Supermarine Stranraer

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Stranraer

Type	Flying boat
Manufacturer	Supermarine
Designed by	R.J. Mitchell
Maiden flight	24 July 1934
Retired	1945
Primary users	RAF RCAF
Number built	57

The Supermarine Stranraer marked the end of biplane flying-boat development for the Royal Air Force. They entered service in 1937 and many were still in service at the outbreak of the Second World War undertaking anti-submarine and convoy escort patrols. They were withdrawn from operational service in March 1941 but continued to serve in a training capacity until October 1942.

1 Design and development
2 Operational history
3 Operators
4 Specifications (Stranraer)
5 Related content

[edit] Design and development

Designed by J.R. Mitchell as a tender to Air Ministry R.24/31 Specification for a coastal reconnaissance flying-boat for the RAF, It was initially turned down but Supermarine proceeded with the type as a private venture first known as the Southampton V. A contract was placed in 1933 for a prototype powered by two 820hp Bristol Pegasus IIIM and the type became known as the Stranraer.

The structure was mainly duralumin, with the hull covered with sheet metal and the wings with fabric.

Following the initial flight-test programme, the Stranraer prototype (K3973) was delivered to the RAF on 24 October 1934. On 29 August 1935, an initial order was placed for 17 aircraft (K7287 to K7303) to the production specification 17/35.

[edit] Operational history

The production version was fitted with the 920hp Pegasus X and the first flew in December 1936, entering service operations on 16 April 1937; the last Stranraer was delivered 3 April 1939. An additional order for six aircraft (K9676 to K9681) was placed in May 1936, but subsequently cancelled. In service, the Stranraer was sometimes referred to as a "whistling shithouse". It drew this derisive nickname because the toilet opened out directly to the air and when the seat was lifted, the airflow caused the toilet to whistle.

A total of 40 Stranraers were built in Canada, serving with the RCAF until 1945. Some units passed into civilian use after the war; notably several Stranraers saw service with the Queen Charlotte Airlines in British Columbia, Canada.