The anti—submarine patrols in the English Channel remain an essential tool in combatting the submarine attacks. Today the RNAS opened a new base in France at Cherbourg as a substation of the base at RNAS Calshot.
The new base is equipped with three Wight ‘Converted’ seaplanes. These aircraft were originally designed as a bomber (prototype N501) but when it proved unsatisfactory it was converted into a seaplane with the addition of floats and ailerons on both wings. The aircraft was initially powered by the 275hp Rolls-Royce Eagle engine but later examples used the Sunbeam Maori as the Rolls Royce engines were in short supply.
The aircraft was able to carry four 100lb bombs but had a fairly mediocre endurance for a bomber of only 3 ½ hours. In the end only 37 were built, likely out of necessity. By the end of the war only three were still in service, having been replaced by Short 184s.
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