F.Manson British Bomber Since 1914 (Putnam)

Short Shirl

   If a significant shortcoming existed in the Cuckoo's concept it was that it was only able to carry the 1,086 lb Mark IX torpedo, a weapon that was not thought capable o f sinking any ship larger than a light - that is, unarmoured - cruiser. The Admiralty's decision to adopt landplane torpedo aircraft coincided with plans to complete two through-deck aircraft carriers in 1918, HMS Argus and Eagle (*)
   Air Board Specification N.1B of April 1917 covered a number of naval requirements in single-engine, single-seat aircraft, one of which was to be a torpedo carrier, intended in due course to replace the Cuckoo. The Specification outlining the requirements for the latter was amended several times, and in October 1917 called for the aircraft to be capable of carrying the Mark VIII torpedo, a 1,436 lb weapon that possessed a warhead 50 per cent larger than that of the Mark IX. Both Short Bros and Blackburn submitted tenders, and each company was invited to build three prototypes.
   Little time was allowed before the first prototypes were required for preliminary Service evaluation, and both manufacturers made tremendous efforts to meet the deadline set for the end of April 1918. The Short aircraft, named the Shirl (N110-N112), was of simple configuration, owing much to Oswald Short's N.2B seaplane, but with the single cockpit situated in much the same position as the observer's cockpit in the earlier aircraft. As permitted in the Contracts, power was provided by the 375hp Rolls-Royce Eagle VIII driving a two-blade propeller and being neatly cow led with frontal radiator.
   The broad-chord wings of equal span and with square tips were rigged without stagger, being foldable and with ailerons on upper and lower wings. An unusual requirement, partly occasioned by delays in the completion of HMS Eagle, was that the wheel landing gear was to be jettisonable so as to simplify ditching if the need arose, and flotation gear was to be provided to increase the chances of salvaging the aircraft from the sea.
   When first flown by John Parker at the Isle of Grain on 27 May 1918, the first Shirl, N110, was fitted with a simple two-wheel undercarriage with V-struts and cross-axle, this being necessary to meet the test deadline, and when the aircraft was delivered to Martlesham Heath a few days later it carried a dummy Mark VIII torpedo which of course could not have been released with such an undercarriage. During the early tests the aircraft was found to be severely tail-heavy, and this appeared to be rectified by introducing wings with sweepback when N110 returned to Rochester. At about this time the original undercarriage was replaced by twin-wheel units, each pair of wheels being provided with a skid and attached to the lower wing by a pair of V-struts, thereby eliminating the cross-axle. A large inflatable flotation bag could be carried within each undercarriage structure.
   The second Shirl, N111, was delivered to Grain on 8 July and subsequently took part in torpedo dropping trials at East Fortune alongside the Blackburn Blackburd. It then went to Martlesham for Service performance and handling evaluation trials in August. In these, however, despite meeting the general performance and load requirements, the Shirl attracted criticism on account of sluggish handling characteristics, lacking the manoeuvrability of the Cuckoo, particularly during evasive action after releasing its torpedo. It was also found that, while carrying the torpedo, the aircraft was still excessively tail-heavy, and that, after releasing the torpedo, it became nose-heavy.
   The third Shirl, N112, did not fly until December 1918 when, with the War over, the urgency for a new torpedo aircraft had largely disappeared, and official interest in the Shirl (and the Blackburn Blackburd) gave place to further production orders for the established Sopwith Cuckoo.
(*) HMS Argus, 15,775 tons, had been begun in 1914 as a liner, Conte Rosso, for an Italian shipping company, but came to be launched in 1917 with a full-length flight deck, and was indeed completed in 1918. HMS Eagle, 22,600 tons, had been begun in 1913 as a dreadnought battleship, Almirante Cochrane for Chile; she was launched in 1918 but did not achieve full service with the Royal Navy until 1923. HMS Furious, 22,000 tons, the only other ship with a true flight deck, was eventually completed in 1917 with a flight deck forward of the superstructure (she had been laid down as a light battle cruiser in 1915); in 1917-18 an after deck was added, and between 1921 and 1925 she was fully converted to a flush-deck carrier).

