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Shorts Stirling MKIII
The first of the RAF's four engined "heavies" to enter service during WW2 the Shorts Stirling was badly restricted in it's altitude performance due to it's short wingspan, (apparently due to a pre-war requirement for the aircraft to fit in a standard RAF hanger). It was also limited in the size of bomb that it was able to carry due to it's internal structure, although it's short range bombload was quite respectable.
The prototype Stirling first flew on 14th May 1939 with production deliveries beginning in August 1940. There was considerable excitement within Bomber Command upon the arrival of the four engined Stirling which at a stroke transformed the RAF's striking power in comparison with the twin engined medium bombers that comprised bomber commands front line strength. The Shorts Stirling was first used operationally against oil storage facilities in Rotterdam during February 1941. With the arrival of the Handley Page Halifax in 1941 and the Avro Lancaster in 1942, the limitations of the Stirling became apparent and it's influence within Bomber Command rapidly waned. The crunch came during the first two raids in the "Battle of Berlin" during August and September 1943. In these missions the Stirling squadron suffered 14% and 17% losses and the Stirling was withdrawn from deep penetration raids into Germany, effectively removing 3 Group from Bomber Command operational strength until re-equipped with Lancasters.
However, with Stirlings still pouring off the production lines, uses had to be found for the Stirling. Within Bomber Command the Stirling was used in the run up to D-Day for short range missions against French ports, railway stations, communication points and minelaying. More importantly perhaps the Stirling was used as a glider tug during D-Day and operation Market Garden.
History has not been kind to the Shorts Stirling, which was in many ways an imaginatively designed and well built aircraft but was the result of pre-war thinking. The Stirlings shortcomings were the result of being concieved in peace time when no-one could have concieved of the total war that the bombing offensive had become by 1943.
Performance
Max
Speed 270 mph above 14,500 ft
Weight: 70,000 lbs max take off weight
Armament: Max bomb load 14,000lb's. Eight 0.303" guns in nose, dorsal,
and rear turrets
Powerplant: Four Bristol Hercules, 14 cylinder radial engines of 1,650
HP.
