View source for Short Sunderland

{{Short description|WWII era flying boat patrol bomber}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
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{{Infobox aircraft
|name = Sunderland
|image = File:Short Sunderland Mk V ExCC.jpg
|caption = Short Sunderland Mk V in flight
|type = Military flying boat bomber
|manufacturer = [[Short Brothers]]
|designer = [[Arthur Gouge]]
|first_flight = 16 October 1937
|introduction = 1938
|retired = RAF: 1959<br/>RNZAF: 1967
|status = Retired
|primary_user = [[Royal Air Force]]
|more_users = [[Royal Canadian Air Force]]<br/> [[French Navy]]<br/> [[Royal Australian Air Force]]<br/> [[South African Air Force]]<br/> [[Royal New Zealand Air Force]]
|produced = 1938–1946<!--years in production, e.g. 1970–1999, if still in active use but no longer built-->
|number_built = 749<ref name = "norris 16"/>
|unit cost =
|variants = [[Short Sandringham]]<br/> [[Short Seaford]]
}}

The '''Short S.25 Sunderland''' is a British [[flying boat]] [[Maritime patrol aircraft|patrol bomber]], developed and constructed by [[Short Brothers]] for the [[Royal Air Force]] (RAF). The aircraft took its service name from the town (latterly, city) and port of [[Sunderland]] in [[North East England]].

Developed in parallel with the civilian [[Short Empire|S.23 ''Empire'']] flying boat, the flagship of [[Imperial Airways]], the Sunderland was developed specifically to conform to the requirements of British [[Air Ministry]] [[List of Air Ministry specifications#1930.E2.80.931939|Specification R.2/33]] for a long-range patrol/reconnaissance flying boat to serve with the [[Royal Air Force]].  Sharing several similarities with the S.23, it had a more advanced aerodynamic hull and was fitted with various offensive and defensive armaments, including [[machine gun]] [[Gun turret#Aircraft|turret]]s, [[bomb]]s, [[Parachute mine|aerial mine]]s, and [[depth charge]]s. The Sunderland was powered by four [[Bristol Pegasus|Bristol Pegasus XVIII]] [[radial engine]]s and was fitted with various detection equipment to aid combat operations, including the [[Leigh light|Leigh searchlight]], the [[ASV Mk. II radar|ASV Mark II]] and [[ASV Mk. III radar|ASV Mark III]] [[radar]] units, and an [[Astrodome (aeronautics)|astrodome]].

The Sunderland was one of the most powerful and widely used flying boats throughout the [[Second World War]].<ref name="Encyclopedia p. 442">Eden 2004, p. 442.</ref> In addition to the RAF, the type was operated by other Allied military air wings, including the [[Royal Australian Air Force]] (RAAF), [[Royal Canadian Air Force]] (RCAF), [[South African Air Force]] (SAAF), [[Royal New Zealand Air Force]] (RNZAF), [[French Navy]], [[Norwegian Air Force]], and the [[Portuguese Navy]]. During the conflict, the type was heavily involved in Allied efforts to counter the threat posed by German [[U-boat]]s in the [[Battle of the Atlantic]].<ref name = "norris 11 12">Norris 1967, pp. 11–12.</ref> On 17 July 1940, an RAAF Sunderland (of [[No. 10 Squadron RAAF|No. 10 Squadron]]) performed the type's first unassisted U-boat kill. Sunderlands also played a major role in the [[Mediterranean]] theatre, performing maritime reconnaissance flights and logistical support missions. During the evacuation of [[Crete]], shortly after the [[Invasion of Crete|German invasion]] of the island, several aircraft were used to transport troops. Numerous unarmed Sunderlands were also flown by civil operator [[British Overseas Airways Corporation]] (BOAC), traversing routes as far afield as the [[Pacific Ocean]].<ref name = "norris 14">Norris 1967, p. 14.</ref>

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. Between mid-1950 and September 1954, several squadrons of RAF Sunderlands saw combat action during the [[Korean War]].<ref name = "norris 14"/> Around a dozen aircraft also participated in the [[Berlin Airlift#The start of the Berlin Airlift|Berlin airlift]], delivering supplies to the blockaded German city. The RAF continued to use the Sunderland in a military capacity up to 1959. In December 1960, the French Navy retired its aircraft, which were the last remaining examples in military use in the [[Northern Hemisphere]].<ref name = "norris 14 16">Norris 1967, pp. 14, 16.</ref> The type also remained in service with the RNZAF up to 1967, when they were replaced by the land-based [[Lockheed P-3 Orion]].<ref name = "norris 16"/> A number of Sunderlands were converted for use within the civil sector, where they were known as the [[Short Hythe|Hythe]] and the [[Short Sandringham|Sandringham]]; in this configuration, the type continued in airline operation until 1974 – despite being originally made for military use, the Sunderland had a far longer commercial lifespan than its civilian Empire sibling and was one of the last large WWII-era flying boats in airline service. Several examples have been preserved, including a single airworthy Sunderland which has been placed on display in [[Florida]] at [[Fantasy of Flight]].<ref name="FantasyofFlight">{{cite web|url=http://www.fantasyofflight.com|title=Event Venue and Aircraft Museum in Central Florida – Fantasy of Flight|last=cnp|website=Fantasy of Flight|access-date=1 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180420222420/https://www.fantasyofflight.com/|archive-date=20 April 2018}}</ref>
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==Development==
===Origins===
During the early 1930s there was intense international competition to develop suitable aircraft to operate new long-range intercontinental passenger service between the United Kingdom, the United States, France and Germany. It was recognised that the United Kingdom had no existing equivalent to the new American [[Sikorsky S-42]] flying boats or the German [[Dornier Do X]]. Accordingly, in 1934, the [[United Kingdom Postmaster General|British Postmaster General]] declared that all first-class [[Royal Mail]] sent overseas was to travel by air, establishing a subsidy for the development of intercontinental air transport in a fashion similar to the U.S. domestic programme a decade earlier. In response, [[Imperial Airways]] announced a competition to design and manufacture a fleet of 28 large flying boats, each weighing {{convert|18|LT|t|abbr=off}} and having a range of {{convert|700|mi|km|abbr=on}} with a capacity for 24 passengers. A corresponding contract was issued to Short Brothers of [[Rochester, Kent|Rochester]] for their design, which became the [[Short Empire|S.23 Empire]].<ref name = 'tillman 17'/>

While the Empire flying boat has often been credited as a predecessor of the Sunderland this impression is not strictly true.<ref name = "norris 3">Norris 1967, p. 3.</ref> During November 1933 the British [[Air Ministry]] released [[List of Air Ministry specifications|Specification R.2/33]], which called for the development of a next-generation long-range general purpose flying boat, intended to perform [[maritime reconnaissance|ocean reconnaissance]] missions. The specification called for an aircraft, either a [[monoplane]] or [[biplane]], which would have a performance equal to the recently constructed [[Short Sarafand]] flying boat, but powered by a maximum of four engines and much more compact than the Sarafand.<ref name = "norris 3"/> Specification R.2/33 was released before the publication of the commercial Imperial Airways requirement; by the time that Short received Imperial Airways' request the company had already started planning the design of the prospective military flying boat.<ref name = "norris 3"/> After reviewing both sets of requirements, Short decided to prioritise the development of the civil S.23 design but also to work on a response to specification R.2/33.

Chief designer [[Arthur Gouge]] had originally intended for a [[COW 37 mm gun]] to be mounted in the bow of the craft to accompany the single [[Lewis gun]] installed in its tail. As with the S.23, he aimed to produce a fuselage which generated the lowest amount of [[Aerodynamic drag|drag]] possible, while a much longer nose than had been used for the S.23 was ultimately adopted.<ref name="Encyclopedia p. 442"/>

===Selection===
During October 1934, Shorts settled upon the general configuration and geometry of the design, opting for a four-engine [[Monoplane#Shoulder|shoulder-wing]] monoplane configuration, similar to the Short Empire which had been ordered at the same time.<ref name = "norris 3"/> The military flying boat design received the internal designation of S.25. While the S.25 design bore a strong resemblance to the civil S.23, it had an improved aerodynamic form, and sheet metal with curvature in more than one direction. This compound curve was more complex to manufacture but gave a superior shape.<ref name = "norris 3"/>

During late 1934 the S.25 proposal was submitted to the Air Ministry. Rival firm [[Saunders-Roe]] had also designed and submitted its own proposal, the [[Saro A.33]], in response to Specification R.2/33.<ref name = 'tillman 17'/> Following evaluation of the submissions, the Ministry decided to place orders for the production of prototypes of both the S.25 and A.33.<ref name = "norris 3"/>

During April 1936 the Air Ministry was sufficiently confident in Shorts' submission to place a contract for an initial batch of 11 further aircraft.<ref name = "norris 3"/> On 4 July 1936, the first of the Empire flying boats to be built, G-ADHL, named ''Canopus'', made its first flight which confirmed the basic principles of the S.25's design. while the crucial final design conference was held around the same time as the flight.<ref name = "norris 3"/> The sole A.33 was damaged beyond repair due to a structural failure, resulting in the S.25 being the only candidate.<ref name = "norris 3"/>

