The Short N.3 Cromarty was a prototype British twin-engined biplaneflying boat, designed towards the end of the First World War. Only a single example was built, which first flew in 1921 and was wrecked in 1922.
In April 1917, the British Admiralty developed a requirement for a long-range patrol flying boat to work in support of the Fleet, and issued Specification N.3(b) (later reissued as Air Ministry Specification XXX[a]) to meet this need.[1] This resulted in designs from Vickers (for the Valentia) and Shorts of Rochester, who, although better known at the time for floatplanes, had gained experience in flying boats, building Felixstowe F.3 and F.5s under licence from April 1917.[2][3]
Short Brothers received an order for three prototypes just after the Armistice ended the First World War.[4] Short's design, the N.3 Cromarty, was a large, twin-engine biplane. It was powered by two 650 hp (480 kW) Rolls-Royce Condor engines, and had a similar, but larger hull to that of the Felixstowe flying boats, with a biplane tail. It featured a side-by-side cockpit for the two pilots, a large box cockpit for a gunner, who was armed with a COWautomatic cannon, and a dorsal position for another gunner armed with a Lewis gun.[2][5]
Production of the prototypes started in February 1919, but the second and third were cancelled before completion, with the first prototype eventually being launched on 21 March 1921, being first flown by John Lankester Parker on 11 April 1921.[4]
Operational historyedit
After extensive testing, the Cromarty was handed over to the RAF's Seaplane Development Flight on 17 June 1922. In August, the Flight, comprising the Cromarty, two Felixstowe F.5s and a Phoenix Cork, set out on trials of operating large flying boats away from support facilities for extended periods of time. Arriving at St Mary's, Isles of Scilly on 21 August, the Cromarty successfully weathered a storm, but was taxied onto a reef, holing the hull. The damage was declared uneconomic to repair and the Cromarty was scrapped in place.[6][7]
While the Cromarty had performed well in its limited service, one problem (as with all wooden-hulled flying boats) was soakage of water into the hull, with as much as 600 pounds (270 kg) of water absorbed after a few weeks of service.[8] Tests with a metal-hulled Felixstowe F.5 resulted in an order for a prototype of an improved, metal-hulled flying boat, based on the Cromarty. This became the prototype Short Singapore I.[9]
^Following the formation of the Royal Air Force in April 1918, the specifications were re-numbered using roman numerals
Referencesedit
"Aircraft Production at a Glance". Flight, 14 December 1922, pp. 725–740.
Barnes, C.H. Shorts Aircraft since 1900. London:Putnam, 1967.
London, Peter. British Flying Boats. Stroud, UK:Sutton Publishing, 2003. ISBN0-7509-2695-3.
Short, Oswald "All-Metal Flying Boat Hulls". Flight, 17 December 1925. pp. 823–825.
Williams, Anthony G. and Gustin, Emmanuel. Flying Guns: World War I and its Aftermath 1914–32. Ramsbury, UK:Airlife, 2003. ISBN1-84037-396-2.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Short N.3 Cromarty.
