Short 184

Of all the seaplanes to serve with the RNAS, and latt erly RAF, in th e 1914-1918 war, the ungainly Short 184 unquestionably remains the best known. It was, to use that overworked aeronautical cliche, one of the conflicts great workhorses. Its less than aesthetic appearance matched the unremarkable nature of its war time career, yet it served in various forms from 1915 right up to the Armistice and beyond - indeed it remained in production until the end of 1918. There were some claims to fame. No.842 was the first ever aeroplane to torpedo an enemy vessel in action another, 8359, was at Jutland and segments of it survive to this day at Yeoviltons famous Fleet Air Arm Museum, a somewhat forlorn memorial to a type that richly deserves it place in aviation history.