picture 201804

Sunderland Mk V, ML824, WH-T, No.330 Squadron, Sullom Voe - The Sunderland Mk V was basically equivalent to the later Mk IIIA (which had the new ASV Mk III radar, which operated in the 50 cm band, with antennas that could be faired into streamlined blisters under the wingtips) but with the Pegasus engines replaced by Pratt & Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasps. These produced 1,200hp each and were already in use on RAF Consolidated Catalinas and Douglas Dakotas, and so logistics and maintenance were straightforward. As the U-boats gained Metox passive receivers they were increasingly able to detect the older ASV Mk II radar and the number of sightings declined dramatically.