North American T-6 Texan variants

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

Contents

BT Series

BT-9
Basic Trainer with 400hp Wright R-975-7 Whirlwind and new canopy. Dangerous stall resulted in a variety of unsuccessful fixes. 42 built.
BT-9A
Armed BT-9 with one cowl gun and one rear flexible gun, and modified canopy. 40 built.
BT-9B
Minor changes from BT-9, unarmed. 117 built. 1 modified as sole BT-9D which was modified as a prototype for BT-14 with new outer wing panels and other alterations.
BT-9C
Wright R-975-7, similar to the BT-9A with minor changes. 66 built
BT-9D
One prototype only, Intermediate step in development of the BT-14.
Y1BT-10
600hp Pratt & Whitney R-1340-41. First aircraft of batch of BT-9C completed as Y1BT-10.
BT-10
Production version of Y1BT-10 - cancelled
BT-14
lengthened all metal fuselage and new canopy, Pratt & Whitney R-985-25, 251 built.
BT-14A
27 BT-14s were re-engined with 400 hp (298 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-985-11.

BC Series

North American BC-1
Basic Combat trainer version initial production version with 600hp R-1340-47 engine, Early examples had round rudder, later examples had square bottom rudder. 177 built
BC-1A
New longer semi-monocoque fuselage, new outer wing panels angled forward slightly, squared-off wingtips and triangular rudder, 93 built. Identifiable from later types by blister fairing between undercarriage.
BC-1B
One BC-1A fitted with an AT-6A wing centre section.
BC-1I
BC-1s converted to instrument trainers, 30 modified
BC-2
Similar to BC-1A and AT-6, modified from NA-36 with details from NA-44, 3 bladed propeller.

AT Series (Texan)

AT-6 Texan
Advanced Trainer - 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 Navy as the SNJ-6, Redesignated T-6F in 1948. Clear fixed rear canopy. Some went to Russia via Lend-Lease.
AT-16
Noorduyn built AT-6As for lend-lease as Harvards, 1800 built

A-27

North American A-27
Two-seat attack version of AT-6 with a 785hp R-1820-75 engine and five 0.3in 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.

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 with improved cockpit layout, increased fuel capacity, steerable tailwheel, updated radios and a 600hp R-1340-AN-1 engine. Identifiable by simplified canopy framing. 2068 modified.
LT-6G
T-6Gs converted for battlefield surveillance and forward air controller duties, 97 modified. Nicknamed Mosquito.
T-6H
T-6Fs converted T-6G standard.
T-6J
Designation used for Canadian-built Harvard Mk 4s supplied to Belgian, France, Italy, Portugal and West Germany, 285 aircraft.



NJ/SNJ Texan

NJ-1
United States Navy specification advanced trainer powered with 550hp Pratt & Whitney R-1340-6. Some re-engined with later versions of R-1340. Similar to BT-9, 40 built.
SNJ-1
Similar to Harvard I but with BC-1 wing center section, metal-covered fuselage and late T-6 type wing, 16 built.
SNJ-2
Same as SNJ-1 but with a R-1340-56 engine and changes to carborettor and oil cooler scoops, 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 tailhook arrester gear, twelve modified.
SNJ-4
Same as AT-6C, 1240 built.
SNJ-4C
SNJ-4s converted as deck landing trainers with tailhook arrester gear.
SNJ-5
AT-6Ds transferred from the USAAC, 1573 aircraft.
SNJ-5C
SNJ-5s converted as deck landing trainers with tailhook 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 4
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.


