A-12 Shrike

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Curtiss A-12 Shrike
Curtiss A-12 Shrike
Type	Attack aircraft
Manufacturer	Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company
Primary user	United States Army Air Corps

The Curtiss A-12 Shrike was the United States Army Air Corps' first monoplane attack aircraft, and its main attack aircraft through most of the 1930s.

It was developed from advancements of the YA-8 and the experimental YA-10. However, it became obsolete after a short use period, mainly because of fast-improving aviation technology. Twenty A-12 Shrikes were delivered to China, and when Japan invaded Manchuria, they were used. However, it is unlikely that any survived past the first year of World War II.

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

Contents 1 Specifications (A-12A Shrike) 2 Operators 3 External links 4 Related content

[edit] Specifications (A-12A Shrike)

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Length: 32 ft 3 in (9.83 m)
• Wingspan: 44 ft 0 in (13.41 m)
• Height: 9 ft 0 in (2.74 m)
• Wing area: ft² (m²)
• Empty weight: lb (kg)
• Loaded weight: lb (kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 5,756 lb (2,611 kg)
• Powerplant: 1× Wright R-1820 "Cyclone" radial engine, 690 hp (515 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 177 mph (154 knots, 285 km/h)
• Range: 521 mi (453 nm, 838 km)
• Service ceiling: 15,150 ft (4,620 m)
• Rate of climb: ft/min (m/s)
• Wing loading: lb/ft² (kg/m²)
• Power/mass: hp/lb (W/kg)

Armament

• Guns:
  
  • 4× forward-firing .30 in (7.62 mm) machine guns
  • 1× aft-firing .30 in gun
• Bombs: 488 lb (221 kg)

[edit] Operators

• China
• United States

[edit] External links

• USAF Museum [1] [2] [3]

[edit] Related content

 

Comparable aircraft

• Fokker XA-7

Designation sequence

• A-9 - YA-10 - A-11 - A-12 - YA-13 - A-14 - A-15

Related lists

• List of military aircraft of the United States