Avro 696 Shackleton

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

Contents

Type Description

• 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. The centre section of the wing originated from the Lincoln, while the outer wing and undercarriage were based on the Tudor outer wings. The tailplane was enlarged compare to the Lincoln/Lancaster, and raised to the top of the fuselage as proposed for the Lincoln ASR.III. An entirely new fuselage was adopted, being wider and deeper to provide a large space in which to accommodate the crew, their equipment, and a large bomb bay. The ten-man crew consisted oftwo pilots, two navigators, a flight engineer plus a further five crew members who covered bomb aiming, gunnery, observation and, due to the long endurance, cooking. Defensive armament included a Bristol type 17 dorsal turret, also with a pair of 20mm cannon, and, on the prototypes only, two 20mm Hispano cannon on each side of the nose, installed in cheek barbettes an controlle by the bomb aimer, an a Boulton Paul rear turret with two .50in machine guns. The bomb bay was capable of carrying up to 20,000 lb of ant-submarine bombs, depth charges, mines or sonobouys. The ASV13 search radar housing was locate under the bomb aimers nose transparency. Four 2,450 h.p. Rolls-Royce Griffon powerplants, Griffon 57 outboard and Griffon 57A inboard.

• Type 696 Shackleton MR.1A
• As MR.1 with four 2,450 h.p. Rolls-Royce Griffon 57A powerplants.

• Type 696 Shackleton MR.2
• As MR.1A with a longer nose housing twin 20mm British Hispano cannon and a flat bomb aimers position below. The ASV radar radome moved to the ventral position in a semi-retractable 'dustbin'. A new tail-wheel with twin wheels was fitted, along with a new braking system, and the rear fuselage was more tapered, finishing in a transparent pointed tailcone.

• Type 696 Shackleton MR.2C
• Early designation for MR.2 Phase I (see below).

• Type 696 Shackleton T.2
• Trainer conversion of MR.2, featuring removal of nose cannon, the dorsal turret having already been removed during the in-service life of the MR.2. Radar trainees occupied the space previously used for crew rest quarters.

• 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 AN/APS 20F airborne early warning radar in a radome under the cockpit. The twin 20mm British Hispano cannon were removed, as was the ventral 'dustbin'. Three radar positions were occupied by a five man crew working in shifts.

• Type 696 Shackleton MR.3
• MR.2 with tricycle undercarriage to Specification R.5/46 issue 3 to meet the requirements of OR.320. The aircraft featured a new, slightly longer, front fuselage to accommodate the nosewheel and the main landing gear was changed to twin-wheel units. Cockpit glazing was changed, the bomb bay slightly shortened and a new crew entrance provided between the two bays. The modified wings featured a revised planform with increased chord ailerons, together with wing tip tanks. Four 2,450 h.p. Rolls-Royce Griffon 58 powerplants.

• Type 696 Shackleton T.4
• Trainer conversion of MR.1A. Dorsal turret removed and trainee radio and radar operator positions in the bunk area.

Projected Variants

• Type 716 Shackleton Mk.3
• MR.3 with a new wing, single fin and rudder and Napier Nomad powerplants (See note 1).

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

Production Tables Index

Type 696 Shackleton - MR.1, MR.2 and MR.3
Type 696 Shackleton - T.2 and T.4
Type 696 Shackleton - AEW.2

Notes

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

Production References

1. Avro Aircraft Since 1908, A.J. Jackson (Putnam, 1965 and 1990)
2. The Avro Shackleton, Barry Jones (Crowood Press Ltd., 2002)
3. Profile No.243, Avro Shackleton Mks 1 to 4, Peter J. Howard (Profile Publications, 1972)
4. https://www.thegrowler.org.uk/index.htm
5. RAF Air Historical Branch: RAF Aircraft Movement Card (A.M. Form 78) (Dept of Archive and Aviation Records, RAF Museum, Hendon, Records MFC-77-15-85, -131 and -132)