North American company designations

NAA
Charge
Number		 NAA Model
or Designation		 Customer Engine Installed Number built/
Modified		 Notes
&10000000000000016000000NA-16 &10000000000000016000000NA-16 USAAC (trials) Wright R-975-E3 Whirlwind (420hp) 1 Prototype NX-2080, was open cockpit, received greenhouse canopy for trials
&10000000000000018000000NA-18 &10000000000000018000000NA-18 USAAC (trials) Wright R-975-E3 Whirlwind (420hp) 1 Modified from NA-16 won against Seversky BT-8 and Curtiss-Wright CW-19R, to Argentina in 1937
&10000000000000019000000NA-19 &10000000000000019000000NA-19/BT-9 USAAC Wright R-975-7 Whirlwind (400hp) 42 Minor changes from NA-18, new canopy
&10000000000000019000000NA-19A &10000000000000019000000NA-19A/BT-9A USAAC Wright R-975-7 Whirlwind (400hp) 40 Armed BT-9 with one cowl gun and one rear flexible gun, and suitably modified canopy.
&10000000000000020000000NA-20 &10000000000000016000000NA-16-2H Trials, to Honduras (FAH) Wright R-975 Whirlwind (Unknown sub-type) 1 NC16025 originally intended as demonstrator for China
&10000000000000022000000NA-22 &10000000000000022000000NA-22 USAAC (rejected) Wright R-760ET (J-6-7) (225hp) 1 Dangerously underpowered
&10000000000000023000000NA-23 &10000000000000023000000NA-23/BT-9B USAAC Wright R-975-7 Whirlwind (400hp) 117 Unarmed. 1 modified as sole BT-9D as BT-14 prototype with new outer wings and other alterations.
&10000000000000026000000NA-26 BC-1 Trials, to Canada (RCAF) Pratt & Whitney R-1340-S3H1 Wasp (550hp) 1 Basic Combat Demonstrator NX18990 - no relation to later BC-1, first retractable gear variant, later modified with NA-64 Yale parts.
&10000000000000027000000NA-27 &10000000000000016000000NA-16-2H to Fokker and
R. Netherlands AF		 Pratt & Whitney R-1340-S2H1 Wasp (500hp) 1 European demonstrator armed NA-26 with fixed gear.
&10000000000000028000000NA-28 NJ-1 USN Pratt & Whitney R-1340-6 Wasp (550hp) 40 USN specification up engined BT-9 as advanced trainer, some reengined with later R-1340 versions.
&10000000000000029000000NA-29 BT-9C USAAC Wright R-975-7 Whirlwind (400hp) 67 as per BT-9A with minor changes. First aircraft completed as Y1BT-10.
&10000000000000030000000NA-30 BT-10 USAAC (Cancelled) Pratt & Whitney R-1340-41 Wasp (600hp) 0 production version of Y1BT-10
&10000000000000031000000NA-31 &10000000000000016000000NA-16-4M/
Sk-14/14A		 Sweden (Flygvapnet) Wright R-975-E3 Whirlwind(420hp)/
Piaggio P VIIc(525hp)		 137 As per BT-9C but different engine. Licence production (NAA built 1, ASJA 76, SAAB 60), Trialled nosewheel undercarriage for Saab 21.
&10000000000000032000000NA-32 &10000000000000016000000NA-16-1A Australia (RAAF) Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp 1 Fixed gear pattern aircraft similar to NJ-1 or Y1BT-10, not followed up.
&10000000000000033000000NA-33 &10000000000000016000000NA-16-2K/
Wirraway		 Australia (RAAF) Pratt & Whitney R-1340-S1H1G (600hp) 756 Retractable gear pattern aircraft for Australian Government, 1 pattern aircraft built by NAA, and 755 by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation)
&10000000000000034000000NA-34 &10000000000000016000000NA-16-4P Argentina (FAA) Wright R-975-E3 Whirlwind (420hp) 29 First major export order (not licence), had 2 cowl guns, a flexible rear gun and a radio mast
&10000000000000036000000NA-36 BC-1 USAAC Pratt & Whitney R-1340-47 Wasp(500hp) 177 Retractable undercarriage and first aircraft with square bottom rudder. Large DF loop between undercarriage, blister covering fuel transfer gear along centerline aft of wheel wells.legs.
&10000000000000037000000NA-37 &10000000000000016000000NA-16-4R/KXA1 Japan (IJN) (Evaluation) Pratt & Whitney R-985-9CG Wasp Junior (500hp) 1 Technology demonstrator, unarmed, fixed landing gear and three bladed prop.
&10000000000000038000000NA-38 &10000000000000016000000NA-16-4M Sweden (Flygvapnet) Wright R-975-E3 Whirlwind (420hp) 1 same as NA-31
&10000000000000041000000NA-41 &10000000000000016000000NA-16-4 China (ROCAF) Wright R-975 Whirlwind 35 Similar to BT-9C with short fabric covered fuselage, combat aircraft with two fixed forward guns and one flexible rear gun.
