Saro Lerwick
From Free net encyclopedia
| Saro Lerwick | ||
|---|---|---|
| Image:Saro Lerwick.jpg | ||
| Description | ||
| Role | Reconnaissance flying-boat | |
| Crew | 6 | |
| First flight | November, 1938 | |
| Entered service | 1940 | |
| Manufacturer | Saunders-Roe | |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 63 ft 7 in | 19.4 m |
| Wingspan | 80 ft 10 in | 24.7 m |
| Height | 20 ft 0 in | 6.1 m |
| Wing area | 845 ft² | 78.5 m² |
| Weights | ||
| Empty | lb | kg |
| Loaded | 28,400 lb | 12,880 kg |
| Maximum takeoff | 33,200 lb | 15,060 kg |
| Powerplant | ||
| Engine | 2 × Bristol Hercules II | |
| Power (each) | 1,375 hp | 1,030 kW |
| Performance | ||
| Maximum speed | 214 mph @ 6,250 ft | 344 km/h @ 1,900 m |
| Combat range | 1,540 mile | 2,478 km |
| Ferry range | km | miles |
| Service ceiling | 14,000 ft | 4,270 m |
| Rate of climb | 880 ft/min | 270 m/min |
| Armament | ||
| Guns | 1 × 0.303 in (7.7 mm) Vickers K, 6 × Browning | |
| Bombs | 2,000 lb (900 kg) bombs or depth charges | |
The Saunders-Roe (Saro) S.36 Lerwick was a Second World War reconnaissance monoplane flying-boat of the RAF, replacing the biplane Londons. It was of all-metal construction. It took its name from Lerwick in the Shetland Islands.
It was designed to carry out anti-submarine patrols and convoy escort duties alongside the larger Short Sunderland, but was found to be aerodynamically and hydrodynamically unstable and was little used. With the better handling Catalina available the Lerwick was no longer needed. Only 21 Lerwicks were built and all were retired by 1943.
The Lerwick was equipped with three powered turrets in the nose (1 machine gun), dorsal (2) and tail (2) positions.
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Use
- No. 209 Squadron RAF: 1939-1941
- No. 4 (Coastal) OCU: 1941
- No. 422 Squadron RCAF, a Canadian squadron under RAF control: briefly in 1942 until the squadron received Sunderlands.
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