Short Stirling

[Wmaker]

Direct hit from flak:
(Image removed from quote.)
According to the note, this bomber was hit before it reached its target, despite the damage it completed its run and returned home to a safe landing.  The tail gunner, obviously, didn't make it.  After completing the bomb run they found they could not close the bomb bay doors due to a loss of hydraulic power.

Wow, 

[Plawranc]

disregard.

[AWwrgwy]

Noone asks bar for info/importance when he mentions the "you know what" (not mentioning it's name because then he'll be in here in five minutes tops.

Look how well that's working out for him.


wrongway

[TOMCAT21]

 

[BigKev03]

hmm that big with less of a wing span then a lancaster, that seems like a climbing nightmare

Not really.  I mean the Short Stirling has a climb rate of 800 ft a min.  The B24 which carried 6000lbs less in ord could do aroun 1000ft a min, and the B17 which carried about the same 6000lbs less in bomb load could only make about 900ft per minute.  So in respects to bomb load and climb rate to the other bombers we have it is not that far off.  It would just mean you have to plan your bomb run if you want to obtain a specific altitude.  To me it would make a nice addition but it is not that vital yet in my opinion.

BigKev

[Pigslilspaz]

Also, later in the war, it was used to drop British Para's. Could be used as a gooneybird in late war. (just would have to be disabled in early war and maybe midwar)

[Tyrannis]

Big, packs alot of bombs, and looks awesome

you sure about that bomb statement? i read somewheres that its bombbay was so clustered with other things that it couldnt carry as much as the lancaster, even for its giant size.

[BigKev03]

you sure about that bomb statement? i read somewheres that its bombbay was so clustered with other things that it couldnt carry as much as the lancaster, even for its giant size.

I tried to research this but couldnt find anything.  I did notice however that the bomber was limited to about 19k max with a full bomb load.  Not that good if you wanted to avoid flak and fighters.

BigKev

[Pigslilspaz]

It could carry 14,000lbs of bombs or 24 troops.

Flew 14,500 sorties, dropped over 27,000 tons of ordnance.

The Stirling proved an excellent design and pilots were delighted to discover they could outturn the Ju 88 and Me 110 nightfighters they faced, due to the thick wing.

http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafbramptonwytonhenlow/aboutus/shortstirling.cfm

Also, it was the first Heavy Bomber in the RAF.

[Pigslilspaz]

you sure about that bomb statement? i read somewheres that its bombbay was so clustered with other things that it couldnt carry as much as the lancaster, even for its giant size.

It had a center divider in the bombbay. It carried as much ordnance as the Lancaster Mk. III, it just couldn't carry a single bomb larger than the 2000lb'er