Photo
January 01, 1970
short, cromarty, short, cromarty, prototype, british, twin, engined, biplane, flying, boat, designed, towards, first, world, only, single, example, built, which, first, flew, 1921, wrecked, 1922, cromarty, prototype, n120, role, flying, boat, national, origin,. The Short N 3 Cromarty was a prototype British twin engined biplane flying boat designed towards the end of the First World War Only a single example was built which first flew in 1921 and was wrecked in 1922 N 3 Cromarty Prototype N120 Role Flying boat National origin United Kingdom Manufacturer Short Brothers First flight 11 April 1921 Status Prototype Primary user Royal Air Force Number built 1 Contents 1 Development 2 Operational history 3 Specifications 4 See also 5 Notes 6 References 7 External linksDevelopment editIn April 1917 the British Admiralty developed a requirement for a long range patrol flying boat to work in support of the Fleet and issued Specification N 3 b later reissued as Air Ministry Specification XXX a to meet this need 1 This resulted in designs from Vickers for the Valentia and Shorts of Rochester who although better known at the time for floatplanes had gained experience in flying boats building Felixstowe F 3 and F 5s under licence from April 1917 2 3 Short Brothers received an order for three prototypes just after the Armistice ended the First World War 4 Short s design the N 3 Cromarty was a large twin engine biplane It was powered by two 650 hp 480 kW Rolls Royce Condor engines and had a similar but larger hull to that of the Felixstowe flying boats with a biplane tail It featured a side by side cockpit for the two pilots a large box cockpit for a gunner who was armed with a COW automatic cannon and a dorsal position for another gunner armed with a Lewis gun 2 5 Production of the prototypes started in February 1919 but the second and third were cancelled before completion with the first prototype eventually being launched on 21 March 1921 being first flown by John Lankester Parker on 11 April 1921 4 Operational history editAfter extensive testing the Cromarty was handed over to the RAF s Seaplane Development Flight on 17 June 1922 In August the Flight comprising the Cromarty two Felixstowe F 5s and a Phoenix Cork set out on trials of operating large flying boats away from support facilities for extended periods of time Arriving at St Mary s Isles of Scilly on 21 August the Cromarty successfully weathered a storm but was taxied onto a reef holing the hull The damage was declared uneconomic to repair and the Cromarty was scrapped in place 6 7 While the Cromarty had performed well in its limited service one problem as with all wooden hulled flying boats was soakage of water into the hull with as much as 600 pounds 270 kg of water absorbed after a few weeks of service 8 Tests with a metal hulled Felixstowe F 5 resulted in an order for a prototype of an improved metal hulled flying boat based on the Cromarty This became the prototype Short Singapore I 9 Specifications editData from Short Aircraft since 1900 10 General characteristicsLength 59 ft 0 in 17 98 m Wingspan 113 ft 6 in 34 59 m Height 23 ft 0 in 7 01 m 11 Wing area 2 243 sq ft 208 4 m2 Empty weight 12 200 lb 5 534 kg Gross weight 18 000 lb 8 165 kg normal all up weight Max takeoff weight 19 800 lb 8 981 kg overload weight Powerplant 2 Rolls Royce Condor IA water cooled V12 engine 650 hp 480 kW each 12 Performance Maximum speed 95 mph 153 km h 83 kn Range 900 mi 1 400 km 780 nmi Endurance 11 hr 12 Time to altitude 20 min to 6 000 ft 1 800 m 11 Armament Guns 1 11 2 lb 37 mm COW gun in nose 1 303 in 7 7 mm Lewis gun in dorsal position Bombs 2 000 pounds 910 kg bombsSee also editRelated development Felixstowe F 5 Short Singapore Aircraft of comparable role configuration and era Phoenix P 5 Cork Vickers Valentia Related lists List of flying boats and floatplanesNotes edit London 2003 p 62 a b Barnes 1967 p 155 London 2003 pp 63 64 a b London 2003 p 64 Williams and Gustin 2003 p 101 Barnes 1967 p 157 London 2003 p 65 Short 1925 p 825 Barnes 1967 pp 195 198 Barnes 1967 p 158 a b Flight 14 December 1922 p 737 a b London 2003 pp 262 263 Following the formation of the Royal Air Force in April 1918 the specifications were re numbered using roman numeralsReferences edit Aircraft Production at a Glance Flight 14 December 1922 pp 725 740 Barnes C H Shorts Aircraft since 1900 London Putnam 1967 London Peter British Flying Boats Stroud UK Sutton Publishing 2003 ISBN 0 7509 2695 3 Short Oswald All Metal Flying Boat Hulls Flight 17 December 1925 pp 823 825 Williams Anthony G and Gustin Emmanuel Flying Guns World War I and its Aftermath 1914 32 Ramsbury UK Airlife 2003 ISBN 1 84037 396 2 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Short N 3 Cromarty Photo Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Short Cromarty amp oldid 1088812513, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
