The Short Type 184 was a two-seat reconnaissance, bombing and torpedo seaplane designed by Short Brothers of Rochester. The first prototype flew in early 1915 and, after successful trials had been undertaken for the Admiralty, full production began in the summer of 1915. Short Brothers did not have the capacity to meet all of the orders and the aircraft was also built by 10 subcontractors, including Robey & Co of Lincoln.
In March 1915, two prototype Short 184s were sent to Gallipoli and on 12th August 1915 one of these machines, flown by Flight Commander Charles Edmonds, became the first aircraft to successfully attack a ship with an air-launched torpedo. The ship subsequently sank, but it had already been crippled by a torpedo fired by the British submarine E14. Just five days later, however, Edmonds sank a ship with no assistance, when he torpedoed a Turkish transport vessel a few miles north of the Dardanelles.
A Short 184 was also the first British aircraft to play a role in a major fleet action, when in the opening stages of the Battle of Jutland Flight Lieutenant Frederick Rutland (known thereafter as "Rutland of Jutland") spotted four German cruisers and reported their position to the British fleet. This aircraft was presented to the Imperial War Museum in 1917, but it was damaged during a bombing raid in the Second World War and the unrestored fuselage is now on display at the Fleet Air Arm Museum.
The Short 184 became the workhorse of the Admiralty and the aircraft was used in most theatres of the war, flying from either naval air stations or seaplane carriers. The principal use of the aircraft was in anti-submarine patrol work, but although a considerable number of submarines were spotted and attacked, no U-boats were actually sunk.
The Type 184 was still in production at the end of the war and by the time that production ceased in late 1918 936 aircraft had been built. Robey & Co of Lincoln received their first order to build the Short 184 in November 1915 and the company manufactured more aircraft of the type than any other company, with 256 machines having been built by November 1918. After completion, the aircraft were delivered by road to various seaplane bases for testing, including Calshot in Hampshire and Killingholme in Lincolnshire.
Short 184s in various stages of assembly at Robey & Company’s works on Canwick Road, Lincoln, c1918. Document reference: 30 MLL 8/6.
A Short 184 inside one of Robey & Company’s workshops, c1918. Document reference: 30 MLL 8/4.
A Robey-built Short 184 on the forecourt of Lincoln Central Station, 1917. The machine was being displayed to raise money for the Red Cross. Document reference: 30 MLL 7/2.