# Short Springbok

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Two-seat, all-metal reconnaissance biplane

Springbok I / II / Chamois Springbok I prototype (J6974), Martlesham Heath 1923 General information Type Two-seater biplane Manufacturer Short Brothers Designer Oswald Short Primary user Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment (A&AEE), Martlesham Heath Number built 2 (S.3 Springbok I) 3 (S.3b Springbok II) 1 (S.3b Chamois) History First flight S.3 (Springbok I): 19 April 1923 S.3a (Springbok II): 25 March 1925 S.3b (Chamois): 14 March 1927

The **Short Springbok** was a two-seat, all-metal reconnaissance [biplane](/source/Biplane) produced for the [British](/source/United_Kingdom) [Air Ministry](/source/Air_Ministry) in the 1920s. Altogether, six aircraft of the Springbok design were built but none entered service with the armed forces.

## Design

The Springbok [fuselage](/source/Fuselage) was of streamlined [monocoque](/source/Monocoque) construction, mounted onto the lower wing and almost filling the gap between the upper and lower wings. The wings were single-bay, of unequal span and unequal chord, constructed of steel spars with an [aluminum](/source/Aluminum) (S.3/3a Springbok) / fabric covering (S.3b Chamois). The [ailerons](/source/Aileron) were on the upper wing only. The crew of two sat in tandem open cockpits, with a cutout in the upper mainplane for the pilot's head; the observer/gunner sat behind the pilot, just behind the upper wing. The tail unit comprised a braced monoplane tail near the fuselage top with a single fin and rudder. The [undercarriage](/source/Landing_gear) was of the cross-axle type, situated under the nose and complemented by a tailskid at the rear.

## History

### Springbok

The Springbok traces its history from the pioneering, all-metal [Short Silver Streak](/source/Short_Silver_Streak), which was exhibited at the [Olympia Aero Show](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Olympia_Aero_Show&action=edit&redlink=1) in 1920. The Air Ministry had purchased the Silver Streak and subjected it to structural tests for two years at R.A.E., Farnborough. When in due course the Air Ministry issued a "[Bristol Fighter](/source/Bristol_F.2_Fighter)-replacement" [Specification 19/21](/source/List_of_Air_Ministry_Specifications), [Short Brothers](/source/Short_Brothers) contracted to deliver two S.3 Springbok I two-seat reconnaissance biplanes (*J6974* and *J6975*). On 30 November 1923, the second of the two prototypes, *J6975*, crashed near [Martlesham](/source/Martlesham) when it spun in shortly after takeoff, killing the pilot. The cause was diagnosed as rudder blanking during spinning and a new wing design was prepared for the Springbok Mk. II, of which six examples – later reduced to three – were ordered in 1924.[1]

Springbok at Martlesham with fabric-covered wings

Powered by a 400 hp [Bristol Jupiter](/source/Bristol_Jupiter) IV [radial engine](/source/Radial_engine), the S.3 Springbok I was an all-metal aircraft, with a [duralumin](/source/Duralumin) monocoque fuselage and two-bay, equal-span wings. The strength/weight factor of the mainplanes was disappointing and the Air Ministry ordered three more Springboks with lighter, fabric-covered wings attached directly to the lower fuselage and a redesigned tail assembly. The first of these S.3a Springbok IIs (numbered *J7295*-*J7297*) was flown by Shorts' Chief [Test Pilot](/source/Test_pilot) [J. Lankester Parker](/source/John_Lankester_Parker) at the [Isle of Grain](/source/Isle_of_Grain) on 25 March 1925.

