A-18 Shrike

infobox Aircraft
name = A-18 Shrike II
type = Ground attack
manufacturer = Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company

---

caption = Curtiss A-18 No. 52 assigned to Wright Field (Y1A-18, probably during testing). (U.S. Air Force photo)
designer =
first flight = September 1935 (A-14)
introduced =
retired =1940
produced =
number built = 13"U.S. Army Aircraft 1908-1946" by James C. Fahey, 1946, 64pp.]
status = Service test
unit cost =$105,000 McCullough, Anson. "Grind 'Em Out Ground Attack: The Search for the Elusive Fighter Bomber." "Wings, Vol. 25, No. 4, August 1995".]
primary user = U.S. Army Air Corps
more users =
developed from = Curtiss YA-14
variants with their own articles = The Curtiss A-18 "Model 76A Shrike II" was a 1930s United States twin-engine light attack aircraft. It was the production test version of that company's XA-14.

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 (7.62mm) machinegun generally was replaced by .50-in (12.7 mm) ones on new aircraft in development.McCullough, Anson. "Grind 'Em Out Ground Attack: The Search for the Elusive Fighter Bomber." "Wings", Vol. 25, No. 4, August 1995.]

The Curtiss YA-14 prototype that emerged in 1935 was one of the first single-mission attack aircraft. Although it looked purposeful with its slender fuselage, thin nose and sleek streamlining, the A-14 was hampered by a lack of power, despite its two 775 hp (580 kW) Wright Whirlwind radial engines. Nevertheless, the prototype was able to achieve a maximum speed of 254 mph (409 kph), outstripping the frontline Boeing P-26 fighter aircraft by 20 mph.McCullough, Anson. "Grind 'Em Out Ground Attack: The Search for the Elusive Fighter Bomber." "Wings", Vol. 25, No. 4, August 1995.] Re-engined with 735 hp (550 kW) Curtiss R-1670-5 engines, it was delivered to the Army under serial number 36-146.Swanborough, F. G. & Bowers, P. M. "United States Military Aircraft Since 1909". (New York: Putnam, 1964) ISBN 085177816X.]

Operational history

A newly improved variant, the Y1A-18 had upgraded 850 hp Wright R-1820-47 radial engines with three-bladed propellers replacing the original two-bladed models. Thirteen aircraft were produced, serial numbers 37-52 through 37-64,"United States Military Aircraft Since 1909" by F. G. Swanborough & Peter M. Bowers (Putnam New York, ISBN 085177816X) 1964, 596 pp.] and although successful in testing, further production was not ordered due to a lack of funds and the availability of more advanced aircraft (such as the A-20 Havoc) under design. After completion of service testing, the Y1A-18s were assigned to operational attack groups and redesignated A-18. The aircraft were initially sent to the 8th Attack Squadron, 3rd Attack Group at Barksdale Field, Louisiana. They won a USAAC award for bombing and gunnery in their first year of service."The Illustrated Encyclopedia of the 20th Century Weapons and Warfare" Editor: Bernard Fitzsimons (Purnell & Sons Ltd., ISBN 0839361750) 1967/1969, Vol. 21] The A-18 was only used for a short time before being replaced by more advanced attack aircraft. The A-18 was retired from frontline service in 1940 and was never used in combat. The last A-18 in flying condition was grounded in 1943."The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft" Editors: Paul Eden & Soph Moeng, (Amber Books Ltd. Bradley's Close, 74-77 White Lion Street, London, NI 9PF, 2002, ISBN 0-7607-3432-1), 1152 pp.]

Operators

;flag|United States|1912
*U.S. Army Air Corps

pecifications (Y1A-18)

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop

ref="The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft" Editors: Paul Eden & Soph Moeng, 2002, ISBN 0-7607-3432-1, page 517

crew= two
capacity=
payload main =
payload alt =
payload more =
length main= 41 ft 0 in
length alt= 12.50 m
span main= 59 ft 6 in
span alt= 18.14 m
height main= 11 ft 6 in
height alt= 3.51 m
area main= 526 ft²
area alt= 48.87 m²
airfoil=
empty weight main= 9,410 lb
empty weight alt= 4268 kg
loaded weight main=
loaded weight alt=
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main= 13,170 lb
max takeoff weight alt= 5,974 kg
more general=
engine (jet)=
type of jet=
number of jets=
thrust main=
thrust alt=
thrust original=
afterburning thrust main=
afterburning thrust alt=
engine (prop)= Wright R-1820-47
type of prop= radials
number of props= 2
power main= 850 hp
power alt= 634 kW
power original=
max speed main= 247 mph
max speed alt= 398 km/h
cruise speed main= 217 mph
cruise speed alt= 349 km/h
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
range main= 651 mi
range alt= 1,048 km
ceiling main= 25,650 ft
ceiling alt= 8,370 m
climb rate main=
climb rate alt=
loading main=
loading alt=
thrust/weight=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
more performance=
armament=
*4 x forwards-firing .30 calibre machine guns
*1 x aft-firing .30 calibre machine gun
*400 lb (272 kg) bombs in two wing bays
*200 lb (91 kg) bombs or chemical smoke tanks underwing
avionics=

References

External links

* [http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=2930 Curtiss A-18]

ee also

aircontent

related=
*Curtiss YA-14

similar aircraft=
*Bristol Blenheim

lists =
*List of military aircraft of the United States

see also=