   Type: Single-engine, single-seat, two-bay biplane torpedo bomber.
   Admiralty Specification: N I B (later RAF Type XXII).
   Manufacturer: Short Brothers, Rochester, Kent.
   Powerplant: One 375hp Rolls-Royce Eagle VIII twelve-cylinder, water-cooled, in-line engine driving two-blade propeller.
   Dimensions: Span, 52ft 0in; length, 35ft 0in; height, 13ft 3in; wing area, 791 sq ft.
   Weights (360hp Eagle VIII): Tare, 3,319 lb; all-up, 5,512 lb (with torpedo).
   Performance (360hp Eagle VIII; with torpedo): Max speed, 93 mph at 6,500ft; climb to 6,500ft, 17 min 30 sec; service ceiling, 10.000ft; endurance, 3 3/4 hr.
   Armament: One 1,423 lb 18in Mark VIII torpedo. No gun armament.
   Prototypes: Three, N110-N112. N110 first flown at Grain by John Parker on 27 May 1918. No production

P.Lewis British Bomber since 1914 (Putnam)

A requirement was formulated at the close of 1917 for a single-seat torpedo-carrying aircraft able to launch the 1,400 lb. Mk. VIII torpedo, a heavier weapon than that borne by the Cuckoo. Two firms - Blackburn and Short - built prototypes, three of each being ordered.
   The Short answer to the single-seat torpedo-carrying requirement was the Shirl, N110 being the first prototype flown initially in mid-1918 by John Lankester Parker. The Shirl was far more conventional in appearance than the Blackburd. Two-bay, folding, equal-span wings were fitted to a slim fuselage, the nose of which housed the 345 h.p. Eagle VIII. In place of the simple V-type undercarriage of N110, N111 - the second Shirl - received a complicated structure incorporating skids, together with swept-back wings; the third prototype - N112 - differed once again in its landing-gear.
   Under test, both the Blackburd and the Shirl were found to be inferior to the Cuckoo, and development of each ceased with the war’s end.

J.Bruce British Aeroplanes 1914-1918 (Putnam)

Short Shirl

  THE Short Shirl was a single-engined torpedo-carrier which was contemporary with and directly comparable to the Blackburn Blackburd (see page 98). Like the Blackburd, the Shirl was intended to carry the Mark VIII torpedo containing 320 lb of T.N.T., and was designed for operation from aircraft carriers. The Shirl was powered by the Rolls-Royce Eagle VIII engine, and was a single-seater.
  The fuselage was a conventional wooden structure consisting of four longerons and spacers, capped by a rounded top-decking; it was, however, covered with plywood. The tail-unit was similar to that of the Short N.2B seaplane. The 18-inch Mark VIII torpedo was carried in crutches close up against the underside of the fuselage.
  The wings were of equal span but of unequal chord, and were arranged to fold. Conventional wooden spars and ribs were used, and the wings were fabric-covered; the trailing edges consisted of wire. Ailerons were fitted to upper and lower mainplanes.
  The first Shirl, N.110, underwent its official tests at Martlesham in June, 1918. It was flown there by John Lankester-Parker, who had joined Short Brothers as chief test pilot in January, 1918.
  The undercarriage on N.110 was a plain vee structure with a cross-axle, but that of the second machine, N.111, was an elaborate structure: it was divided to permit the easy dropping of the torpedo, and incorporated longitudinal skids. Each skid bore a pair of landing wheels. The second Shirl differed further from the first by having longer ailerons. On its first flight, N. 111 proved to be tail-heavy. The incidence of the tailplane was increased by four degrees, and a second test-flight was made during the afternoon of the same day. The machine was thereupon flown to the Torpedo Aeroplane School at East Fortune, which unit was responsible for training torpedo-plane pilots. It was flown at East Fortune in 1918, and carried out test torpedo-drops in the Firth of Forth.
  The third Shirl, numbered N. 112, had a third form of undercarriage. This was again a divided structure with two wheels on each side but there were no long horizontal skids; inflatable bags were fitted on horizontal rails just above each pair of wheels and were intended for use as flotation gear if the aircraft were forced to alight on the water. The third Shirl had the longer ailerons.
  Like the Blackburn Blackburd, the Shirl was found to be less satisfactory than the older Sopwith Cuckoo: it was slower and not sufficiently manoeuvrable to take the evasive action required after a close-range attack.
  With the signing of the Armistice, development work on the Shirl ceased. The type had obvious potentialities as a load-carrier, however, and N.112 was fitted with a large cylindrical container for the transport of mails: the container was fitted in the position normally occupied by the torpedo. At a later stage a second cockpit was provided directly under the centre-section.
  In 1919 Short Brothers produced a greatly modified Shirl with the intention of attempting the trans-Atlantic flight. This machine was a two-seater, fitted with an enormous fuel tank under the fuselage; the extended three-bay wings had a span of 62 ft 2 in. and an area of 1,015 sq ft, and a vee undercarriage was fitted. The Shirl's crew were Major J. C. P. Wood and Captain C. C. Wyllie, R.A.F., and the machine was the only one of the several trans-Atlantic contenders intended to attempt the crossing from east to west; its estimated range was 3,200 miles. Unfortunately, the Shirl came down in the Irish Sea while on its way to Ireland for the flight, and was lost.


