25 May 1914

The Short S.81, an experimental gun-carrying pusher biplane seaplane, was delivered to the Royal Naval Air Service on 25 May 1914. It was first fitted with in July 1914. It was fitted with a number of different guns for trials, including a 1½ pounder (37 mm) semi-automatic Vickers quick-firing gun and a 6 pounder (57 mm) Davis gun (an early recoilless gun). It was deleted from the inventory in October 1915, when trials were complete.