Short Sunderland Mark V

Short Sunderland Mark V

Extract from Wikipedia:

The Short S.25 Sunderland is a British flying boat patrol bomber. The aircraft took its service name from the port of Sunderland in North East England.

The Sunderland was fitted with various offensive and defensive armaments, including machine gun turrets, bombs, aerial mines, and depth charges. The Sunderland was powered by four Bristol Pegasus XVIII radial engines and was fitted with various detection equipment to aid combat operations, including the Leigh searchlight, the ASV Mark II and ASV Mark III radar units, and an astrodome.

During WW2, the type was heavily involved in Allied efforts to counter the threat posed by German U-boats in the Battle of the Atlantic. On 17 July 1940, an RAAF Sunderland performed the type's first unassisted U-boat kill.

During the post-war era, use of the Sunderland throughout Europe rapidly declined, while greater numbers remained in service in the Far East, where large developed runways were less prevalent. Several squadrons of RAF Sunderlands saw combat action during the Korean War. Around a dozen aircraft also participated in the Berlin airlift.

Several examples have been preserved, including a single airworthy Sunderland which has been placed on display in Florida at Fantasy of Flight.

Cutaway drawing of Short Sunderland Mk. II
Captions might be in Russian

The WWII Flying Porcupine With 16 Guns
IsonzoEnjoyer

The Leigh Light, an unusual device used by British aircraft to combat German submarines U-boat WW2
JOHN WAKE

The image at top is artwork for a Special Hobby plastic model kit.