T-6 Texan variants

This article describes the different variants of the T-6 Texan.

BC-1

;BC-1:Basic Combat trainer version initial production version with 600hp R-1340-47 engine, 177 built;BC-1A:Same as BC-1 but with semi-monocoque rear fuselage, squared-off wingtips and vertical tail surfaces, 93 built.;BC-1B:One BC-1A fitted with an AT-6A wing centre section.;BC-1I:BC-1s converted to instrument trainers, 30 modified

AT-6 Texan

;AT-6 Texan:Same as BC-1A with minor changes, powered by a 600hp R-1340-47 and armed with forward-firing 0.3in machine gun, nine original started as BC-1As and 85 built.;AT-6A:Same as AT-6 but with 600hp R-1340-49 and removable wing centre section fuel tanks, 1847 built with 298 transferred to the United States Navy as the SNJ-3. Survivors re-designated T-6A in 1948.;AT-6B:Same as AT-6A but with 600hp R-1340-AN-1 and dorsal gun fitted as standard, 400 built.;AT-6C:Same as AT-6B but with material changes to low-alloy steel and plywood, 2970 built including transfers to the United Kingdom as the Harvard III.;AT-6D:Same as AT-6B but with a 24V DC electrical system, 4388 built including transfers to the United States Navy as the SNJ-5 and to the United Kingdom as the Harvard IIA. Redesignated T-6D in 1948.;XAT-6E:One AT-6D re-engined with a 575hp V-770-9 engine for trials.;AT-6F:Same as AT-6D but with a strengthened airframe and minor modifications, 956 built including transfers to the United States as the SNJ-6, Redesignated T-6F in 1948.

AT-16

;AT-16:Noorduyn built AT-6As for lend-lease as Harvards, 1800 built

T-6 Texan

;T-6A:AT-6As re-designated in 1948.;T-6C:AT-6Cs re-designated in 1948 including 68 re-builds with new serial numbers.;T-6D:AT-6D re-designated in 1948 including 35 re-builds with new serial numbers.;T-6F:AT-6F re-designated in 1948.;T-6G:Earlier model AT-6/T-6s re-built between 1949-1953. They have improved cockpit layout, increased fuel capacity, modified landing gear with steerable tailwheel, updated radios and a 600hp R-1340-AN-1 engine. 2068 modified.;LT-6G:T-6Gs converted for battlefield surveillance and forward air controller duties, 97 modified.;T-6H:Number of T-6Fs converted T-6G standard.;T-6J:Designated used for Canadian-built Harvard Mk 4s supplied to Belgian, France, Italy, Portugal and West Germany, 285 aircraft.

NJ Texan

;SNJ-1:United States Navy designation same as BC-1 with metal-covered rear-fuselage, 16 built.;SNJ-2:Same as SNJ-1 but with a R-1340-56 engine and detailed changes, 61 built.;SNJ-3:Same as AT-6A, 270 built and 296 transferred from USAAC.;SNJ-3C:SNJ-3 converted as deck landing trainers with arrester gear, twelve modified.;SNJ-4:Same as AT-6C, 1240 built.;SNJ-4C:SNJ-4s converted as deck landing trainers with arrester gear.;SNJ-5:AT-6Ds transferred from the USAAC, 1573 aircraft.;SNJ-5C:SNJ-5s converted as deck landing trainers with arrester gear.;SNJ-6:AT-6Fs transferred from the USAAF, 411 aircraft.;SNJ-7:Early models modified to T-6G standards in 1952. ;SNJ-7B:An armed variant of the SNJ-7.;SNJ-8:Order for 240 cancelled.

Harvard

;Harvard I:Similar to BC-1 but without rear gun and with a 600hp R-1340-S3H1 engine, 400 aircraft.;Harvard II:Similar to BC-1A, 526 built, again without provision for rear gunner.;Harvard IIA (RAF & Commonwealth):AT-6C, many with wooden rear fuselages when first delivered.;Harvard IIA (RCAF):'Armed' Harvard II - Any RCAF Harvard II & IIB fitted with guns (in the wing), rockets or bombs.;Harvard IIB:Noorduyn built Mk.II's, some to US orders as AT-16's for lend-lease. Transfers back from the USAAF (1800) and 757 built.;Harvard T.T. IIB:Target Tug - 42 aircraft built for the RAF by Noorduyn. Number probably included in II totals.;Harvard IIF:Bombing/gunnery trainer - One-off modified from Mk.II with bomb aimers blister and AT-6 cockpit.;Harvard III:AT-6D, 537 aircraft for RAF.;Harvard IV:Development of Harvard II paralleling the T-6G, and built by Canadian Car & Foundry, 270 for the RCAF and 285 for USAF. Some publications refer to these as T-6J however the aircraft record cards do not use this designation.

A-27

;A-27:Tandem two-seat attack version of the AT-6 with a 785hp R-1820-75 engine and five O.3in machine guns (two in nose, one on each wing and one dorsal). Designation used for ten aircraft for Thailand impressed into United States Army Air Corps use.

North American designation

;NA-16:Prototype for entire family of aircraft.;NA-18:NA-16 modified to USAAC requirements.;NA-19:BT-9 slightly modified from NA-18.;NA-19A:BT-9A Armed version of BT-9.;NA-20:BT-9 Demonstrator built for China.;NA-22:Re-engined BT-9.;NA-23:BT-9B Some minor changes from BT-9, unarmed.;NA-26:BC-1 Basic Combat Demonstrator aircraft, First Retractable Gear Variant. Sold to RCAF.;NA-27:As per NA-26 but for demonstration in Europe.;NA-28:NJ-1 BT-9 built to USN specifications.;NA-29:Y1BT-10, BT-9C & BT-9D Minor improvements over earlier BT-9's;NA-30:Intended production version of Y1BT-10, cancelled. Similar to BT-9 but different engine.;NA-31:As per BT-9C but with a different engine for Sweden as a pattern aircraft for the Sk 14.;NA-32:Pattern aircraft for Australian Government.;NA-33:Pattern aircraft for Australian Government built as Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation Wirraway (755 built).;NA-34:Variant of BT-9 for Argentina. First major export order for NAA.;NA-36:The BC-1;NA.44:Prototype attack version, one built.;NA.55:The BC-1A;NA.59:The AT-6;NA-69:Attack version for Thailand, not delivered became the A-27. ;NA.72:Attack version for Brazil, 30 built.;NA.74:Attack version for Chile.;NA.88:The AT-6D (last 800 as NA.121);NA.121:The last 800 AT-6Ds

References

* Dan Hagedorn, "North American NA-16/AT-6/SNJ - WarbirdTech Series Volume 11", Specialty Press, USA, 1997, ISBN 0-933424-76-0

* David C. Fletcher & Doug MacPhail, "Harvard! The North American Trainers in Canada", DCF Flying Books, San Josef, BC, Canada, ISBN 0-9693825-0-2

* John M. Andrade, "U.S. Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909", Midland Counties Publications, England, 1979, ISBN 0 904597 22 9