SPECIFICATION
  Manufacturers: Short Brothers, Rochester.
  Power: 345 h.p. Rolls-Royce Eagle VIII; 360 h.p. Rolls-Royce Eagle VIII.
  Dimensions: Span: 52 ft. Length: 35 ft. Height: 13 ft 3 in. Chord: upper 8 ft 6 in., lower 7 ft 6 in. Gap: 6 ft 6 in. Stagger: nil. Span of tail: 15 ft. Airscrew diameter: 10 ft.

  Weights (lb) and Performance:
Engine 345 h.p. Eagle VIII 345 h.p. Eagle VIII 360 h.p. Eagle VIII 360 h.p. Eagle VIII
Load Without torpedo With torpedo With torpedo and 3 3/4 hours’ fuel Torpedo and 6 hours’ fuel
No. of Trial Report M.207 M.207 M.232 M.232
Date of Trial Report June, 1918 June, 1918 September, 1918 September, 1918
Type of airscrew used on trial S.239 S.239 - -
Weight empty 2,949 2,949 3,319 3,319
Military load 45 1,825 1,421 1,421
Pilot 180 180 180 180
Fuel and oil 558 558 592 1,031
Weight loaded 3,732 5,512 5,512 5,951
Maximum speed (m.p.h.) at
6,500 ft 98 94 93 92
10,000 ft 96-5 90-5 87 -
15,000 ft 93'5 - - -
m. s. m. s. m. s. m. s.
Climb to
6,500 ft 7 55 17 00 17 30 21 00
10,000 ft 14 00 38 00 38 25 - -
15,000 ft 27 20 - - - - - -
| Service ceiling (feet) 19,000 9,500 10,000 9,000
Endurance (hours) - - 3 3/4 6

  Areas: Wings: 791 sq ft.
  Tankage: Petrol: 137 gallons.
  Armament: One 18-inch Mark VIII torpedo of 1,422 3/4 lb, carried in crutches under the fuselage.
  Service Use: Tested at Martlesham and the Isle of Grain Experimental Station, and flown at the Aerial Fighting School (Torpedo Aeroplane School), East Fortune.
  Production: Three prototypes were built.
  Serial Numbers: N. 110-N. 112.

H.King Armament of British Aircraft (Putnam)

Shirl. Like its counterpart the Blackburn Blackburd, the Shirl (1918) was a single-seat torpedo-carrier, designed specifically to operate with the 18-in Mk.VIII torpedo. Each of the two crutches was stayed by two inverted V-struts.

Jane's All The World Aircraft 1919

THE SHORT "SHIRL" TORPEDO-CARRIER.
  
  
   The Short "Shirl" biplane is generally similar to the N2B type seaplane except that a divided wheel and skid chassis is fitted for flying off decks and to allow the stowage of an 18 in. torpedo under the fuselage. The machine is a single-seater, the pilot being situated in rear of the main planes, which are noticeably swept back from the fuselage, and are arranged to fold for stowage on board ship.
   Flotation gear in the form of air-bags are carried over the skids and small plane form hydro vanes are fitted to the front of the skids, to prevent turning over when alighting on water.
   The machine entered by Messrs. Short Bros, for the trans-Atlantic flight is a modified " Shirl," fitted with somewhat larger wings and tailplane, and an immense petrol tank suspended under the fuselage.
  