As construction of the prototype S.25 proceeded, several design changes were made. In response to feedback from Air Ministry and the Royal Air Force, it was decided to change its defensive armament to a single 0.303 [[Vickers K machine gun]] in the nose turret and  four 0.303 [[M1919 Browning machine gun|Browning machine guns]] in the tail turret.<ref name = "norris 3 5">Norris 1967, pp. 3–5.</ref> The tail turret was also changed to a powered version; Gouge therefore had to devise a solution to account for the resulting movement aft of the aircraft's [[Center of mass|centre of gravity]], which was initially achieved via the presence of [[ballast]] positioned in the forward area.<ref name="Encyclopedia p. 442"/> By the end of September 1937, the prototype had been completed.<ref name = "norris 5">Norris 1967, p. 5.</ref>

===Flight testing===
On 16 October 1937, the prototype (''K4774'') made its [[maiden flight]], fitted with [[Bristol Pegasus|Bristol Pegasus X]] [[radial engine]]s each capable of producing {{convert|950|hp|kW|abbr=on}} of power. The more powerful ''Pegasus XXII'' was unavailable at the time.<ref name = "norris 5"/> Flown by Shorts' chief test pilot [[John Lankester Parker]] and Harold Piper, the initial flight lasted for around 45 minutes; later that day, a second flight of a similar duration was made. Parker later declared his satisfaction with the basic design.<ref name = "norris 5"/> Prior to the first flight, the type had received the name ''Sunderland''.<ref name = 'tillman 17'/><ref name = "norris 5"/>

Following early flight trials the aircraft was returned to the workshop where it underwent further modifications; the adoption of a wing [[sweepback]] of 4°&nbsp;15' was achieved by the addition of a spacer into the front spar attachments.<ref name="Encyclopedia p. 442"/> This was a response to the changes in defensive armament, and moved the [[Center of pressure (fluid mechanics)|centre of lift]] enough to compensate for the altered centre of gravity; further alterations were necessary to maintain the [[Fluid dynamics|hydrodynamics]] properties.<ref name = "norris 5"/> On 7 March 1938, ''K4774'' made its first post-modification flight, having been fitted with the intended [[Bristol Pegasus|Bristol Pegasus XXII]] [[radial engine]]s, each one capable of producing {{convert|1010|hp|kW|abbr=on}}.<ref name = "norris 5"/>

On 21 April 1938, the first aircraft of the development batch made its first flight. By this point, manufacturer testing of the prototype had already been completed and the prototype had been transferred to the [[Seaplane Experimental Station]] at [[Felixstowe]], [[Suffolk]] for evaluation by the [[Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment]] (MAEE); on 8 March 1938, it was joined by the second production aircraft.<ref name = "norris 5"/> On 28 May 1938, this second aircraft, which had been cleared for operations under [[tropical]] conditions, flew a record-breaking flight to [[Seletar]], [[Singapore]], stopping off at [[Gibraltar]], [[Malta]], [[Alexandria]], [[Habbaniyah]], [[Bahrain]], [[Karachi]], [[Gwalior]], [[Calcutta]], [[Rangoon]], and [[Myeik, Myanmar|Mergui]].<ref name = "norris 5"/>

Testing showed that the aircraft could be fully refuelled in 20 minutes, and that its most economical cruising speed was about {{convert|130|kn|mph km/h|abbr=on}} at {{convert|2,000|ft|m|sigfig=1|abbr=on}}. At this speed and altitude, a consumption rate of {{convert|110|impgal/h|L/h}} gave the aircraft an endurance of 18 hours, during which it could cover {{convert|2750|smi|km}}.{{efn|The distance from Bristol to [[St. John's, Newfoundland]], is just over {{convert|2200|smi|km}}, allowing the Sunderland to cross the Atlantic with ample reserves.}} The take-off distance was found to be {{convert|680|yd|m|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite book |last= Frame |first= Alex |title= Flying Boats: My Father's War in the Mediterranean |location= London |publisher= Victoria University Press |date = 2007 | pages = 61 |type= Paperback |isbn= 978-0-86473-562-1}}</ref>

==Design==
===Overview===
[[File:Royal Air Force Coastal Command, 1939-1945. CH8570.jpg|thumb|upright|Bunk area]]
The Short S.25 Sunderland was a large four-engined flying boat developed for military use. The design of the S.25 shared much in common with the civil-orientated S.23, principally differing in its use of a deeper hull profile.<ref name = "norris 6">Norris 1967, p. 6.</ref> As with the S.23, the interior of the Sunderland's fuselage contained two individual decks; the lower deck contained a total of six [[Bunk bed|bunk]]s, along with a [[Galley (kitchen)|galley]] outfitted with a twin [[kerosene]] [[portable stove#Pressurised-burner stoves|pressure stove]], a [[yacht]]-style [[porcelain]] [[flush toilet]], an [[anchor]]ing winch, and a small machine shop for performing inflight repairs.<ref name = "norris 6 7"/> The crew was originally intended to total seven members; this was subsequently increased for later versions of the Sunderland to around 11 crew members and sometimes greater, dependent upon the specific mission being undertaken.

The Sunderland featured all-metal, mainly flush-[[rivet]]ed construction, except for the [[flight control surfaces]], which used a fabric-covered metal frame construction. Of these, the [[Flap (aeronautics)|flap]]s employed unusual [[Gouge flap|Gouge-patented devices]] that slid backwards along curved tracks, moving rearwards and downwards to increase the wing area and generating 30% greater lift for landing.<ref>Eden 2004, p. 443.</ref> The thick wings, upon which the aircraft's four [[nacelle]]-mounted [[Bristol Pegasus|Bristol Pegasus XXII]] [[radial engine]]s were carried, also accommodated a total of six drum-style fuel tanks, which had a total capacity of 9,200 litres (2,025 [[Imperial gallon]]s, 2,430 U.S. gallons).<ref name = "norris 6"/> In addition to the main fuel tanks, an arrangement of four smaller fuel tanks was installed behind the rear wing spar later on; with the extra tanks fitted, the Sunderland had a combined total fuel capacity of 11,602 litres (2,550 Imperial gallons, 3,037 U.S. gallons), which was enough to enable the type to conduct eight- to 14-hour patrols.

[[File:Royal Air Force- 1939-1945- Coastal Command CH854.jpg|thumb|left|The FN13 rear turret of a Sunderland of No 210 Squadron at Oban, August 1940. The Sunderland was the first RAF flying boat to be fitted with power-operated gun turrets.]]

The specification to which the Sunderland was developed to conform with had called for an offensive armament of a 37&nbsp;mm gun and up to {{convert|2000|lb|kg|abbr=on}} of bombs, [[Naval mine|mines]] or (eventually) [[depth charge]]s.<ref name = "norris 6"/> The ordnance was stored inside the fuselage in a purpose-built bomb room and was winched up to racks, under the wing centre section, that could be traversed out through doors on each side of the fuselage above the waterline to the release position. Defensive armament included a [[Nash & Thompson]] FN-13 powered turret with four [[.303 British]] Browning machine guns in the extreme tail and a pair of manually operated .303 set on either side of the fuselage, firing from ports just below and behind the wings. These machine guns were later upgraded to 0.5-inch calibre Brownings. There were two different nose turret weapons, the most common, later, being two Browning machine guns. The nose weapons were later augmented by four fixed guns, two each side, in the forward fuselage that were fired by the pilot.<ref>RAF AP1566(A thru E)-PN, paragraph 32.</ref> Much later, a twin-gun turret was to be dorsal-mounted on the upper fuselage, about level with the wing trailing edge, bringing the total defensive armament up to 16 machine guns.<ref>Eden 2004, pp. 443–444.</ref>

===Equipment and on-water management===
As with all water-based aircraft, there was a need to be able to navigate on water and to control the craft up to and at a mooring. In addition to the standard navigation lights, there was also a demountable mooring mast that was positioned on the upper fuselage just aft of the [[Astrodome (aviation)|astrodome]] hatch with a 360-degree white light to show that the aircraft was moored. The crewmembers were trained in common marine signals for watercraft to ensure safety in busy waters.<ref>RAF AP1566 (A thru E)-PN paragraphs 36–38, 49–51, 61–63.</ref> The craft could be moored to a [[buoy]] by a [[Glossary of nautical terms (M-Z)#pendant|pendant]] that attached to the [[keel]] under the forward fuselage. When the craft was off the buoy, the forward end of the pendant was attached to the front of the hull just below the bomb aimer's window. For anchoring, there was a demountable [[Bollard (mooring)|bollard]] that fixed to the forward fuselage from where the front turret was retracted to allow an airman to man the position and pick up the buoy cage or to toss out the anchor.

[[File:Royal Air Force- 1939-1945- Coastal Command CH847.jpg|thumb|A mooring compartment was situated in the nose of the Sunderland, containing anchor, winch, boat-hook and ladder. The front turret was designed to slide back, enabling the crew to secure the aircraft to a buoy, as demonstrated here.]]

For taxiing after landing, the galley hatches were used to extend sea [[drogue]]s that could be used to turn the aircraft or maintain its crosswind progress (by deploying the drogue on one side only), or to slow forward motion as much as possible (both deployed). When not in use, the drogues were hand hauled back inboard, folded, and stowed in wall-mounted containers just below the hatches. Operation of the drogues could be a very dangerous exercise if the aircraft was travelling on the water at speed or in strong currents, because the approximately {{convert|3|ft|m|0|adj=mid|-diameter|spell=on}} drogue would haul up on its five-tonne attachment cable end inside the galley very sharply and powerfully. Once deployed, it was normally impossible to recover a drogue unless the aircraft was stationary relative to the local tidal flow.

