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Rescue in the Atlantic

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Two Short Sunderland’s search for survivors after a U.S. supply freighter is destroyed by a U-Boat somewhere in the Atlantic near the coast of England, 1942.


The Sunderland was developed from the early British flying boats that serviced the Empire during the last Colonial days prior to World War II. The first Sunderland flew in 1937 and was the first British flying boat to have power-operated gun turrets. Capable of staying airborne for 16 hours, they were used for coastal patrol, cargo, air-sea rescue, and convoy protection against enemy submarines. Because of the many guns protruding from the aircraft, the Germans dubbed it the “Flying Porcupine”!
Early Sunderlands were powered with the Bristol Pegasus sleeve-valve engines. Unbelievably for an aircraft with an endurance of 16 hours, they were not equipped with feathering propellers.
The British had been flying the American PBY Catalina flying boats and were very satisfied with their Pratt & Whitney engines. Because of the engine’s feathering propellers and extra horsepower, the decision was made to incorporate them on the Sunderlands, beginning with the production of the Sunderland Mk V


REF:
Short

Sky, water, freighter, aircarft and fire painted with GIMP. Over (15) textured brushes used. Total time: 16 hrs. Thanks for Looking, Cheers, Mike
Image size
4400x3300px 1.76 MB
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tykpur-7beczy-tykboF's avatar

The Sunderland had 18 guns to protect it