  
  
Specification
Type of machine Biplane.
Name or type No. of machine "Short Shirl."
Purpose for which intended Torpedo carrying.
Span 52 ft.
Gap, maximum and minimum 6 ft.
Overall length 35 ft. 6 in.
Chord 8 ft. upper; 7 ft. lower plane.
Span of tail 15 ft.
Maximum cross section of body 11 sq. ft.
Engine type and h.p. Rolls Eagle 8, 400 h.p.
Airscrew, diam. 10 ft.
Weight of machine empty 2,850 lbs.
Tank capacity In hours Max. 6 1/2 hours.
Tank capacity in gallons 137 gallons.
Performance.
   Speed low down 99 m.p.h.
   Speed at 10,000 feet 97 m.p.h.
   Climb.
   To 5,000 feet 13 minutes.
   To 10,000 feet 30 minutes.
Disposable load apart from fuel 2,500 lbs. normal
Total weight of machine loaded 5,950 lbs.

Журнал Flight

Flight, April 10, 1919.

THE TRANSATLANTIC RACE

   THE preparations for the great race to be first to cross the Atlantic by air are progressing apace. By way of summary, the Sopwith machine, to be piloted by Mr. H. Hawker, who will have with him as navigator and assistant pilot Capt. Grieve, is already at the starting point in Newfoundland, and is only awaiting favourable weather conditions before making a start. The Martinsyde biplane, with its pilot, Mr. F. P. Raynham, and his navigator, Capt. Morgan, is on its way across, and may, by the time these lines appear in print, have arrived at St. John's. The Fairey machine, up till now the only seaplane entered from this side, is rapidly nearing completion, being, in fact, a standard Fairey 3C type especially adapted for the race. The pilot, as already announced, will be Mr. Sydney Pickles, so well knows to all readers of FLIGHT. The name of the navigator who will accompany him has not yet been disclosed, but will, we understand, be announced shortly. The Short machine entered, and which will be piloted by Major Wood, who will have with him as navigator Capt. Wyllie, has the distinction of being the only entrant which, so far, it is proposed to start from this side, the starting point chosen being Bawnmore, near Limerick, in Ireland. This machine, which has been undergoing severe tests during the last couple of weeks, is to be flown first to Ireland, whence the final start will be made.
   As to the probability of one or all of the competitors succeeding in getting across, there is of course, a certain element of luck involved, but arrangements, as announced elsewhere, are being made., by the Air Ministry and Admiralty, to take all possible precautions, and to ensure that, even in cases of engine failure, the occupants should have a very good chance of being picked up by passing vessels.

THE MACHINES

   As interest centres more and more in this race, a few words dealing with the British machines entered will, we feel sure be welcomed by readers of FLIGHT.

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The Short Machine

   Fundamentally the Short machine entered for the race does not differ greatly from their standard torpedo carrier known as the "Shirl." It is, as will be seen from the general arrangement drawings, a land machine fitted with wheels. In the place between the chassis struts usually occupied by the torpedo in the standard "Shirl" is slung a large cylindrical petrol tank which, should the necessity arise, can be quickly emptied so as to form a float of sufficient buoyancy to keep the machine afloat for a considerable period. In order to be able to carry the extra weight of fuel necessary for the long journey larger wings have been fitted, having three pairs of struts on each side instead of the two pairs fitted on the standard machine. A feature which is unique for this machine is the sweepback of the planes, which is very pronounced. This should form a very good feature by which to identify the Short machine, although from the fact that up to the present she is the only machine entered on which the westward flight will be attempted, she can scarcely be confused with any of the other entrants.
   As in the case of the Sopwith machine, the Short is fitted with a Rolls-Royce "Eagle," and the petrol capacity is, we understand, sufficient for a flight of 3,200 miles; in still air, of course. As the distance across is a little under 2,000 miles, this leaves a fair margin for adverse weather conditions, the prevailing winds in this part of the Atlantic being westerly at this time of the year. It will, therefore, be seen that the decision to make the westward flight may not be so dangerous as many are apt to imagine, and certainly considerable time will be saved by avoiding the delay of shipping the machine across before a start can be made.
   The cockpits are arranged in the usual fashion in this machine, i.e., in tandem. A directional wireless set will be fitted as well as all the navigation instruments of the usual type. The maximum speed is expected, to be about 95 m.p.h., but flying at cruising speed, and allowing for head winds, the actual speed may be expected to be considerably lower.