Curtiss A-18 Shrike
A-18 Shrike II | |
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Curtiss A-18 No. 37-52 assigned to Wright Field (Y1A-18, probably during testing) | |
Role | Ground-attack aircraft
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Manufacturer | Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company |
First flight | 3 July 1935[1] |
Retired | 1943 |
Status | Service test |
Primary user | United States Army Air Corps |
Number built | 13[2] |
Developed from | Curtiss XA-14 |
The Curtiss A-18 Model 76A Shrike II was a 1930s
Design and development
In the years leading up to World War II, the United States Army Air Corps were interested in attack aircraft capable of carrying larger bomb loads with greater firepower. The attack aircraft design standard essentially became a light bomber with firepower only slightly less than the medium bombers being developed as the standard .30 in (7.62 mm) machine gun generally was replaced by .50 in (12.7 mm) ones on new aircraft in development.[3]
The Curtiss YA-14
Operational history
A newly improved variant, the Y1A-18, had upgraded 850 hp (630 kW)
After completion of service testing, the Y1A-18s were redesignated A-18. They were assigned to the
The A-18 was only used for a short time before being replaced by more advanced attack aircraft. After its service with the 8th AS, the aircraft were assigned to several Light Bombardment Squadrons during 1940-42, likely being used as support aircraft. The last A-18 Shrike II was retired from front line squadrons in 1942; none of the aircraft were ever used in combat.[6][9]
Lastly, four of the A-18s (37-52, 37-56, 37-61, and one other un-identified) were assigned to the
By December 1942, two or three of the aircraft were still airworthy. One was employed as a tow target tug, the other two were operated as reconnaissance aircraft by the
Operators
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Specifications (Y1A-18)
Data from Curtiss Aircraft 1907–1947,[12] The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft[9]
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Length: 41 ft 0 in (12.50 m)
- Height: 11 ft 6 in (3.51 m)
- Wing area: 530 sq ft (49 m2)
- Empty weight: 9,580 lb (4,345 kg)
- Gross weight: 12,849 lb (5,828 kg)
- Powerplant: 2 × Wright R-1820-47 Cyclone9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines, 850 hp (630 kW) each
- Propellers: 3-bladed two-position variable-pitch propellers
Performance
- Maximum speed: 247 mph (398 km/h, 215 kn) at 2,500 ft (760 m)
- Cruise speed: 217 mph (349 km/h, 189 kn)
- Range: 651 mi (1,048 km, 566 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 25,000 ft (7,600 m)
Armament
- 4 × forward-firing .30 in (7.62 mm) M1919 Browning machine guns
- 1 × aft-firing .30 in (7.62 mm) machine gun
- 400 lb (181 kg) bombs in two wing bays
- 200 lb (91 kg) bombs or chemical smoke tanks underwing
See also
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
- List of aircraft of World War II
- List of military aircraft of the United States
References
Notes
- ^ Wagner 1982, p. 171.
- ^ Fahey 1946, p. 21.
- ^ a b McCullough, Anson. "Grind 'Em Out Ground Attack: The Search for the Elusive Fighter Bomber." Wings, Vol. 25, No. 4, August 1995.
- ^ a b Swanborough and Bowers 1964, p. 231.
- ^ Editors, "New Airplanes For The Army Air Corps", Air Corps News Letter, Information Division, Air Corps, Munitions Building, Washington, D.C., 1 August 1936, Volume XIX, Number 15, page 23.
- ^ a b c d Maurer, Maurer."Combat Squadrons of the Air Force: World War II." Archived March 25, 2009, at the Wayback Machine Office of Air Force History, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, 1982.
- ^ a b Boyne, Col. Walter J., USAF (Ret). "Rare Bird: The Curtiss A-18." Archived 2012-07-31 at the Wayback Machine The Surly Bonds of Earth: Website of Col. Walter J. Boyne, USAF (Ret), 26 October 2011. Retrieved: 23 October 2012.
- ^ Fitzsimons 1967/1969, p. 2324.
- ^ a b Eden and Moeng 2002, p. 517.
- ^ ISBN 1-56311-153-5.
- ^ "A-18 Shrike." USAF Serial Search. Retrieved: 23 October 2012.
- ISBN 0370100298.
Bibliography
- Eden, Paul and Soph Moeng, eds. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. London: Amber Books Ltd., 2002, ISBN 0-7607-3432-1.
- Fahey, James C. U.S. Army Aircraft 1908-1946. New York: Ships and Aircraft, 1946.
- Fitzsimons, Bernard, ed. "Vol. 21." The Illustrated Encyclopedia of the 20th Century Weapons and Warfare. London: Purnell & Sons Ltd., 1967/1969. ISBN 0-8393-6175-0.
- Swanborough, F. G. and Peter M. Bowers. United States Military Aircraft Since 1909. New York: Putnam, 1964. ISBN 0-85177-816-X.
- Wagner, Ray (1982). American combat planes (3d, enl. ed.). Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday. ISBN 0-385-13120-8.
- Andrade, John M. . U.S Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909. Leicester : Midland Counties Publications, First edition 1979. ISBN 0 904597 22 9.