Introduction | 1940 |
| Retired | 1946 (UK); 1951 (Egypt) |
| Primary users |
Royal Air Force Egyptian Air Force |
| Produced | 1939–1945 |
| Number built | 2,371 |
| Developed from | Short Sunderland |
The Short Stirling was the first four-engined British heavy bomber of World War II.
The Stirling was designed by Short Brothers to meet an Air Ministry specification from 1936. When the preferred design from Supermarine had to be abandoned, the Stirling was ordered for the RAF. It entered service in early 1941 but had a relatively brief operational career as a bomber, being relegated to second line duties from late 1943, when other more capable four-engined RAF bombers, specifically the Handley Page Halifax and Avro Lancaster, took over the strategic bombing of Germany.
The Stirling was used for mining German port areas and new built and converted Stirlings fulfilled a major role as a glider tug and supply aircraft during the Allied invasion of Europe in 1944–1945.
In the 1930s, the Royal Air Force was interested primarily in twin-engine bombers. These designs put limited demands on engine production and maintenance, both of which were already stretched with the introduction of so many new types into service. Power limitations were so serious that the British invested heavily in the development of huge engines in the 2,000 horsepower (1,500 kW) class in order to improve performance. In the late 1930s, none were ready for production. The U.S. and USSR were developing bombers with four smaller engines, which proved to have excellent range and fair lifting capacity, so in 1936 the RAF also decided to investigate the feasibility of the four-engined bomber.
The Air Ministry Specification B.12/36 had several requirements. The bomb load was to be a maximum of 14,000 lb (6,350 kg) carried to a range of 2,000 miles (3218 km) or a lesser payload of 8,000 lb (3,629 kg) to 3,000 miles (4,800 km) (incredibly demanding for the era). It had to cruise at 230 or more mph at 15,000 ft (4,600 m) and have three gun turrets (in nose, amidships and rear) for defence. The aircraft should also be able to be used as a troop transport for 24 soldiers, and be able to use catapult assistance for take off. The idea was that it would fly troops to far corners of the British Empire and then support them with bombing. To help with this task as well as ease production, it needed to be able to be broken down into parts, for transport by train. Since it could be operating from limited "back country" airfields, it needed to lift off from a 500 ft (150 m) runway and be able to clear 50 ft (15 m) trees at the end, a specification most small aircraft would have a problem with today.
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