Sunderland III

The Blackburn B‑24 Sunderland III was the third major production variant of the Royal Air Force’s long‑range maritime patrol and anti‑submarine flying boat, entering service in 1941. Built by Blackburn Aircraft at its Brough and Samlesbury plants, the Sunderland III incorporated a number of wartime refinements over the earlier Mk I and Mk II models. The most noticeable change was the replacement of the cumbersome dorsal gun turret with a streamlined nose turret housing a powered twin‑machine‑gun mount, which improved forward firepower and reduced drag. Powered by four Bristol Pegasus radial engines delivering 1,065 hp each, the aircraft could cruise at 178 mph and range over 2,800 km, allowing it to patrol the Atlantic and protect convoys from German U‑boats. Its hull featured a robust, watertight steel frames and a deep V‑shaped bottom, giving it excellent sea‑handling in rough waters. Advanced avionics such as the ASV Mk III radar and Leigh Light made night‑time submarine detection possible. The Sunderland III became known as the “Flying Porcupine” because of its heavy defensive armament, and its endurance and versatility cemented its role as a cornerstone of Allied maritime patrols throughout World II, influencing post‑war flying‑boat design.

Blackburn Aircraft

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