Portable beaching gear could be attached by ground crew so that the aircraft could be pulled up on land. The gear consisted of a pair of two-wheeled struts that could be attached to either side of the fuselage, below the wing, with a two- or four-wheel trolley and towbar attached under the rear of the hull. A standard stocked anchor was stowed in the forward compartment alongside the anchor winch. Depending on the operating area, a number of different kinds of anchor could be carried to cope with different anchorages. Another means of direction control on the water was by application of the rudder and aileron flight controls. The ailerons would cause asymmetric lift from the airflow and, ultimately, drop a float into the water to cause drag on that wing. The pilots could vary engine power to control the direction and speed of the aircraft on the water. In adverse combinations of tide, wind, and destination, this could be very difficult.<ref>RAF AP1566 (A thru E)-PN paragraphs 37–38.</ref>

===Access and servicing===
[[File:Royal Air Force Coastal Command, 1939-1945. CH418.jpg|thumb|left|A crew member of a Short Sunderland Mark I of No. 10 Squadron RAAF, washing up in the galley during a flight.]]
The Sunderland was usually entered through the bow compartment door on the left forward side of the aircraft. The internal compartments—bow, gun room, ward room, galley, bomb room and the after compartments—were fitted with ''swash'' doors to keep them watertight to about two feet (610&nbsp;mm) above normal water level; these doors were normally kept closed. There was another external door in the tail compartment on the right side. This door was intended for boarding from a Braby ('''U'''-shaped) [[Pontoon (boat)|pontoon]] that was used where there was a full passenger service mooring alongside a wharf or similar. This door could also be used to accept passengers or stretcher-bound patients when the aircraft was in the open water; this was because the engines had to be kept running to maintain the aircraft's position for the approaching vessel and the front door was too close to the left inboard propeller. Normal access to the external upper parts of the aircraft was through the astrodome hatch at the front of the front spar of the wing centre section, just at the rear of the navigator's station.<ref name = "norris 6 7">Norris 1967, pp. 6–7.</ref>

[[File:Air Ministry Second World War Official Collection CH555.jpg|thumb|View of a deployed bomb rack]]
[[File:Royal Air Force Coastal Command, 1939-1945. CH808.jpg|thumb|Bomb rack from the inside]]

Bombs were loaded in through the "bomb doors" that formed the upper half walls of the bomb room on both sides. The bomb racks were able to run in and out from the bomb room on tracks in the underside of the wing. In order to load them, weapons were hoisted up to the extended racks that were run inboard and either lowered to stowages on the floor or prepared for use on the retracted racks above the stowed items. The doors were spring-loaded to pop inwards from their frames and would fall under gravity so that the racks could run out through the space left in the top of the compartment. The bombs could be released locally or remotely from the pilot's position during a bomb run.

Normally, the weapons were either bombs or depth charges and the racks were limited to a maximum of {{convert|1000|lb|kg|abbr=on}} each. After the first salvo was dropped, the crew had to get the next eight weapons loaded before the pilot had the aircraft positioned on the next bombing run. The fixed nose guns (introduced when in service with Australian units) were removed when the aircraft was on the water and stowed in the gun room just aft of the bow compartment. The toilet was in the right half of this same compartment and stairs from the cockpit to the bow area divided the two.

[[File:Royal Air Force Coastal Command, 1939-1945. CH11890.jpg|thumb|left|WAAF engine mechanics servicing a Bristol Pegasus engine of a Short Sunderland]]
Maintenance was performed on the engines by opening panels in the leading edge of the wing either side of the powerplant. A plank could be fitted across the front of the engine on the extensions of the open panels. A small manually started auxiliary petrol engine, which was fitted into the leading edge of the right wing, powered a [[bilge]] pump for clearing water and other fluids from the fuselage bilges and a fuel pump for refuelling. Generally, the aircraft were reasonably water tight, and two people manually operating a wobble pump could transfer fuel faster than the auxiliary pump. In sheltered moorings or at sea, fuelling was accomplished by a powered or unpowered [[barge]] and with engine driven or hand powered pumps. At regular moorings, there would be specially designed refuelling barges to do the job, normally manned by trained marine crew. These vessels could refuel many aircraft during the course of the day. Handling of the fuel nozzles and opening/closing the aircraft fuel tanks would normally be an aircraftman's task.

[[File:Royal Air Force Operations in the Far East, 1941-1945. CI1549.jpg|thumb|A Short Sunderland GR Mark V of No. 205 Squadron RAF Detachment, moored off Direction Island, Cocos Islands, about to be refuelled from a petrol tanker embarked on board a [[Landing craft tank|Tank Landing Craft]]]]

Airframe repairs were either effected from the inside or delayed until the aircraft was in a sheltered mooring or beached. One serious problem was that the heat-treated rivets in the hull plates were susceptible to corrosion after a period in salt water (depending on the quality of the heat treatment process). The heads would pop off from stress corrosion, allowing seawater to leak into the bilges. The only option was to haul the aircraft out of the water and replace them, usually at the cost of many additional heads breaking off from the vibration of the riveting.{{fact|date=January 2025}}

===Damage control===
A large float mounted under each wing maintained stability on water. With no wind, the float on the heavier side was always in the water; with some wind, the aircraft could be held using the ailerons with both floats out of the water. In the event of a float being broken off for some reason, as the craft lost airspeed after landing crew members would go out onto the opposite wing, to keep the remaining float in the water until the aircraft could reach its mooring. Marine growths on the hull were a problem; the resulting drag could be enough to prevent a fully loaded aircraft from gaining enough speed to become airborne. The aircraft could be taken to a freshwater mooring for sufficient time to kill off the fauna and flora growing on the bottom, which would then be washed away during takeoff runs. The alternative was to scrub it off, either in the water or on land.

Aircraft with lower hull damage were patched or had the holes filled with any materials to hand before landing. The aircraft would then be immediately put onto a slipway with its wheeled beaching gear or beached on a sandy shore before it could sink. More than two fuselage compartments had to be full of water to sink the aircraft. During the Second World War, a number of severely damaged aircraft were deliberately landed on grass airfields ashore. In at least one case, an aircraft that made a grass landing was repaired to fly again.<ref>Nicolaou 1998, p. 124.</ref> On the Sunderland Mk V, fuel could be dumped from retractable pipes that extended from the hull and were attached to the bomb room side of the galley aft [[bulkhead (partition)|bulkhead]]. It was expected that dumping would be done while airborne, but it could also be performed while floating on the water, albeit with care to ensure that the floating fuel went downwind away from the aircraft.<ref>RAF AP1566E-PN. Pilots Notes, March 1945, paragraph 78.</ref>

[[File:Royal Air Force 1939-1945- Coastal Command C4614.jpg|thumb|Sunderland EK573/P of No. 10 Squadron RAAF 'unsticks' after picking up three survivors from a Wellington shot down in the Bay of Biscay, 27 August 1944.]]

==Operational history==

===Second World War===
[[File:U-boat Warfare 1939-1945 C4081.jpg|thumb|left|{{GS|U-426||2}}, a Type VIIC submarine, down by the stern and sinking, after being attacked by a Short Sunderland flying boat]]

At the outbreak of the Second World War, on 3 September 1939, 39 Sunderlands were in service with the RAF.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Taylor |first1=John W. R. |last2=Allward|first2=Maurice F. |title=Wings for Tomorrow |date=1951 |publisher=Ian Allan|page=48}}</ref> Although British anti-submarine efforts were disorganised and ineffectual at first, Sunderlands quickly proved useful in the rescue of the crews from torpedoed ships.<ref name = "norris 7 10 11">Norris 1967, pp. 7, 10–11.</ref> On 21 September 1939, two Sunderlands rescued the entire 34-man crew of the torpedoed merchantman ''Kensington Court'' from the [[North Sea]]. As British anti-submarine measures improved, the Sunderland began to inflict losses as well. A [[Royal Australian Air Force]] (RAAF) Sunderland (of [[No. 10 Squadron RAAF|No. 10 Squadron]]) made the type's first unassisted kill of a U-boat on 17 July 1940.<ref name = "norris 11 12"/>

During its service, the Sunderland Mark I received various improvements.<ref name = "norris 10">Norris 1967, p. 10.</ref> The nose turret was upgraded with a second .303 (7.7&nbsp;mm) gun. New propellers together with pneumatic rubber wing de-icing boots were also fitted. Although the .303 guns lacked range and hitting power, the Sunderland had a considerable number of them and it was a well-built machine that was hard to destroy. On 3 April 1940, a Sunderland operating off [[Norway]] was attacked by six German [[Junkers Ju 88#Ju 88C|Junkers Ju 88C]] fighters; during the engagement, it shot one down, damaged another enough to cause it to retreat and later perform a forced landing and drove off the rest. The Germans are reputed to have nicknamed the Sunderland the ''Fliegendes Stachelschwein'' ("Flying Porcupine") due to its defensive firepower.<ref>Werner 1999, p. 105.</ref><ref name = "norris 13"/>

Sunderlands also proved themselves in the Mediterranean theatre. They flew many evacuation missions during the [[Invasion of Crete|German seizure]] of [[Crete]], carrying as many as 82 passengers. One flew the reconnaissance mission to observe the Italian fleet at anchor in [[Taranto]] before the famous [[Royal Navy]] [[Fleet Air Arm]]'s [[Battle of Taranto|torpedo attack on 11 November 1940]].<ref name="Cacutt">Cacutt, Len. "The World's Greatest Aircraft," Exeter Books, New York, NY, 1988. {{ISBN|0-7917-0011-9}}.</ref>

New weapons made the flying boats more deadly in combat. In 1939 during an accidental [[Friendly fire|fratricidal]] attack, one {{cvt|100|lb|kg}} anti-submarine bomb hit the British submarine {{HMS|Snapper|39S|2}} doing no more damage than breaking its light bulbs; other bombs had reportedly bounced up and hit their launch aircraft. In early 1943, these ineffective weapons were replaced by [[Torpex]]-filled depth charges that would sink to a determined depth and then explode. This eliminated the problem of bounce-back, and the shock wave propagating through the water augmented the explosive effect.

