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Saunders-Roe A.36 Lerwick

1939 WORLD WAR 2

Saunders-Roe A. 36 History of Lerwick

Like the Short Brothers and Supermarine, Saunders-Roe (SARO) was a major British airship developer during the pre-war and WWII era. The SARO Lerwick (Type A.36) was probably one of their most forgotten designs, as design flaws and cumbersome handling severely affected its service record, resulting in only 21 aircraft being delivered. The accident rate proved so high that the model was phased out as early as 1942, although the series had only been in use since mid-1939.

The first flight of the prototype took place in November 1938, with operators limited to the Royal Air Force (RAF), with Canadians also trained on the model.

SARO engineers adopted the proven airship shape, with high wings and advanced engine nacelles. The bottom of the fuselage has a boat-like hull for water landings, and the flight deck is positioned above and aft of the nose assembly for excellent cockpit visibility. A pontoon is installed under each wing (outside the engine unit) to prevent tipping in currents and rough seas.

The layout of the tail is conventional, with a vertical tail and a low-mounted horizontal plane. The six-person crew is 19.4 meters long, with a wingspan of 24.6 feet and a height of 6 meters. The maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) is listed as 33,200 lbs.

Propulsion is provided by 2 Bristol Hercules II series radial piston engines, each producing 1,375 hp, driving a three-blade propeller unit. Engines are mounted where pilots can clearly see them to spot hazards (especially fire). Top speed hits 215 mph, while cruising is usually done in the 165 mph range.

The operational range is 1,540 miles, and the aircraft has a service ceiling of 14,000 feet. The rate of climb for pedestrians is 880 feet per minute -- although that's to be expected for an aircraft of this size and role.

As a military aircraft, the Lerwick has both defensive and offensive capabilities. Their slow speed and enviable size required the deployment of a defensively aligned network of machine guns, meaning a total of seven 7.7mm Vickers K-series machine guns were carried. One is mounted in the turret in the nose of the aircraft, and the other four are in another turret mounted in the tail (at the rear base of the vertical tail). The remaining pair of guns were operated from dorsal turrets near the midship hull ridge.

These devices are designed to protect the aircraft from enemy interceptors from almost every angle - except the vulnerable belly. For the maritime strike role, she carried up to 2,000 pounds of conventional ordnance, including depth charges.

Thus, aircraft can be called upon to hit nearshore targets, attack unarmed enemy ships, or attempt to hunt down enemy submarines.

Three completed Lerwick as prototypes for the flight test phase. Reviews suggest this is a heavy, underpowered aircraft that cannot be powered by one engine and requires a lot of effort in control. This testing phase resulted in several modifications to the base design, including adding wing area for increased control, but these had a limiting effect on Lerwick's operational career.

The wing ended up being a significant design flawa deficiency in operational service evidenced by the loss of several aircraft, especially during or after landings in rough water.

The Lerwicks were delivered in the summer of 1939, just before Britains official engagement in WWII (upcoming September). Problems arose, however, in the short time the planes entered service, with the fleet grounded as early as October, with SARO London's more revered (and aging) airships temporarily deployed in their place.

Still, due to shortages of many war supplies, the British demanded the Lerwick, and production continued until 1940, during which time the aircraft's accident rate began to increase, forcing more restricted use of the type. However, the aircraft was still used for maritime patrols and strikes, although it ultimately proved elusive.

Lerwick officially retired from RAF frontline service in May 1941 with the arrival of the United PBY Catalina in April 1941. From here, the type was used to train future airship pilots and crews, as well as mechanics, in the intricacies of operating this unique aircraft. These were also used to train Canadian pilots before the line was finally scrapped in 1943.

None of the airframes survived scrap bombs and therefore no longer exist today in airworthy or aesthetic form.

Of the 21 aircraft delivered, 11 were lost, 10 of which were involved in accidents. However, the product was not successful for the traditional SARO group.