SR.N6 hovercraft
Encyclopedia
The Saunders-Roe
(later British Hovercraft Corporation
) SR.N6 hovercraft
(also known as the Winchester class) was a larger version of the earlier SR.N5
series. It incorporated several features that resulted in it quickly becoming the most produced and successful hovercraft design in the world. Compared to the SR.N5, the SR.N6 Mk.1 was stretched in length, with over double the seating capacity.
While the SR.N2 and SR.N5s operated in commercial service as trials craft, the SR.N6 was the first production craft to enter commercial service. The Mk.1 entered production in 1965, while the Mk.8 continues in production today. Experience with the design would lead to the very large automobile ferry SR.N4, which is no longer in service.
and Kalundborg
in Denmark
and in February and March 1966 also successfully underwent cold weather trials in Sweden
, in the Gulf of Bothnia
.
The increase length of the SR.N6 allowed it to accommodate 38 passengers instead of the 18 carried by the SR.N5. It was subsequently extending again to accommodate a further 20 passengers. This made SR.N6 commercial operations much more viable than any previous hovercraft design. By eventually increasing the capacity to 58 seats the Mk.1S became the first hovercraft capable of transporting a typical coach load of people.
, Egyptian Navy, Iraqi Navy
(Mk 6C), Imperial Iranian Navy and the Saudi Arabian Frontier Force.
recently decommissioned its last SR.N6 that was in active service, commissioned as CCGH 045
.
in Lee-on-the-Solent
, Hampshire, England. With 22,000 hours of service over a twenty year period it is the world's most extensively operated hovercraft. The museum has several other SR.N6 on display or in various states of restoration. One is operational and occasionally used for demonstrations.
The SR.N6 class is capable of carrying 55 fully equipped troops, or 6 tons of equipment.
Saunders-Roe
Saunders-Roe Limited was a British aero- and marine-engineering company based at Columbine Works East Cowes, Isle of Wight.-History:The name was adopted in 1929 after Alliot Verdon Roe and John Lord took a controlling interest in the boat-builders S.E. Saunders...
(later British Hovercraft Corporation
British Hovercraft Corporation
British Hovercraft Corporation was the corporate entity created when the Saunders Roe division of Westland Aircraft and Vickers Supermarine combined March 1966 with the intention of creating viable commercial hovercraft - .None of the Vickers designs were 'taken forward', the...
) SR.N6 hovercraft
Hovercraft
A hovercraft is a craft capable of traveling over surfaces while supported by a cushion of slow moving, high-pressure air which is ejected against the surface below and contained within a "skirt." Although supported by air, a hovercraft is not considered an aircraft.Hovercraft are used throughout...
(also known as the Winchester class) was a larger version of the earlier SR.N5
SR.N5
The Saunders-Roe SR.N5 was a medium-sized hovercraft which first flew in 1964. It was the first production-built hovercraft in the world. A later "stretched" variant of the SR.N5 was produced in greater numbers as the SR.N6....
series. It incorporated several features that resulted in it quickly becoming the most produced and successful hovercraft design in the world. Compared to the SR.N5, the SR.N6 Mk.1 was stretched in length, with over double the seating capacity.
While the SR.N2 and SR.N5s operated in commercial service as trials craft, the SR.N6 was the first production craft to enter commercial service. The Mk.1 entered production in 1965, while the Mk.8 continues in production today. Experience with the design would lead to the very large automobile ferry SR.N4, which is no longer in service.
Configuration
After initial trials the prototype was operated by Scandinavian Hovercraft Promotions of Oslo, Norway under the name 'Scanhover'. It entered service in June 1965 and it was later joined by 011. They operated on a 120 mile route, with six stopping points, in the Aalesund area. These craft were later operated between AarhusAarhus
Aarhus or Århus is the second-largest city in Denmark. The principal port of Denmark, Aarhus is on the east side of the peninsula of Jutland in the geographical center of Denmark...
and Kalundborg
Kalundborg
Kalundborg is a city with a population of 16,434 in Kalundborg municipality in Denmark and the site of its municipal council. Kalundborg is on the main island Zealand, with Copenhagen, but opposite on the far western edge....
in Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
and in February and March 1966 also successfully underwent cold weather trials in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, in the Gulf of Bothnia
Gulf of Bothnia
The Gulf of Bothnia is the northernmost arm of the Baltic Sea. It is situated between Finland's west coast and Sweden's east coast. In the south of the gulf lie the Åland Islands, between the Sea of Åland and the Archipelago Sea.-Name:...