[[File:Royal Air Force- Operations in the Middle East and North Africa, 1939-1943; Royal Air Force, 230 Squadron CBM1944.jpg|thumb|Sunderland Mark II, showing ASV Mark II "stickleback" antennas in front of the tail]]
While the bright [[Leigh light|Leigh searchlight]] was rarely fitted to Sunderlands, [[ASV Mark II]] radar enabled the flying boats to attack U-boats on the surface. In response, the German submarines began to carry a radar warning system known formally as "[[Metox]]", and informally as the "Cross of Biscay" due to the appearance of its receiving antenna, that was tuned to the ASV frequency and gave the submarines early warning that an aircraft was in the area. Kills fell off drastically until [[ASV Mark III]] radar was introduced in early 1943, which operated in the centimetric band and used antennas mounted in blisters under the wings outboard of the floats, instead of the cluttered stickleback aerials. Sunderland Mark IIIs fitted with ASV Mark III were called Sunderland Mark IIIAs. Centimetric radar was invisible to Metox and baffled the Germans at first. Admiral [[Karl Dönitz]], commander of the German U-boat force, suspected that the British were being informed of submarine movements by spies. In August 1943, a captured RAF airman misled the Germans by telling them that the aircraft were homing in on the signals radiated by the Metox,<ref>Johnson 1978, p. 229.</ref><ref>Miller 2002, p. ?</ref> and consequently U-boat commanders were instructed to turn them off.

The Germans responded to Sunderland attacks by fitting some U-boats with one or two 37&nbsp;mm and twin quad 20&nbsp;mm flak guns to fire back at their attackers. While Sunderlands could suppress flak to an extent with their nose turret guns, the U-boats' guns had superior range, hitting power and accuracy. Attempting to shoot down Allied aircraft did, however, prolong the U-boat's presence on the surface, which made sinking the vessel easier. Nonetheless, fitting of substantial arrays of anti-aircraft guns temporarily decreased U-boat losses while both Allied aircraft and shipping losses rose. As a countermeasure to the increased defensive armament of the U-boats, the Australians fitted their aircraft in the field with an additional four .303s (7.7 mm) in fixed mounts in the nose, allowing the pilot to add fire while diving on the submarine before bomb release. Most aircraft were similarly modified. The addition of single .50&nbsp;inch (12.7&nbsp;mm) flexibly mounted [[M2 Browning machine gun]]s in the beam hatches behind and above the wing trailing edge also became common.

====1943 encounter with Ju 88s====
[[File:Royal Air Force 1939-1945- Coastal Command C243.jpg|thumb|left|Two airmen demonstrate the dorsal .303in (7.7 mm) Vickers 'K' guns of a Sunderland.]]
The type's capacity to defend itself was demonstrated in particular by an air battle over the [[Bay of Biscay]] on 2 June 1943, when eight [[Junkers Ju 88#Ju 88C 2|Junkers Ju 88C]]s attacked a single Sunderland Mk III of [[No. 461 Squadron RAAF]]: ''EJ134'', squadron code: "N for Nuts". The 11 crew,{{efn|Flight Lieutenant Colin Walker and Pilot Officer W. J. Dowling, pilots; J. C. Amiss; Flying Officer (F/O) K. McD. Simpson, navigator; Sergeant E. C. E. Miles (RAF; killed in action) and Sergeant P. K. Turner, engineers; Flt Sgt E. A. Fuller (RAF) and Flt Sgt S. F. Miller wireless operators; Sgt A. Lane and Sgt L. S. Watson, dorsal gunners, and; Flt Sgt R. Goode (rear gunner).}}<ref>Southall 1976, p. ? (This was one of several stories of the type's operations related by author [[Ivan Southall]], who flew in Sunderlands during the war.)</ref> led by F/Lt Colin Walker, were on an anti-submarine patrol, while also watching for any signs of a missing airliner, [[BOAC Flight 777]].<ref>BOAC Flight 777 had left [[Lisbon]] the day before and had subsequently been shot down over the [[Bay of Biscay]], killing 17, among them, the actor [[Leslie Howard (actor)|Leslie Howard]].</ref> At 1900 hours, the rear gunner saw the Ju 88s, which belonged to ''V.[[Kampfgeschwader 40]]'' and were led by ''Leutnant'' Friedrich Maeder. Walker ordered the dumping of the bombs and depth charges, and took the engines to full power. Two Ju 88s made simultaneous passes at ''EJ134'' from both sides, scoring hits and disabling one engine, while the pilots fought fires and took the Sunderland through corkscrew manoeuvres. On a third pass, the dorsal turret gunner badly damaged or shot down a Ju 88, although the Sunderland's rear gunner was knocked unconscious.

[[File:Royal Air Force Coastal Command, 1939-1945. CH810.jpg|thumb|Two gunners in a Short Sunderland Mark I sit at their positions with .303 (7.7 mm) Vickers K-type machine guns, mounted in the upper fuselage hatches.]]
The next Ju 88 that attacked was hit by fire from the dorsal and nose turrets, and appeared to have been shot down. By this time, one crew member on the Sunderland had been mortally wounded and most of the others were wounded to varying degrees, while the aircraft's radio gear had been destroyed, among other damage. However, the rear gunner had recovered, and when ''EJ134'' was attacked from behind, another Ju 88 was badly damaged and left the fight. The remaining Ju 88s continued to attack and the front gunner damaged one of these, setting its engines on fire. Two more Ju 88s were also damaged and the Germans disengaged. ''EJ134'' was badly damaged and the crew threw everything they could overboard, while nursing the aircraft over the {{convert|350|mi|km|adj=on}} journey to Britain. At 2248 hours, Walker managed to beach the aircraft at [[Praa Sands]], Cornwall. The 10 surviving crew members were able to wade ashore, while the Sunderland broke up in the surf. Walker received the [[Distinguished Service Order]] and several other crew members also received medals. They claimed three Ju 88s destroyed. With the exception of Walker, the crew returned to operations in a new "N for Nuts", which was lost over the Bay of Biscay two months later, in an attack by six Ju 88s. On 2 June 2013, a memorial was dedicated on the green at Praa Sands.<ref>{{cite news|title=Crew of Praa Sands WWII crash plane remembered |work=BBC News |date=2 June 2013 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-22746173 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160811204502/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-22746173 |archive-date=11 August 2016}}</ref>

===Postwar===
[[File:RAF Seletar ramp 205 Sqn Sunderland.jpg|thumb|right|A [[No. 205 Squadron RAF|205 Squadron]] Short Sunderland Mark V ''ML797'' '''"P"''' at the ramp of [[Seletar Airport|RAF Seletar]]. This particular airframe became the last of its type to retire from active RAF service on 30 June 1959.]]

At the end of the Second World War, a number of new Sunderlands built at [[Belfast]] were simply taken out to sea and scuttled as there was nothing else to do with them. In Europe the type was removed from service relatively quickly but in the [[Far East]], where well developed runways were less common and large land based maritime patrol aircraft like the new [[Avro Shackleton]] could not be used so easily, there was still a need for it, and it remained in service with the [[RAF Far East Air Force]] at [[Singapore]] until 1959, and with the [[Royal New Zealand Air Force]]'s [[No. 5 Squadron RNZAF]] until 1967.{{efn|A former RNZAF Sunderland that is yet to be restored is exhibited at the [[Museum of Transport and Technology]], [[Auckland]].}}

During the [[Berlin Airlift]] (June 1948 – August 1949) 10 Sunderlands and two transport variants (known as "[[Short Hythe|Hythes]]") were used to transport goods from [[Finkenwerder]] on the [[Elbe]] near [[Hamburg]] to the isolated city, landing on the [[Havel]] river near [[RAF Gatow]] until it iced over.<ref name = "norris 14"/> The Sunderlands were frequently used for transporting [[salt]], as their airframes were already protected against corrosion from seawater and their control cables were roof-mounted, as opposed to underfloor in most other aircraft. Transporting salt in standard aircraft risked rapid and severe structural corrosion in the event of a spillage. When the Havelsee did freeze over the Sunderland's role was taken by freight-converted [[Handley Page Halifax]]es with salt being carried in [[pannier]]s fitted under the fuselage to avoid the corrosion problem.

