Republic P-43 Lancer
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P-43 Lancer | |
---|---|
A USAAF P-43 in 1942 | |
Role | Fighter |
National origin | United States |
Manufacturer | Republic Aviation |
First flight | March 1940 |
Introduction | 1941 |
Retired | 1944 (China) |
Status | Retired |
Primary users | United States Army Air Corps |
Produced | 1940–1941 |
Number built | 272 |
Developed from | Seversky P-35 |
The Republic P-43 Lancer was a single-
Design and development
The
The XP-41 and sole AP-4 were nearly identical, although the AP-4 was initially fitted with a large prop spinner and a tight-fitting engine cowling, as a testbed to evaluate means of improving the aerodynamics of radial-engined fighters, following similar experiments with the first production P-35. The AP-4's big spinner was later removed and a new tight cowling fitted. Unsurprisingly, these measures led to overheating problems. On 22 March 1939, the engine caught fire in flight, the pilot had to bail out, and the AP-4 was lost. Despite the loss of the prototype, the USAAC liked the turbo-supercharged AP-4 demonstrator enough to order 13 more in May 1939, designating them YP-43.[2]
YP-43 prototype
The YP-43 differed from AP-4 in having a "razorback" fuselage with a tall spine extending back from the canopy.[3] The engine air intake was moved from the port wing to under the engine resulting in the distinctive ovoid cowling. The aircraft was powered by an R-1830-35 14-cylinder air-cooled radial engine with a General Electric B-2 turbo-supercharger generating 1,200 hp and driving a three-blade variable-pitch propeller. Armament consisted of two synchronized .50 in (12.7 mm) machine guns in the cowl and a single .30 in (7.62 mm) machine gun in each wing.[1]
The first of 13 YP-43s was delivered in September 1940, the last in April 1941. Early testing revealed a strong tendency to yaw during takeoff and landing rolls, fixed by redesigning the tailwheel. Although the aircraft exceeded the initial USAAC performance requirements, by 1941 it was clearly obsolete, lacking maneuverability, armor, or self-sealing fuel tanks. The USAAC felt the basic P-35/P-43 design had exhausted its reserves for further improvement in performance and shifted its interest to the promising P-47.[4]
Production
Production aircraft, identical to the YP-43 prototypes, were designated "Lancer" and were delivered between 16 May and 28 August 1941. Ongoing delays in the P-47 program resulted in USAAC ordering an additional 80 P-43A, with Pratt & Whitney R-2180-1 Twin Hornet engine rated at 1,400 hp (1,000 kW). The engine promised better high-altitude performance, and armament was upgraded with 0.50 in machine guns replacing the 0.30 in in the wings. The USAAC was sufficiently interested to assign the AP-4J variant an official designation P-44 Rocket. Combat reports from Europe indicated that the new type was already obsolete, consequently, the entire order was canceled on 13 September 1940, with no prototypes built.
Alexander Kartveli and his team focused their efforts on the advanced AP-10/XP-47 which eventually became the
By 1942, a total of 272 P-43s were built, including all its variants, a remarkable number considering the original intention was to build none.[5]
Operational history
The Lend-Lease aircraft were delivered to China through
The Japanese noted that the P-43's fuel tanks were easily punctured, making them easier to shoot down than P-40s.
The USAAC considered the P-43 and its variants obsolete from the start and used them only for training purposes. In fall 1942, all surviving USAAF (transitioned from USAAC in June 1941) P-43s were redesignated RP-43, indicating a permanent change in role. Most of the aircraft that were not sent to China were modified for photo-reconnaissance duties and used for training. Eight P-43s (four P-43A-1s and four P-43Ds) were loaned to the Royal Australian Air Force in 1942 and served with No. 1 Photo Reconnaissance Unit. The RAAF flew many long range, high-altitude photo reconnaissance missions before the six survivors were returned to the USAAF in 1943.[12]
Variants
- YP-43
- Pre-production prototypes; 13 built.
- P-43
- First production version, identical to YP-43; 54 built.
- P-43A
- Version powered by R-1830-49 engine and armed with 0.50 in (12.7 mm) machine guns in the wings replacing the P-43's original 0.30 in (7.62 mm); 80 built.
- P-43A-1
- Version for China, rudimentary armor and wing fuel tank protection, armed with four 0.50 in machine guns in the wings, centerline hardpoint for a drop tank[clarification needed] or up to 200 lb (91 kg) of bombs; 125 built.