### Chamois

The S.3b Chamois was produced in response to [Specification 30/24](/source/List_of_Air_Ministry_Specifications) (as was the [Vickers Vespa](/source/Vickers_Vespa)), which while still intended to replace the Bristol Fighter, was intended for the army cooperation role.[2][3] It was decided to modify the first Springbok II (J7295) to meet the new specification. The fuselage and Jupiter IV engine was retainer, but new single-bay wings were provided. These fabric-covered wings had steel box [spars](/source/Spar_(aeronautics)) rather than the tubular spars used by the Springbok, while the upper wings used a thicker airfoil section (RAF 32) which allowed the fuel tanks to be housed completely Within the wings.[4][5] A single fixed forward-firing [Vickers machine gun](/source/Vickers_machine_gun) was operated by the pilot, while a flexibly mounted [Lewis gun](/source/Lewis_gun) was provided for the observer. Four 20 lb (9.1 kg) or two 112 lb (51 kg) bombs could be carried on underwing racks.[6]

Short Chamois

The Chamois' first flight took place at [Lympne Aerodrome](/source/Lympne_Airport) on 14 March 1927, also flown by Lankester Parker.[7] It was delivered to the [Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment (A&AEE)](/source/RAF_Martlesham_Heath) at Martlesham Heath, on 27 April 1927 for testing by [22 Squadron](/source/No._22_Squadron_RAF), the RAF unit responsible for test flying for the A&AEE,[8] although the competition for Specification 30/24 had already been decided and the [Armstrong Whitworth Atlas](/source/Armstrong_Whitworth_Atlas) ordered into production.[3] While it was noted that the aircraft was easy to maintain,[3] testing revealed several major problems, with a very poor view from the cockpit and poor directional control, particularly at low speeds.[9] The aircraft was also reported to be very noisy, with the monocoque fuselage being described as acting like a "[kettle drum](/source/Kettle_drum)".[3] The testing concluded that the Chamois was unsuitable for use as an Army Cooperation Aircraft or for other service use, and the Chamois was scrapped following completion of testing at Martlesham.[6]

## Operators

**[United Kingdom](/source/United_Kingdom)**

- [Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment (A&AEE)](/source/RAF_Martlesham_Heath)

## Specifications (Springbok I)

*Data from* Shorts Aircraft since 1900[10]

**General characteristics**

- **Crew:** 2

- **Length:** 26 ft 11 in (8.20 m)

- **Wingspan:** 42 ft 0 in (12.80 m)

- **Wing area:** 463 sq ft (43.0 m2)

- **Gross weight:** 4,080 lb (1,851 kg)

- **Powerplant:** 1 × [Bristol Jupiter IV](/source/Bristol_Jupiter_IV) air-cooled 9-cylinder [radial engine](/source/Radial_engine), 425 hp (317 kW) [11]

**Performance**

- **Maximum speed:** 121 mph (195 km/h, 105 kn)

**Armament**

- **Guns:** - 1× fixed, forward-firing .303 in (7.7mm) [Vickers machine gun](/source/Vickers_machine_gun)[12] - 2× .303 in (7.7mm) [Lewis guns](/source/Lewis_gun) on [scarff ring](/source/Scarff_ring) in rear cockpit[12]

## See also

**Related development**

- [Short Silver Streak](/source/Short_Silver_Streak)

**Related lists**

- [List of aircraft of the Royal Air Force](/source/List_of_aircraft_of_the_Royal_Air_Force)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [Mason 1992](#CITEREFMason1992), pp. 159–160

1. **[^](#cite_ref-amp43_2-0)** [Jarrett 1996](#CITEREFJarrett1996), p. 43

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-mbp192_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-mbp192_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-mbp192_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-mbp192_3-3) [Mason 1994](#CITEREFMason1994), p. 192

1. **[^](#cite_ref-amp434_4-0)** [Jarrett 1996](#CITEREFJarrett1996), pp. 43–44

1. **[^](#cite_ref-barnesp206_5-0)** [Barnes 1967](#CITEREFBarnes1967), p. 206

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-amp47_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-amp47_6-1) [Jarrett 1996](#CITEREFJarrett1996), p. 47

1. **[^](#cite_ref-amp45_7-0)** [Jarrett 1996](#CITEREFJarrett1996), p. 45

1. **[^](#cite_ref-amp46_8-0)** [Jarrett 1996](#CITEREFJarrett1996), p. 46

1. **[^](#cite_ref-amp467_9-0)** [Jarrett 1996](#CITEREFJarrett1996), pp. 46–47

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Barnes_p173_10-0)** [Barnes 1967](#CITEREFBarnes1967), p. 173

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** [Mason 1992](#CITEREFMason1992), p. 160

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Barnes_p169_12-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Barnes_p169_12-1) [Barnes 1967](#CITEREFBarnes1967), p. 169

- Barnes, C. H. (1967). *Shorts Aircraft since 1900*. London: Putnam.