[[File:P-2 P-5 Sunderland Corregidor 1963.jpg|thumb|right|A RNZAF ''Sunderland MR.5'' with a USN [[Martin P5M Marlin]] and a RAAF [[Lockheed P-2 Neptune]] in 1963.]]
From mid-1950, RAF Sunderlands also saw service during the [[Korean War]] initially with No. 88 Squadron but shortly followed by Nos. 205 and 209 Squadrons.<ref name = "norris 14"/> The three squadrons shared the operational task equally with rotational detachments of three or four aircraft and crews based at [[Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni|Iwakuni]], Japan. Missions lasting 10 to 13 hours were flown daily throughout the war, and also during the Armistice period that followed, until September 1954.<ref>Empson, Group Captain Derek K. RAF (Ret'd). "Sunderland Over Far Eastern Seas: An RAF Flying Boat Navigator's Story." London: Pen & Sword Books, 2010. {{ISBN|978-1-84884-163-5}}.</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20011118061620/http://www.geocities.com/jkjustin/weston31.html "Image of four Sunderlands over RAF Seletar, Singapore."] ''geocities.com''. Retrieved: 2 January 2010.</ref> The Sunderland also saw service with the RNZAF until 1967.<ref>Treeweek, Philip. [http://www.kiwiaircraftimages.com/sundland.html "RNZAF Sunderlands: Short S.25 Sunderland / Sandringham."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070221122825/http://www.kiwiaircraftimages.com/sundland.html |date=21 February 2007 }} ''Kiwi Aircraft Images'' via ''kiwiaircraftimages.com''. Retrieved: 2 January 2010.</ref>

The [[French Navy]] [[Escadrille 7FE]], which received Sunderlands when it was formed in 1943 as [[No. 343 Squadron RAF]], continued to operate them until December 1960, the last unit to operate Sunderlands in the northern hemisphere.<ref>Barnes and James, 1989, p. 559.</ref><ref name = "norris 14"/>

==Variants==

===Prototype===
The first S.25, now named the Sunderland Mark I, flew from the [[River Medway]] on 16 October 1937 with Shorts' chief [[test pilot]], [[John Lankester Parker]] at the controls. The deeper hull and installation of nose and tail turrets gave the Sunderland a considerably different appearance from the Empire flying boats. The prototype was fitted with [[Bristol Pegasus]] X engines, each providing 950&nbsp;hp (709&nbsp;kW ), as the planned Pegasus XXII engines of 1,010&nbsp;hp (753&nbsp;kW) were not available at the time.

The 37&nbsp;mm gun, originally intended as a primary anti-submarine weapon, was dropped from the plans during the prototype phase and replaced with a [[Nash & Thompson]] FN-11 nose turret mounting a single [[.303 British|.303-inch (7.7 mm)]] [[Vickers GO]] machine gun. The turret could be winched back into the nose, revealing a small "deck" and demountable marine [[Bollard (mooring)|bollard]] used during mooring manoeuvres on the water. The change of armament in the nose to the much lighter gun moved the [[centre of gravity]] rearwards.

After the first series of flights, the prototype was modified to have a wing that was swept 4.25° to the rear, thereby moving the [[Center of pressure (fluid mechanics)|centre of pressure]] into a more reasonable position in relation to the new centre of gravity. This left the engines and wing floats canted out from the aircraft's centreline. Although the wing loading was much higher than that of any previous Royal Air Force flying boat, a new [[Flap (aircraft)|flap]] system kept the takeoff run to a reasonable length.

===Sunderland Mark I===
The RAF received its first Sunderland Mark I in June 1938 when the second production aircraft (''L2159'') was flown to [[No. 230 Squadron RAF|230 Squadron]] at [[RAF Seletar]], [[Singapore]]. By the outbreak of war in Europe, in September 1939, [[RAF Coastal Command]] was operating 40 Sunderlands.

The main offensive load was up to {{convert|2000|lb|kg|abbr=on}} of [[bomb]]s (usually {{convert|250|or|500|lb|kg|disp=sqbr|abbr=on}}), [[Naval mine|mines]] ({{convert|1000|lb|kg|abbr=on|disp=or}}) or other stores that were hung on traversing racks under the wing centre section (to and from the ''bomb room'' in the fuselage). Later, depth charges (usually 250&nbsp;lb) were added. By late 1940, two [[Vickers K machine gun]]s had been added to new hatches that were inserted into the upper sides of the fuselage just aft of the wing, with appropriate slipstream deflectors. A second gun was added to the nose turret. New constant speed propellers and deicing boots were installed as well during 1940.

The Sunderland had difficulty in landing and taking off from rough water, but, other than in the open sea, it could be handled onto and off a short chop, by a skilled pilot. Many rescues were made, early in the war, of crews that were in the Channel having abandoned or ditched their aircraft, or abandoned their ship. During May 1941, during the [[Battle of Crete]] Sunderlands transported as many as 82 armed men from place to place in one load. Steep ocean swells were never attempted, however a calm ocean could be suitable for landing and takeoff.

Beginning in October 1941, Sunderlands were fitted with ASV Mark II "Air to Surface Vessel" [[radar]].<ref name = "norris 10"/> This was a primitive low frequency radar system operating at a wavelength of 1.5 m, that used a row of four prominent "stickleback" [[Yagi antenna]]s on top of the rear fuselage, two rows of four smaller aerials on either side of the fuselage beneath the stickleback antennas, and a single receiving aerial mounted under each wing outboard of the float and angled outward.

A total of 75 Sunderland Mark Is were built: 60 at Shorts' factories at Rochester and [[Belfast]], [[Northern Ireland]], and 15 by [[Blackburn Aircraft]] at [[Dumbarton]].<ref name = "norris 10"/>

===Sunderland Mark II===
[[File:The Battle of the Atlantic 1939 - 1945 CH7504.jpg|thumb|Mark II in flight, showing the abrupt, sharp-edged hull "step" that the first two marks possessed. Later marks used a smooth, curved step design.]]
In August 1941, production moved on to the Sunderland Mark II which used Pegasus XVIII engines with two-speed superchargers, producing 1,065&nbsp;hp (794&nbsp;kW) each.<ref name = "norris 10"/>

The tail turret was changed to an FN.4A turret that retained the four .303 guns of its predecessor but provided twice the ammunition capacity with 1,000 rounds per gun. Late production Mark IIs also had an FN.7 dorsal turret, mounted offset to the right just behind the wings and fitted with twin .303 machine guns. The hand held guns behind the wing were removed in these versions.<ref name = "norris 10"/>

Only 43 Mark IIs were built, five of these by Blackburn.

===Sunderland Mark III===

Production quickly changed in December 1941 to the Sunderland Mark III,<ref>Eden 2004, pp. 444–445.</ref> which featured a revised hull configuration which had been tested on a Mark I the previous June. This modification improved seaworthiness, which had suffered as the weight of the Sunderland increased with new marks and field changes.<ref name = "norris 10 11">Norris 1967, pp. 10–11.</ref> In earlier Sunderlands, the hull "step" that allows a flying boat to "unstick" from the surface of the sea was an abrupt one, but in the Mk III it was a curve upwards from the forward hull line.

[[File:Short Sunderland 2 ExCC.jpg|thumb|left|A Mark IIIA with Mk III engines and bomb windows, but Mk V radar blisters and nose guns]]
The Mark III turned out to be the definitive Sunderland variant, with 461 built. Most were built by Shorts at Rochester and Belfast, a further 35 at a new (but temporary){{efn|The agreement with the Friends of the [[Lake District]] for the factory to be constructed on [[Windermere]] was conditional on its being dismantled when no longer needed. This agreement was kept and not a trace exists of the factory which had once boasted some of the largest aircraft hangars in the world.}} Shorts plant at White Cross Bay, Windermere;<ref>Barden, Karen. [http://www.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk/archive/display.var.235391.0.mystery_surrounds_reports.php "Mystery Surrounds reports."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927014803/http://www.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk/archive/display.var.235391.0.mystery_surrounds_reports.php |date=27 September 2007 }} ''The Westmoreland Gazette archives'', 28 November 2002. Retrieved: 2 January 2010.</ref><ref>Renouf, Jane. [http://www.aohg.org.uk/twww/industry3.html "The Way We Were: Lakeland Industries."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930150921/http://www.aohg.org.uk/twww/industry3.html |date=30 September 2007 }} ''aohg.org.uk''. Retrieved: 2 January 2010.</ref> while 170 were built by Blackburn Aircraft. The Sunderland Mark III proved to be one of the RAF Coastal Command's major weapons against the U-boats, along with the [[Consolidated PBY Catalina|Consolidated Catalina]].

As the U-boats began to use ''[[Metox]]'' passive receivers the ASV Mk II radar gave away the presence of aircraft and the number of sightings diminished drastically. The RAF response was to upgrade to the ASV Mk III, which operated in the 10&nbsp;cm band, with antennas that could be faired into fewer more streamlined blisters. During the Mk III's life there were a large number of almost continuous improvements made, including the ASV Mk IIIA and four more machine guns in a fixed position in the wall of the forward fuselage just behind the turret (developed on RAAF aircraft first) with a simple bead and ring sight for the pilot. Sunderlands with upgraded ASV Mk III equipment were designated Mk IIIA.<ref name="Cacutt"/>

Despite the 14-hour-long patrols expected of their crews, early Sunderland gunners were provided with only 500 rounds of ammunition each. Later 1,000 round ammunition boxes were installed in the turrets. The beam hatch guns were removed from Mk II aircraft but Mk IIIs and then Mk Is gained much more capable [[M2 Browning machine gun|.50 (12.7 mm) guns]], one each side.

