Curtiss A-12 Shrike

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtiss_A-12_Shrike

The Curtiss A-12 Shrike was the United States Army Air Corps' second monoplane
ground-attack aircraft, and its main attack aircraft through most of the 1930s.
It was based on the A-8, but had a radial engine instead of the A-8's inline,
water-cooled engine, as well as other changes.

The Model 60 was developed from advancements of the A-8 and the experimental
YA-10. However, it became obsolete after a short use period, mainly because of
fast-improving aviation technology, as well as the USAAC's desire for
multi-engined attack aircraft.

The most obvious difference between the A-12 and the A-8 is the air-cooled,
radial engine in the A-12, which replaced the A-8's inline, water-cooled engine.
This was a response to the USAAC's move toward a preference for radial engines,
especially in attack aircraft. The rationale behind this preference is that the
radial engine has a lower profile, making it less vulnerable to ground fire, and
a simpler cooling mechanism, which is also less prone to groundfire, as well as
overall maintenance problems.

These aircraft retained the open cockpit introduced in the A-8 production batch,
and carried the same weapons load. In an attempt to improve pilot/observer
co-operation, the rear cockpit was moved forward sufficiently for its glazed
covering to form a continuation of the fuselage decking behind the pilot's
cockpit.

Nine USAAF A-12s were still in service at Hickam Field on 7 December 1941, but
they saw no combat.


Role
Ground-attack aircraft

Manufacturer
Curtiss

Introduction
1933

Retired
1942

Primary users
United States Army Air Corps
Nationalist Chinese Air Force

Number built
46[1]

Developed from
XA-8 Shrike
YA-10 Shrike


Specifications (A-12 Shrike)

General characteristics
Crew: 2
Length: 32 ft 3 in (9.83 m)
Wingspan: 44 ft 0 in (13.41 m)
Height: 9 ft 4 in (2.84 m)
Wing area: 284 ft² (26.38 m²)
Empty weight: 3,898 lb (1,768 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 5,756 lb (2,611 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Wright R-1820 "Cyclone" 9-cylinder air-cooled radial engine, 690
hp (515 kW)

Performance
Maximum speed: 177 mph (154 knots, 285 km/h)
Range: 521 mi (453 nmi, 838 km)
Service ceiling: 15,150 ft (4,620 m)

Armament

Guns:

4 × forward-firing .30 in (7.62 mm) machine guns
1 × aft-firing .30 in (7.62 mm) machine gun
Bombs:

4 × 122 lb (55 kg) bombs on underwing racks or 10 × 30 lb (13.6 kg)
fragmentation bombs in chutes on either side of the main fuel tank





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