- P-43B-RE
- Conversion of P-43A to photo-reconnaissance version with cameras in rear fuselage. Fourteen aircraft converted.[13][14]
- P-43C
- Conversion of P-43A to photo-reconnaissance version with different photographic equipment than P-43B. Two converted.[13][14]
- P-43D
- Conversion of P-43A to photo-reconnaissance version with revised equipment. Six converted.[13][14]
- P-43E
- Proposed photo-reconnaissance version. Unbuilt.[13]
- RP-43
- Re-designation of USAAF P-43s as "restricted from combat" in October 1942.[13]
- RP-43A
- Re-designation of USAAF P-43As as "restricted from combat" in October 1942.[13]
- P-44 Rocket (AP-4J)
- Proposed version with 1,400 hp (1,000 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-2180-1 engine; none built.
Operators
Specifications (P-43A)
Data from The American Fighter[13]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 28 ft 6 in (8.69 m)
- Wingspan: 36 ft 0 in (10.97 m)
- Height: 14 ft 0 in (4.27 m)
- Wing area: 223 sq ft (20.7 m2)
- Empty weight: 5,996 lb (2,720 kg)
- Gross weight: 7,435 lb (3,372 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 8,480 lb (3,846 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-1830-49 14-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 1,200 hp (890 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 356 mph (573 km/h, 309 kn) at 20,000 ft (6,100 m)
- Cruise speed: 280 mph (450 km/h, 240 kn)
- Range: 650 mi (1,050 km, 560 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 36,000 ft (11,000 m)
- Time to altitude: 6 minutes to 15,000 ft (4,600 m)
Armament
- Guns: 4 × 0.50 in (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns
See also
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
- Brewster F2A Buffalo
- CAC Boomerang
- Curtiss P-36 Hawk
- North American P-64
- PZL.50 Jastrząb
- Polikarpov I-180
- Vultee P-66 Vanguard
- Weiss Manfréd WM-23 Ezüst Nyíl
Related lists
- List of aircraft of World War II
- List of fighter aircraft
- List of military aircraft of the United States
References
Notes
- ^ a b c d Green 1969, p. 167.
- ^ Green 1969, p. 166.
- ^ Green 1969, pp. 166–167.
- ^ Baugher, Joe. "Republic P-43 Lancer." joebaugher.com, 26 June 1999. Retrieved: 18 May 2010.
- ^ a b Green 1969, p. 168.
- ^ Green 1969, pp. 167–168.
- ^ Jordan, Corey C. (1998–1999). "Seversky Aircraft and Republic Aviation Part 2". Planes and Pilots Of World War Two. Archived from the original on 2012-03-25.
- ^ Scott, Robert L., Col. God is my CoPilot , pp.67-74.
- ^ "Republic P-43 Lancer fighter plane in Chinese service (Richard Dunn)".
- ^ "The National Interest: Blog | The National Interest".
- ^ Republic P-43 Lancer and China's Air War
- ^ "Republic P 43 Lancer". pilotfriend.com. Retrieved: 6 December 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g Angelucci & Bowers 1987, p. 389
- ^ a b c Davis 1994, p. 47
Bibliography
- Angelucci, Enzo and Peter Bowers. The American Fighter: The Definite Guide to American Fighter Aircraft from 1917 to the Present. New York: Orion Books, 1987. ISBN 0-517-56588-9.
- Davis Larry. P-35: Mini in Action. Mini Number 1. Carrollton, Texas: Squadron/Signal, 1994. ISBN 0-89747-321-3.
- Green, William. Warplanes of the Second World War, Volume Four: Fighters. London: Macdonald & Co.(Publishers) Ltd., 1961 (6th impression 1969). ISBN 0-356-01448-7.
- Jones, Lloyd S.U.S. Fighters: Army Air-Force 1925 to 1980s. Fallbrook, California: Aero Publishers, Inc., 1975. ISBN 0-8168-9201-6.
- Scott, Col. Robert L., Jr. God Is My Co-Pilot. Ballantine Books, 1963 (14th paperback printing), p. 72.
- Swanborough, Gordon and Peter M. Bowers. United States Military Aircraft Since 1909. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian, 1989. ISBN 0-87474-880-1.