Offensive weapons loads increased too. The introduction of the hydrostatically fused {{convert|250|lb|kg|abbr=on}} [[depth charge]] meant that additional weapons could be carried on the floor of the bomb room in wooden restraints, along with ammunition boxes of {{convert|10|and|25|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} anti-personnel bombs that could be hand launched from various hatches to harass U-boat crews otherwise manning the twin 37 and dual quadruple 20&nbsp;mm cannons with which U-boats were fitted.

As radar detection became more effective there were more night patrols to catch U-boats on the surface charging their batteries. Attacking in the dark was a problem that was solved by carrying one inch (25.4&nbsp;mm), electrically initiated flares and dropping them out of the rear chute of the aircraft as it got close to the surface vessel. Sunderlands were never fitted with [[Leigh light]]s.

===Sunderland Mark IV===
{{Main|Short Seaford}}

The '''Sunderland Mark IV''' was an outgrowth of the 1942 Air Ministry Specification R.8/42, for a generally improved Sunderland with more powerful [[Bristol Hercules]] engines, better defensive armament and other enhancements. The new Sunderland was intended for service in the Pacific. Although initially developed and two prototypes built as the "Sunderland Mark IV" it was different enough from the Sunderland line to be given a different name, the S.45 "Seaford".<ref name = "norris 13">Norris 1967, p. 13.</ref>

Relative to the Mark III, the Mark IV had a stronger wing, larger [[tailplane]]s and a longer fuselage with some changes in hull form for better performance in the water. The armament was heavier with .50&nbsp;inch (12.7&nbsp;mm) machine guns and [[Hispano 20 mm cannon|20 mm Hispano cannon]]. The changes were so substantial that the new aircraft was redesignated the [[Short Seaford]]. Thirty production examples were ordered; the first delivered too late to see combat and only eight production Seafords were completed and never got beyond operational trials with the RAF.<ref name = "norris 13 14">Norris 1967, pp. 13–14.</ref>

===Sunderland Mark V===
[[File:461 Sqn Sunderland (AWM P01520.001).jpg|thumb|A Sunderland Mark V operated by [[No. 461 Squadron RAAF]]]]
The next production version was the Sunderland Mark V, which evolved out of crew concerns over the lack of power of the Pegasus engines. The weight creep (partly due to the addition of radar) that afflicted the Sunderland had resulted in running the Pegasus engines at combat power as a normal procedure and the overburdened engines had to be replaced regularly.

Australian Sunderland crews suggested that the Pegasus engines be replaced by [[Pratt & Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp]] engines.<ref name = 'tillman 17'>Tillman 2004, p. 17.</ref> The 14-cylinder engines provided 1,200&nbsp;hp (895&nbsp;kW) each and were already in use on RAF Consolidated Catalinas and [[Douglas C-47 Skytrain|Douglas Dakota]]s, and so logistics and maintenance were straightforward. Two Mark IIIs were taken off the production lines in early 1944 and fitted with the American engines. Trials were conducted in early 1944 and the conversion proved all that was expected.

[[File:Short Sunderland Mk V.jpg|thumb|left|A Sunderland Mk V. The bulges under the outer wings are the ASV6 radar antennae]]
The new engines with new Hamilton Standard's Hydromatic constant-speed [[Propeller (aircraft)#Feathering|fully feathering]] propellers provided greater performance with no real penalty in range. In particular, a Twin Wasp Sunderland could stay airborne if two engines were knocked out on the same wing while, in similar circumstances, a standard Mark III would steadily lose altitude. Production was switched to the Twin Wasp version and the first Mark V reached operational units in February 1945. Defensive armament fits were similar to those of the Mark III, but the Mark V was equipped with new centimetric ASV Mark VI C radar that had been used on some of the last production Mark IIIs as well.

A total of 155 Sunderland Mark Vs were built with another 33 Mark IIIs converted to Mark V specification. With the end of the war, large contracts for the Sunderland were cancelled and the last of these flying boats was delivered in June 1946, with a total production of 777 aircraft completed.

===Transport variants===
[[File:Short Sunderland 3 of Aquila Airways.jpg|thumb|Sunderland III of Aquila Airways at Hamble Beach in 1955. This aircraft was the first transport conversion that had served BOAC 1943–1948, it still carried the name given to it by BOAC ''Hadfield''.]]

In late 1942, the [[British Overseas Airways Corporation]] (BOAC) obtained six Sunderland Mark IIIs, which had been de-militarised on the production line, for service as mail carriers to [[Nigeria]] and [[Presidencies and provinces of British India|India]], with accommodation for either 22 passengers with 2 tons of freight or 16 passengers with 3 tons of freight. Armament was removed, the gun positions being faired over, and simple seating fitted in place of the bunks. As such they were operated by BOAC and the RAF jointly from [[Poole]] to [[Lagos]] and [[Calcutta]]. Six more Sunderland IIIs were obtained in 1943. Minor modifications to the engine angles and flight angle resulted in a significant increase in the cruise speed, which was a relatively unimportant issue for the combat Sunderlands. In late 1944, the RNZAF acquired four new Sunderland Mk IIIs already configured for transport duties. In the immediate postwar period, these were used by New Zealand's [[National Airways Corporation (New Zealand)|National Airways Corporation]] to link South Pacific Islands in the "Coral Route" before [[Tasman Empire Airways Limited|TEAL]] Short Sandringhams took over after 1947.

===Post-war civilian use===
At the war's end BOAC obtained more Mark IIIs and gradually came up with better accommodation for its passengers, in three configurations. Bench seats were removed, and civil-standard seating installed: The H.1 configuration had 16 seats on one deck, while the H.2 had an additional promenade deck, and the H.3 had 24 seats, or sleeping berths for 16. These conversions were given the name '''Hythe''' and BOAC operated 29 of them by the end of the war. In February 1946, the first of these, ''G-AGJM'', made a 35,313-mile route survey from Poole to Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Tokyo in 206 flying hours. It was the first British civil flying boat to visit China and Japan.<ref>Evans 1993, p. 63.</ref>

A more refined civilian conversion of the Sunderland was completed by the manufacturer as the postwar [[Short Sandringham]]. The Sandringham Mk. I used Pegasus engines while the Mk. II used Twin Wasp engines.

==Operators==

===Military operators===
;{{AUS}}
*[[Royal Australian Air Force]]
::[[No. 10 Squadron RAAF]]
::[[No. 40 Squadron RAAF]]
::[[No. 461 Squadron RAAF]]
;{{flag|Canada|1921}}: [[Royal Canadian Air Force]]
::[[No. 422 Squadron RCAF]]
::[[No. 423 Squadron RCAF]]
;{{FRA}}
*[[French Navy]]
::[[No. 343 Squadron RAF]], later [[Escadrille 7FE]]<ref>Barnes and James, 1989, p. 359.</ref>
::Flottille 1FE
::Flottille 7F
::Flottille 27F
::Escadrilles 12S
::Escadrilles 50S
::Escadrilles 53S
;{{NZL}}
*[[Royal New Zealand Air Force]]
::[[No. 5 Squadron RNZAF]]
::[[No. 490 Squadron RNZAF]]
*[[New Zealand Territorial Air Force]]
::[[No. 6 Squadron TAF]]
;{{NOR}}: [[Norwegian Air Force]]
::[[No. 330 Squadron RNoAF]]
;{{POR}}
*[[Portuguese Navy]]
;{{Flag|South Africa|1928}}
*[[South African Air Force]]
::[[No. 35 Squadron SAAF]]
;{{UK}}
*[[Royal Air Force]]
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-break}}
::[[No. 88 Squadron RAF]]
::[[No. 95 Squadron RAF]]
::[[No. 119 Squadron RAF]]
::[[No. 201 Squadron RAF]]
::[[No. 202 Squadron RAF]]
::[[No. 204 Squadron RAF]]
::[[No. 205 Squadron RAF]]
::[[No. 209 Squadron RAF]]
{{Col-break}}
::[[No. 210 Squadron RAF]]
::[[No. 228 Squadron RAF]]
::[[No. 230 Squadron RAF]]
::[[No. 240 Squadron RAF]]
::[[No. 246 Squadron RAF]]
::[[No. 259 Squadron RAF]]
::[[No. 270 Squadron RAF]]
::[[No. 235 Operational Conversion Unit RAF]]
:: Air Headquarters Iraq Communication Flight<ref>Lake, Alan. 1999, p. 18.</ref>
{{col-end}}

===Commercial operators===
*[[Aerolíneas Argentinas]]
*[[Ansett Australia|Ansett]] Flying Boat Services flew the Sunderland and its Sandringham variant from [[Rose Bay, New South Wales|Rose Bay]] on [[Port Jackson|Sydney Harbour]] to [[Lord Howe Island]] until 10 September 1974<ref name="Kiwi">Treeweek, Philip. [http://kiwiaircraftimages.com/sundland.html "Short S.25 Sunderland / Sandringham."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060313201047/http://www.kiwiaircraftimages.com/sundland.html |date=13 March 2006 }} ''Kiwi Aircraft Images'' via ''kiwiaircraftimages.com''. Retrieved: 3 July 2010.</ref><ref name="Butler2000pp2627">Buttler 2000, pp. 26–27.</ref>
*[[Antilles Air Boats]] (US Virgin Islands)
*[[Aquila Airways]]<ref name="Butler2000pp2627"/>
*[[BOAC|British Overseas Airways Corporation]]
*[[Compañía Aeronáutica Uruguaya]] S.A. (CAUSA)
*[[Compañía Argentina de Aeronavegación Dodero]]
*[[Det Norske Luftfartselskap]] (DNL) – Norwegian Aviation Company (continued as [[Scandinavian Airlines System|SAS]])
*[[New Zealand National Airways Corporation]]
*[[Qantas]] (orig. Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services)
*Trans Oceanic Airways
*[[Tasman Empire Airways Limited|TEAL]] (Tasman Empire Airways Ltd, New Zealand)

