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Avro 696 Shackleton

For a description of the format and data included in Production Tables, see here.

Produced Variants

Type 696 Shackleton GR.1
 
 
The first production model for the RAF, later redesignated Shackleton MR.1, to Specification R.5/46 to meet the requirements of OR.200 (originally B.5/46 to OR.191) for a Maritime Reconnaissance Aircraft. Two 2,450 h.p. Rolls-Royce Griffon 57 and two Griffon 57A powerplants.
Type 696 Shackleton MR.1 GR.1 redesignated.
Type 696 Shackleton MR.1A As MR.1 with chin mounted radome. Four 2,450 h.p. Rolls-Royce Griffon 57A powerplants.
Type 696 Shackleton MR.2 As MR.1 with a longer nose housing twin cannon and radome moved to the ventral position.
Type 696 Shackleton MR.2C Early designation for MR.2 Phase I (see below).
Type 696 Shackleton T.2 Trainer conversion of MR.2.
Type 696 Shackleton AEW.2
 
Airborne early warning aircraft to Specification AEW.274 to meet the requirements of ASR.394. MR.2s converted to take ex-Fairey Gannet airborne early warning radar.
Type 696 Shackleton MR.3
 
MR.2 with tricycle undercarriage and modified wings with revised planform to Specification R.5/46 issue 3 to meet the requirements of OR.320.
Type 696 Shackleton T.4 Trainer conversion of MR.1A.
 

Shackleton Phase Updates

Shackleton MR.2 and MR.3 aircraft were subjected to a series of updates as outlined:
Phase 1: new ASV radar, ILS and various avionics upgrades.
Phase 2: ECM equipment added, along with further avionics updates.
Phase 3: further avionics upgrades. Also, for the MR.3 only, the addition of Bristol Siddeley Viper engines in the outer Griffon nacelles to assist take-off with the greater gross weight.


Projected Variants

 Type 716 Shackleton Mk.3(1) MR.3 with a new wing, single fin and rudder and Napier Nomad powerplants.
 Type 719 Shackleton Mk.4(1) MR.3 with a new fuselage, single fin and rudder and Napier Nomad powerplants.


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Type 696 Shackleton - MR.1, MR.2 and MR.3

Production List Top Page Top 

Serial Range
C/n
Type
Batch Qty
Conv.
Canc'd
Notes
 3 prototypes ordered from A.V. Roe and Co. Ltd., Chadderton, to contract 6/Acft/1077. First flew March 1949.
 VW126, VW131, VW135    Prototypes  3       
 30 aircraft ordered from A.V. Roe and Co. Ltd., Chadderton, to contract Acft/6062. One aircraft cancelled, remainder delivered between August 1950 and August 1951.
 VP253    MR.1      1   
 VP254 - VP268      15       
 VP281 - VP294      14       
 39 aircraft ordered from A.V. Roe and Co. Ltd., Chadderton, to contract 6/Acft/3628. Delivered as 37 MR.1A, 1 MR.2, 1 cancelled. Delivered between August 1951 and March 1952.
 WB818 - WB832    MR.1A  15       
 WB833    MR.2  1       
 WB834 - WB837    MR.1A  4       
 WB844 - WB861      18       
 WB862          1   Cancelled before contract finalised.
 20 aircraft ordered from A.V. Roe and Co. Ltd., Chadderton, to contract 6/Acft/5047. Delivered as 10 MR.1A, 10 MR.2. Delivered between April and July 1952.
 WG507 - WG511    MR.1A  5       
 WG525 - WG529      5       
 WG530 - WG533    MR.2  4       
 WG553 - WG558      6       
 40 aircraft ordered from A.V. Roe and Co. Ltd., Chadderton, to contract 6/Acft/6129. Delivered between January and October 1953.
 WL737 - WL759    MR.2  23       
 WL785 - WL801      17       
 19 aircraft ordered from A.V. Roe and Co. Ltd., Chadderton, to contract 6/Acft/6408. Delivered between December 1953 and August 1954
 WR951 - WR969    MR.2  19       
 21 aircraft ordered from A.V. Roe and Co. Ltd., Chadderton, to contract 6/Acft/6408. Delivered between September 1956 and July 1958
 WR970 - WR990    MR.3  21       
 17 aircraft ordered from A.V. Roe and Co. Ltd., Chadderton, to contract 6/Acft/6408. 13 delivered as  MR.3, 4 cancelled.
 XF700 - XF711    MR.3  12       
 XF730      1       
 XF731 - XF734          4   
 13 aircraft ordered from A.V. Roe and Co. Ltd., Chadderton, to contract 6/Acft/11106. Cancelled.
 XG912 - XG924    MR.3      13   
 8 aircraft ordered for the S.A.A.F from A.V. Roe and Co. Ltd., Chadderton, to contract B1/8129.
 1716 - 1723  1526-1533  MR.3  8       
 
Total Production
191
 
19
 



Type 696 Shackleton Trainers

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Shackleton T.2
Serials
 10 Shackleton MR.2 converted by Hawker Siddeley Aviation Ltd., Langar, between November 1966 and March 1967.
 WG533, WG554, WG558, WL739, WL750, WL787, WR964, WR966, WR967, WR969
 WL740, WL951 cancelled
Total Conversions   (10)
Total Conversions Cancelled  (2)

Shackleton T.4
Serials
 2 Shackleton MR.1 converted by A.V. Roe and Co. Ltd., Woodford, in May 1955 and April 1956.
 VP258, VP259
 1 Shackleton MR.1 converted by A.V. Roe and Co. Ltd., Langar, in August 1956.
 VP293
 13 Shackleton MR.1A converted by A.V. Roe and Co. Ltd., Langar, between February 1956 and Novembeer 1960.
 WB819, WB820, WB822, WB831, WB832, WB837, WB844, WB845, WB847, WB849, WB858, WG511, WG527
Total Conversions   (16)



Type 696 Shackleton AEW.2

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Serials
 12 Shackleton MR.2 converted by Hawker Siddeley Aviation Ltd., Bitteswell, between February 1971 and June 1972.
 WL741, WL745, WL747, WL754, WL756, WL757, WL790, WL793, WL795, WR960, WL963, WL965
Total Conversions   (12)




Production Summary

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All Aircraft By Mark
Type Built New Conv. Canc'd Total
 Shackleton MR.1 32   1 33
 Shackleton MR.1A 47   1 48
 Shackleton MR.2 70     70
 Shackleton T.2   (10) 2 12
 Shackleton AEW.2   (12)   12
 Shackleton MR.3 42   17 59
 Shackleton T.4   (16)   16
  191 (38) 21  

Notes
  1. Mk.3 (aka MR.4) and Mk.4 (aka MR.5) designations were applied by Avro and were unofficial.

Production References
  1. The Avro Shackleton, Barry Jones (Crowood Press Ltd., 2002)
  2. Profile No.243, Avro Shackleton Mks 1 to 4, Peter J. Howard (Profile Publications, 1972)
  3. http://www.avroshackleton.com/ no longer active - use  https://web.archive.org/web/20170626135547/http://avroshackleton.com/

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V1.4.4 Created by Roger Moss. Last updated August 2020