- [Jarrett, Philip](/source/Philip_Jarrett) (November 1996). "Limited Editions". *[Aeroplane Monthly](/source/Aeroplane_Monthly)*. Vol. 24, no. 11. pp. 42–47. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0143-7240](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0143-7240).

- Mason, Francis K. (1992). *The British Fighter since 1912*. Annapolis, Maryland, USA: Naval Institute Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-55750-082-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-55750-082-7).

- Mason, Francis K. (1994). *The British Bomber since 1914*. London: Putnam. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-85177-861-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-85177-861-5).

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Short Springbok](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Short_Springbok).

v t e Short Brothers aircraft Pre-1921 Biplane No.1 Biplane No.2 Biplane No.3 Short-Wright biplane Dunne D.5 Improved S.27 Triple-Twin Tandem-Twin Triple-Tractor Bomber Sporting Type Silver Streak Early 'S' sequence: S.26 S.27 S.28 S.29 S.32 S.33 S.34 S.35 S.36 S.38 S.39 S.41 S.43 S.44 S.45 S.48 S.49 S.50 S.51 S.52 S.53 S.62 S.80 S.81 'N' sequence: N.1B N.2A N.2B N.3 Admiralty Types: 3 42 74 81 135 136 166 184 301 310 320 827 830 Post-1921 sequence S.1 S.2 S.3 S.4 S.5 S.6 S.7 S.8 S.8/8 S.10 S.11 S.12 S.14 S.15 S.16 S.17 L.17 S.18 S.19 S.20 S.21 S.22 S.23 S.24 S.25 S.26 S.27 S.28 S.29 S.30 S.31 S.32 S.33 S.34 S.35 S.36 S.37 S.38 S.39 S.40 S.41 S.42 S.43 S.44 S.45 (I) S.45 (II) S.46 S.47 S.48 S.312 S.B.A.C sequence SA.1 SA.2 SA.3 SA.4 SA.5 SA.6 SA.7 SA.8 SA.9 SB.1 SB.2 SB.3 SB.4 SB.5 SB.6 SB.7 SB.8 SB.9 SC.1 SC.2 SC.3 SC.4 SC.5 SC.6 SC.7 SC.8 SC.9 SD.1 SD.2 SD.3-30/330 SD.3-60/360 Names Belfast Bomber 'C-Class' Calcutta Chamois Cockle Cromarty Crusader Empire 'Folder' 'G-Class' Gnosspelius Gull Gurnard Kent Knuckleduster Mercury Maia Mussel Nimbus Rangoon Sandringham Sarafand Satellite Scion Scion Senior Scylla Seaford Sealand Seamew 'Shamrock' Sherpa (SB.4) Sherpa (C-23) Shetland Shirl 'Shrimp' Silver Streak Singapore Skyvan Solent Sperrin Sporting Type Springbok Stirling Sturgeon (I) Sturgeon (II) Sunderland Tandem-Twin Triple-Tractor Triple-Twin Tucano Valetta By type Airships: R31 R32 R38 Bombers: Bomber Seamew Shirl Sperrin Stirling Sturgeon Experimental: M4 scale Stirling Gnosspelius Gull SB.1 SB.4 Sherpa SB.5 SC.1 SC.9 Silver Streak Fighters: Gurnard Gliders: Nimbus Racers: Crusader Maritime patrol & reconnaissance: Empire/'C-Class' 'G-Class' Singapore Rangoon Sarafand Shetland Springbok Sturgeon (I) Sturgeon (II) Sunderland Seaford Trainers: S.27 Improved S.27 S.38 Sturgeon Tucano Transports & airliners: 330 360 Belfast Short Empire G-Class Hythe Kent Short-Mayo Composite Sandringham Scion Scion Senior Scylla Sealand Shetland Solent Sherpa Skyvan Valetta Under licence Bristol Britannia English Electric Canberra Felixstowe F.3 Felixstowe F.5 Unrealised designs Short 31/26

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Short Springbok](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short_Springbok) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short_Springbok?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.