==Surviving aircraft==
[[File:Short Sunderland by Tower Bridge.jpg|thumb|G-BJHS (ML814) the last flying Short Sunderland moored near Tower Bridge before it moved to [[Fantasy of Flight]] in Florida, US]]
[[File:Short Sunderland MR.5 ML824 NS-Z Hendon 03.77 edited-3.jpg|thumb|Sunderland V ML824 displayed at the [[Royal Air Force Museum London]] at Hendon wearing the codes of [[No. 201 Squadron RAF]]. Now indoors in Hangar 1.]] 
[[File:Sunderland MOTAT NZ.jpg|thumb|Sunderland in the MOTAT Aviation Display Hall, Auckland]]

*''ML814'' a Mark III, converted to Mark V and then for passenger work, is on display in [[Kermit Weeks]]' [[Fantasy of Flight]] in Florida, US. It was bought in 1993, and flown across the Atlantic from the UK. According to the FoF website ''ML814'' is the "last 4-engined passenger flying boat that can still fly."<ref>[http://www.myflorida.org.uk/htm_pages/fantasy_of_flight.htm "Fantasy of Flight."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091026014148/http://www.myflorida.org.uk/htm_pages/fantasy_of_flight.htm |date=26 October 2009 }} ''Fantasy of Flight Museum'' via ''www.myflorida.org.uk.'' Retrieved: 3 July 2010.</ref>{{efn|Two 4-engined [[Martin Mars]] flying boats remain in or near flyable condition, but they are cargo and water-bombing planes.}} Formerly RNZAF NZ4108 – SH.974b MR.5 went to [[Airlines of New South Wales]] as VH-BRF "Islander" and was converted to a [[Short Sandringham|Sandringham]] in Australia. [[Airlines of New South Wales]] subsequently taken over by the major Australian airline Ansett and became Ansett Flying Boat Services and operated from [[Rose Bay, New South Wales|Rose Bay]], [[Sydney]], [[Australia]] until 1974. Currently it is the last four-engined passenger flying boat to have crossed a major ocean. Although it is reported to be maintained in airworthy condition, it has not been flown since 1996 and remained on display in the museum's main hangar for the majority of its time there, being towed to the ramp for various outdoor events in the 21st century.

In addition a few aircraft have been preserved as static museum exhibits.<ref>"Kiwi 'boats'." ''Flypast'' magazine, Key Publishing Ltd, May 2009, p. 77.</ref>
*''ML824'' is on display in Hangar 1 at the [[RAF Museum London]] at Hendon, which acquired it in 1971. The interior of the aircraft is accessible to visitors.<ref>[http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/london/collections/aircraft/short-sunderland-mr5.cfm "Short Sunderland."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100615145941/http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/london/collections/aircraft/short-sunderland-mr5.cfm |date=15 June 2010 }} ''RAF Museum'' via ''rafmuseum.org.uk''. Retrieved: 3 July 2010.</ref> Originally preserved at [[Pembroke Dock]] after final service with the French Navy. It made its last flight from Lanveoc Poulmic, near Brest to Pembroke on 24 Mar 1961.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/documents/collections/71-A-1408-Sunderland-ML824.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2013-08-20 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121003003214/http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/documents/collections/71-A-1408-Sunderland-ML824.pdf |archive-date=3 October 2012}} accessed 20 Aug 13</ref>
*''ML796'' is on display at [[Imperial War Museum Duxford]] in Cambridgeshire.
*''NJ203'' RAF Short Sunderland IV/[[Short Seaford|Seaford]] I S-45 NJ203. 1947 Converted to [[Short Solent]] 3 by Short Bros Belfast. 1949 BOAC G-AKNP "City of Cardiff". 1951 [[Trans Oceanic Airways]] of Australia as VH-TOB "Star of Papua". 1953 [[South Pacific Air Lines]] as N9946F "Isle of Tahiti". Last flew 1958. 1958 [[Howard Hughes]] – [[Hughes Tool Company]]. Since 1990 it has been on display at the [[Oakland Aviation Museum]], California, USA.
*''NZ4111'' located at the [[Chatham Islands]]. Serving with No. 5 Squadron 6 RNZAF March-11 April 1959, coded KN-D; it took part in a flypast to mark the opening of the Auckland Harbour Bridge on 30 May 1959. On 4 November 1959, it was badly damaged in an accident in the Chatham Islands when the Sunderland hit rocks in Te Whanga Lagoon while taxiing and sank in shallow water. It was stripped of usable parts and written off RNZAF books on 9 December 1959. This was the first of the RNZAF Mk.5 Sunderlands to be written off due to damage. The fuselage was broken into major components for use on a farm; the owners are now reassembling the hull and fuselage sections.<ref name="NZ_Herald_10691026">{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/news/image.cfm?c_id=7&gal_objectid=10691026&gallery_id=115512#7217443 |title=Reassembling Chatham Island's aviation history |date=30 November 2010 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |access-date=9 November 2011 |archive-date=24 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110124110734/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/news/image.cfm?c_id=7&gal_objectid=10691026&gallery_id=115512#7217443 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*''NZ4112'' – Hulk used by Hobsonville Yacht Club until 1970, then scrapped. Cockpit and front of aircraft transported to the [[Ferrymead Heritage Park]] for the Ferrymead Aeronautical Society Inc. Christchurch, New Zealand.
*''NZ4115'' SH.1552b MR.5. Previously SZ584 and BOAC G-AHJR is on display at the [[Museum of Transport and Technology]] in Auckland, New Zealand. The interior and cockpit having been extensively restored and hull repairs some reskinning having taken place to airworthy standards and the exterior repainted in NZ4115's later RNZAF maritime scheme Q for Quebec is now displayed inside the MOTAT Aviation Display Hall with Short Bros sister TEAL [[Short Solent]] ZK-AMO. Q for Quebec's turrets, armaments and radar and radar domes are being refitted while on display.

Sunderland ''T9044'' was discovered on the seabed off [[RAF Pembroke Dock|Pembroke Dock]] in Wales in 2000.<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/240239/details/SHORT+SUNDERLAND+FLYING+BOAT+T9044/ |title=Short Sunderland T9044 |work=National Monuments Record of Wales |publisher=Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301121211/http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/240239/details/SHORT+SUNDERLAND+FLYING+BOAT+T9044/ |archive-date=1 March 2014}}</ref> The site is protected and recovery of the aircraft is ongoing.<ref>Kightly 2009, p. 73.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sunderlandtrust.com/t9044/|title=T9044: Flight from Oban – A3 Print – Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre|website=sunderlandtrust.com|access-date=1 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160518215445/http://www.sunderlandtrust.com/t9044/|archive-date=18 May 2016}}</ref>

The wreck located by Calshot Divers at [[Calshot]] in 2010 is very likely to be that of ''ML883''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.calshotdivers.com/dive-sites/34-wreck-dive/111-sunderland-flying-boat-ml883.html|title=Sunderland Flying Boat – ML883|website=www.calshotdivers.com|access-date=1 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305153757/http://calshotdivers.com/dive-sites/34-wreck-dive/111-sunderland-flying-boat-ml883.html|archive-date=5 March 2016}}</ref> and not ''PP118''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.calshotdivers.com/dive-sites/34-wreck-dive/109-sunderland-flying-boat-pp118.html|title=Sunderland Flying Boat – PP118|website=www.calshotdivers.com|access-date=1 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305213012/http://calshotdivers.com/dive-sites/34-wreck-dive/109-sunderland-flying-boat-pp118.html|archive-date=5 March 2016}}</ref> as originally thought. This wreck site is awkward to dive due to its proximity to the [[Fawley Refinery]], [[Solent]] shipping lane, Calshot [[RNLI]] station and public slipway.

