Avro Shackleton
The Avro 696 Shackleton is a four-engine Seefernaufklärungsflugzeug (English Maritime Patrol Aircraft, MPA) from a British production, named after the polar explorer Ernest Shackleton. It was based on the Avro Lincoln, was used from 1951 to 1991 and replaced by the British Aerospace Nimrod.
The only export customer was South Africa, which began the machines from 1957 to 1984.
Variants
- Type 696: three prototypes (including with rear armament, which accounted in the series)
- MR Mk.1: First production version, built 29 pieces, Rolls -Royce Griffon 57 engines in the outer, Griffon 57A engines in the inner nacelles
- MR Mk.1A: all four gondolas equipped with Griffon 57A engines built 47 pieces
- MR Mk.2: Amended bug ( radar now behind the wing in the fuselage built-in), extended tail cone, built 70 pieces
- MR Mk.3: among others, Built tricycle landing gear, wing tips provided with auxiliary tanks built 34 pieces
- MR Mk.4: Planned version with Napier Nomad engine was not realized
- T Mk.2: Training version of the variant MR Mk.2, 10 pcs MR Mk.2 were converted for this purpose
- T Mk.4: upgrading from 17 pcs MR Mk.1A with additional radar operator positions for training
- AEW Mk.2: Conversion of 12 Pieces MR Mk.2 to early warning aircraft
Military user
Stationing locations
South Africa South Africa
The only barracks of Shackleton in South Africa was:
- Ysterplaat AFB ( Cape Town ), from January 1957 to November 1984, Shackleton Mr.3 (35th Squadron )
United Kingdom United Kingdom
The vast majority of units were on RAF stations in South West England, Northern Ireland and Scotland.
- RAF Aldergrove, from April 1952 to April 1959, Shackleton MR.1/1A/2/3 ( 120th, 240th Squadron )
- RAF Ballykelly, from January 1954 to April 1971, Shackleton MR.1A/2/2C/3 ( 203, 204 210, 240, 269 Squadron )
- RAE Bedford, Shackleton T.4 ( Royal Aircraft Establishment)
- RAF Lossiemouth, 1973-1981, Shackleton AEW.2 ( 8 Squadron )
- RAF Kinloss September 1951 to 1991, Shackleton MR.2/3/AEW.2 ( 120th, 206th, 220th, 8th Squadron )
- RAF St Eval, from June 1952 to April 1959, Shackleton MR.1 / 2 ( 42, 206, 228 Squadron )
- RAF St Mawgan, from September 1951 to September 1971, Shackleton MR.2 / 3 ( 42 and 206 Squadron )
In addition, Shackleton were still stationed in a number of British overseas territories.
Gibraltar Gibraltar
- RAF Gibraltar, from August 1951 to October 1966, Shackleton MR.1 / 2 ( 224, 269 Squadron )
Aden (now Yemen Yemen)
- RAF Khormaksar, from August 1957 to September 1967, Shackleton MR.2 (37th Squadron )
Malta Malta
- RAF Luqa, from August 1953 to October 1965, the beginning of 1969 to October 1971 Shackleton MR.2 / 3 ( 37, 201 Squadron )
- RAF Hal Far, from October 1965 to March 1967, Shackleton MR.2 (38th Squadron )
Singapore Singapore
- RAF Changi, from May 1958 to October 1971, Shackleton MR.1A/2C ( 205 Squadron )
Trucial States (now United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates)
- RAF Sharjah, November 1970 to November 1971, Shackleton MR.2 ( 210 Squadron )