.
The increase length of the SR.N6 allowed it to accommodate 38 passengers instead of the 18 carried by the SR.N5. It was subsequently extending again to accommodate a further 20 passengers. This made SR.N6 commercial operations much more viable than any previous hovercraft design. By eventually increasing the capacity to 58 seats the Mk.1S became the first hovercraft capable of transporting a typical coach load of people.
Military use
Military variants have seen service with the Italian NavyItalian Navy
Italian Navy may refer to:* Pre-unitarian navies of the Italian states* Regia Marina, the Royal Navy of the Kingdom of Italy * Italian Navy , the navy of the Italian Republic...
, Egyptian Navy, Iraqi Navy
Iraqi Navy
The Iraqi Navy is one of the components of the military of Iraq currently being reconstructed by UK-US Coalition forces in Iraq. Its primary responsibilities are the protection of Iraq's coastline and offshore assets...
(Mk 6C), Imperial Iranian Navy and the Saudi Arabian Frontier Force.
Civilian use
The Canadian Coast GuardCanadian Coast Guard
The Canadian Coast Guard is the coast guard of Canada. It is a federal agency responsible for providing maritime search and rescue , aids to navigation, marine pollution response, marine radio, and icebreaking...
recently decommissioned its last SR.N6 that was in active service, commissioned as CCGH 045
CCGH 045
CCGH 045 is a former Canadian Coast Guard hovercraft that had been based in Vancouver, British Columbia.045 is a SR.N6 model built by British Hovercraft Corporation and commissioned by the Canadian Coast Guard in 1969....
.
Survivors
The original prototype SR.N6 Mk.1 (009) is currently on display at the Hovercraft MuseumHovercraft Museum
The Hovercraft Museum, located in Lee-on-the-Solent in Hampshire, England, is dedicated to hovercraft.The museum has a large collection of various designs of hovercraft - numbering over sixty at the last count...
in Lee-on-the-Solent
Lee-on-the-Solent
Lee-on-the-Solent, often referred to as Lee-on-Solent, is a small seaside town in Hampshire, England about five miles west of Portsmouth. The town is located on the coast of the Solent and forms part of the borough of Gosport...
, Hampshire, England. With 22,000 hours of service over a twenty year period it is the world's most extensively operated hovercraft. The museum has several other SR.N6 on display or in various states of restoration. One is operational and occasionally used for demonstrations.
Capacity
(Military configuration)The SR.N6 class is capable of carrying 55 fully equipped troops, or 6 tons of equipment.
Toys
The SR.N6 has been the subject of two popular toy versions. A small metal replica was produced for over twenty years by Matchbox Toys, while a much larger die-cast version was produced in the 1970s by Dinky Toys. A 12.7 cm model was released by Matchbox in 1974 as part of their Super Kings range.Specifications
- SR.N6 Mk. 1S Winchester Class - SR.N6 Mk 8 (in production)
- Designer / Manufacturer: Saunders-RoeSaunders-RoeSaunders-Roe Limited was a British aero- and marine-engineering company based at Columbine Works East Cowes, Isle of Wight.-History:The name was adopted in 1929 after Alliot Verdon Roe and John Lord took a controlling interest in the boat-builders S.E. Saunders...
, (later British Hovercraft CorporationBritish Hovercraft CorporationBritish Hovercraft Corporation was the corporate entity created when the Saunders Roe division of Westland Aircraft and Vickers Supermarine combined March 1966 with the intention of creating viable commercial hovercraft - .None of the Vickers designs were 'taken forward', the...
) - Crew 3
- Dimensions
- Length 17.78 metres
- Width 7.97 metres
- Height (on cushion)6.32 meters
- full load displacement 10.9 tons
- Propulsion
- Motor: gas turbine engine
- Power: 1 Rolls-RoyceRolls-Royce plcRolls-Royce Group plc is a global power systems company headquartered in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s second-largest maker of aircraft engines , and also has major businesses in the marine propulsion and energy sectors. Through its defence-related activities...
Gnome turbine engines 1050 horsepower for lift and propulsion - Propellers: 1 four bladed variable pitch propeller
- Performance
- Speed 50 knots
- Range 170 miles at 30 knots
- Military Lift: 55 fully equipped troops or 6 tons of equipment
- Weapons
- Either a ring-mounted machine gun (0.5in or 7.62 mm) or short range wire guided surface-to-surface missiles mounted on the side decks.