==Specifications (Sunderland III)==
[[File:Short Sunderland 3view drawings.PNG|thumb|Sunderland I/II 3-view drawing]]
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War II,<ref name=jane>Bridgman 1946, p. 137.</ref> The Short Sunderland<ref name = "norris 16">Norris 1967, p. 16.</ref> & Bombers of World War II.<ref>Donald, 1998, p. 93.</ref>
|prime units?=imp
|crew=9–11 (two pilots, radio operator, navigator, engineer, bomb-aimer, three to five gunners)
|length ft=85|length in=4
|span ft=112|span in=9.5
|height ft=32|height in=10.5
|wing area sqft=1487
|airfoil=Göttingen 436 mod<ref name="Selig">{{cite web |last1=Lednicer |first1=David |title=The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage |url=https://m-selig.ae.illinois.edu/ads/aircraft.html |website=UIUC Airfoil Data Site  |access-date=2 April 2020}}</ref>
|empty weight lb=34500
|gross weight lb=58000
|max takeoff weight lb=
|fuel capacity={{cvt|2552|impgal|l}}
<!-- Powerplant -->
|eng1 number=4|eng1 name=[[Bristol Pegasus|Bristol Pegasus XVIII]]|eng1 type=9-cylinder air-cooled [[radial piston engine]]s|eng1 hp=1065
|prop blade number=3|prop name=[[de Havilland]] [[ Constant speed propeller|constant-speed propellers]]|prop dia ft=12|prop dia in=9|prop dia note=<ref name=Buttler2000p8>Buttler, 2000, p. 8.</ref>
<!-- Performance -->
|max speed mph=210|max speed note=at {{cvt|6500|ft}}
|cruise speed mph=178|cruise speed note=at {{cvt|5000|ft}}
|range miles=1780|endurance=around 13 hours
|ceiling ft=17200
|ceiling note=<ref name=Buttler2000p34>Buttler, 2000, p. 34.</ref>
|climb rate ftmin=720
|wing loading lb/sqft=39
|power/mass={{cvt|0.073|hp/lb}}
<!-- Armament -->
|guns=<br/>
**''up to'' 12 × [[.303 British|{{cvt|0.303|in|1}}]] [[M1919 Browning machine gun|Browning machine guns]] – two fixed on each side of the nose firing forwards (often removed), two in a [[Nash & Thompson]] FN.11 nose turret, four in an FN.4a tail turret (which doubled the ammunition capacity of the earlier FN.13), and two in an optional FN.7 dorsal turret which replaced the flexible guns fired from open dorsal/beam hatches in the Mk.Is.<ref name=Lake27>Lake, 2000, p. 27</ref>
**On some aircraft [[M2 Browning machine gun|Browning {{cvt|0.5|in|1}}]] machine guns replaced the fixed forward firing .303s.
|bombs= up to {{cvt|2000|lb}} of bombs, mines and [[depth charge]]s internally, winched out under the wings through hatches in the fuselage sides.<ref name=Buttler2000p34/>
|avionics=
*[[air-to-surface-vessel radar|ASV Mk.II or Mk.III centimetric radar]] (the latter from early 1943)<ref name=Buttler2000p16>Buttler, 2000, p.16</ref>
}}

==See also==
{{Aircontent|
|related=

* [[Short Empire]]
* [[Short Sandringham]]
* [[Short Seaford]]

|similar aircraft=
* [[Chyetverikov MDR-3]]
* [[Consolidated PB2Y Coronado]]
* [[Kawanishi H8K]] "Emily"
* [[Sikorsky VS-44]]
* [[Tupolev MTB-2]]
|lists=
* [[List of aircraft of the Royal Air Force]]
* [[List of aircraft of World War II]]
* [[List of flying boats and floatplanes]]
|see also=
* [[Saro A.33]]
* [[Short Sunderland in New Zealand service]]
}}

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==

===Citations===
{{Reflist|30em}}

===Bibliography===
* {{cite book |last1=Barnes |first1=C.H. |last2=James |first2=Derek N. |title=Shorts Aircraft Since 1900 |publisher=Putnam |location=London |year=1989 |isbn=0-85177-819-4}}
* {{cite book |last=Bowyer |first=Chaz |title=Sunderland at War |publisher=Ian Allan Ltd. |location=Shepperton, Surrey, UK |year=1976 |isbn=0-7110-0665-2}}
* {{cite book |editor-last=Bridgman |editor-first=Leonard |title=Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War II |chapter=The Short S-25 Sunderland |publisher=Studio |location=London |year=1946 |isbn=1-85170-493-0}}
* {{cite book |last=Buttler |first=Tony |title=Short Sunderland |series=Warpaint Series No. 25 |publisher=Hall Park Books Ltd. |location=Milton Keynes, UK |year=2000}}
* {{cite book |editor-last=Donald |editor-first=David |title=Bombers of World War II |publisher=MetroBooks |location=New York |year=1998 |isbn=1-56799-683-3}}
* {{cite book |editor-last=Eden |editor-first=Paul |title=The Encyclopedia of Aircraft of WW II |publisher=Silverdale Books/Bookmart Ltd |location=Leicester, UK |year=2004 |isbn=1-84509-013-6}}
* {{cite book |last=Edmunds |first=George |title=Call Sign N for Nuts, Against Overwhelming Odds |publisher=Merlinus Publications |year=2025}}
* {{cite book |last=Evans |first=John |title=The Sunderland Flying-boat Queen, Volume I |publisher=Paterchurch Publications |location=Pembroke Dock, Pembrokeshire |year=1987 |isbn=1-870745-00-0}}
* {{cite book |last=Evans |first=John |title=The Sunderland Flying-boat Queen, Volume II |publisher=Paterchurch Publications |location=Pembroke Dock, Pembrokeshire |year=1993 |isbn=1-870745-03-5}}
* {{cite book |last=Evans |first=John |title=The Sunderland Flying-boat Queen, Volume III |publisher=Paterchurch Publications |location=Pembroke Dock, Pembrokeshire |year=2004 |isbn=1-870745-13-2}}
* {{cite book |last=Grant |first=Mark |title=Australian Airpower 1914 to 1945 |publisher=Topmill P/L |location=Marrickville, NSW |year=1996 |isbn=1-876043-28-8}}
* {{cite book |last=Johnson |first=Brian |title=The Secret War |publisher=BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) |location=London |year=1978 |isbn=0-563-17769-1}}
* {{cite magazine |last=Kightly |first=James |title=Sunderland Survivors |magazine=Aeroplane |date=February 2009}}
* {{cite book |last=Lake |first=Jon |title=Sunderland Squadrons of World War 2 |publisher=Osprey Publishing |location=Oxford, UK |year=2000 |isbn=1-84176-024-2}}
* {{cite book |last=Lawrence |first=Joseph |title=The Observer's Book Of Airplanes |publisher=Frederick Warne & Co |location=London and New York |year=1945}}
* {{cite book |last=Miller |first=David |title=U-Boats: The Illustrated History of The Raiders of The Deep |publisher=Brassey's Inc. |location=London |year=2002 |isbn=1-57488-246-5}}
* {{cite magazine |last=Norris |first=Geoffrey |title=The Short Sunderland |magazine=Aircraft in Profile |issue=189 |publisher=Profile Publications |location=London |year=1967}}
* {{cite book |last=Nicolaou |first=Stephane |title=Flying Boats & Seaplanes: A History from 1905 |publisher=Zenith Imprint |location=New York |year=1998 |isbn=0-7603-0621-4}}
* {{cite magazine |last=Prins |first=François |title=Pioneering Spirit: The QANTAS Story |magazine=Air Enthusiast |issue=53 |date=Spring 1994 |pages=24–32 |issn=0143-5450}}
* {{cite book |title=Short Sunderland (AP1566) |publisher=RAF (Air Publication) |location=London |year=1945 |department=Suffixes A through E for Mk I through V, -PN and Vols 1 through 4 for Pilots Notes, General Description, Maintenance, Overhaul and Parts Manuals}}
* {{cite book |last=Simper |first=Robert |title=River Medway and the Swale |publisher=Creekside Publishing |location=Lavenham, Suffolk, UK |year=1998 |isbn=978-0-9519927-7-7}}
* {{cite book |last=Southall |first=Ivan |title=Fly West |publisher=Angus and Robertson |location=Woomera, Australia |year=1976 |isbn=0-207-13002-7}}
* {{cite book |last=Tillman |first=Barrett |title=Brassey's D-Day Encyclopedia: The Normandy Invasion A-Z |publisher=Brassey's |location=London |year=2004 |isbn=1-57488-760-2}}
* {{cite magazine |last=Warner |first=Guy |title=From Bombay to Bombardier: Aircraft Production at Sydenham, Part One |magazine=Air Enthusiast |issue=100 |date=July–August 2002 |pages=13–24 |issn=0143-5450}}
* {{cite book |last=Werner |first=H. A. |title=Iron Coffins: A U-boat Commander's War, 1939–45 |publisher=Cassells |location=London |year=1999 |isbn=0-304-35330-2}}
* {{cite book |last=Lake |first=Alan |title=Flying Units of the RAF – The Ancestry, Formation and Disbandment of All Flying Units from 1912 |publisher=Alan Lake |location=England |year=1999 |isbn=1-84037-086-6}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Short Sunderland}}
* [http://uboat.net/allies/aircraft/sunderland.htm Fighting the U-boats: Short Sunderland]
* [http://splashdown2.tripod.com/id12.html Short Sunderlands of 205/209 Squadron]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081006155823/http://www.killifish.f9.co.uk/Malta%20WWII/Index.htm Sunderland Flying Boat 228 Squadron Malta (Photos)]
* {{British pathe|id=46668|v=OGyrHU4PmxI|d=Newsreel footage of Sunderland G-AGJM being towed into a Southampton berth|year=1948}}
* [http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1939/1939%20-%200185.html ''Flight'' article of 1939]
* [http://www.calshotdivers.com/dive-sites/34-wreck-dive.html Calshot's Sunderland Wreck] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180530035822/http://www.calshotdivers.com/dive-sites/34-wreck-dive.html |date=30 May 2018 }}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d75NcEwfVys ITV Meridian's PP118 News Story]

{{Short Brothers aircraft}}
{{ADF aircraft designations}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Short Brothers aircraft|Sunderland]]
[[Category:1930s British patrol aircraft]]
[[Category:Flying boats]]
[[Category:Four-engined tractor aircraft]]
[[Category:High-wing aircraft]]
[[Category:Four-engined piston aircraft]]