the Belvedere was originally designed as a naval ac, and the high front undercarriage was meant to facilitate the loading of torpedos / depth bombs.
Absolutely correct. The Bevelgear was originally all Navy which is why they designed it that way. They couldn't fit it into carrier lifts so the Navy threw it out of its pram. The Westminster was scrubbed and the RAF got the Belvedere.
No straps, doors open and the ladders in place until the front engine was started.
At least one was a cut & shut from two and when they scrapped them at Seleter they found that the war reserve in the MU had the same serial number as one on the squadron.