&10000000000000042000000NA-42 &10000000000000016000000NA-16-2A Honduras (FAH) Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp (520hp) 2
&10000000000000043000000NA-43 &10000000000000016000000NA-16-1G Brazil (Army) (Cancelled) 0 Similar to BT-9C
&10000000000000044000000NA-44 &10000000000000044000000NA-44 to Canada (RCAF) Wright SG-1820-F52 Cyclone (750 hp) 1 Prototype two-seat export combat aircraft similar to BC-1A
&10000000000000045000000NA-45 &10000000000000016000000NA-16-1GV Venezuela (FAV) Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp 3 Possibly originally built to Brazilian contract
&10000000000000046000000NA-46 &10000000000000016000000NA-16-4 Brazil (Navy) Wright R-975-53 Whirlwind(400hp) 12 Similar to BT-9C with wingtip slats, small DF loop under fuselage.
&10000000000000047000000NA-47 &10000000000000016000000NA-16-4RW/KXA-2 Japan (IJN) (Evaluation) Wright R-975-E3 Whirlwind (420hp) 1 Technology demonstrator
&10000000000000048000000NA-48 &10000000000000016000000NA-16-3C China (ROCAF) Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp 15 Similar to NA-45
&10000000000000049000000NA-49 &10000000000000016000000NA-16-1E/
Harvard I		 United Kingdom (RAF) Pratt & Whitney R-1340-S3H1 Wasp (600hp) 400 Straight trailing edge on wing, square rudder, short fabric covered fuselage, fixed rear canopy, no blister under wing center section
&10000000000000050000000NA-50 &10000000000000050000000NA-50 Peru (FAP) Wright R-1820-G3 Cyclone 7 Single seat fighter, NA-16-5
&10000000000000052000000NA-52 SNJ-1 USN Pratt & Whitney R-1340-6 Wasp(500hp) 16 Short metal fuselage, square rudder, late wings, fixed rear on canopy
&10000000000000054000000NA-54 BC-2 USAAC Pratt & Whitney R-1340-45 Wasp (600hp) 3 Based on NA-36 with some improvements from NA-44, 3 bladed prop and two blister under wing center section.
&10000000000000054000000NA-55-1 BC-1A USAAC Pratt & Whitney R-1340-47/-49 Wasp (600hp) 83 Bought for researve and Air National Guard units.
&10000000000000056000000NA-56 &10000000000000016000000NA-16-4 China (ROCAF) Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp 50 Similar to NA-55 (long metal fuselage, fixed gear and engine differences)
&10000000000000057000000NA-57 &10000000000000057000000NA-57/
NAA 57 Et.2		 France (Armée de l'Air) Wright R-975-E3 Whirlwind (420hp) 230 Improved NA-23, many captured and used by Germany, some to Canada as Yale I
&10000000000000058000000NA-58 BT-14/BT-14A USAAC Pratt & Whitney R-985-25 Wasp Junior 251 Similar to Harvard II except for fixed undercarriage and smaller engine. 27 re-engined with 400 hp (298 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-985-11 as BT-14A
&10000000000000059000000NA-59 AT-6-NA USAAC Pratt & Whitney R-1340-47 Wasp (600hp) 94 First examples converted from NA-55 while still on production line, sopme examples had small DF loop installed
&10000000000000061000000NA-61 &10000000000000016000000NA-16-1E/
Harvard I		 Canada (RCAF) Pratt & Whitney R-1340-S3H1 Wasp (600hp) 30 Fitted with extended exhaust for cabin heater
&10000000000000064000000NA-64 &10000000000000064000000NA-64/
NAA 64-P2/Yale I		 France (Armée de l'Air) Wright R-975-E3 Whirlwind (420hp) 230 119 to Canada (RCAF) as Yale I, many captured by Germany
&10000000000000065000000NA-65 SNJ-2 USN Pratt & Whitney R-1340-36 Wasp 36 Blister covering fuel transfer gear along centerline aft of wheel wells
&10000000000000066000000NA-66 Harvard II United Kingdom (RAF) Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp 600 as per NA-59 but fixed rear canopy and no rear gun, also to RNZAF and RCAF, Southern Rhodesia
&10000000000000068000000NA-68 50A/P-64 Thailand (RTAF) Wright R-1820-77 Cyclone (870hp) 6 Short outer wing panel angled much further forward than earlier types. Diverted with start of Pacific war to USAAF as P-64
&10000000000000069000000NA-69 &10000000000000044000000NA-44/A-27 Thailand (RTAF) Wright R-1820-75 Cyclone (745hp) 10 Fully armed as attack aircraft. Diverted with start of Pacific war to USAAF as A-27
&10000000000000071000000NA-71 &10000000000000016000000NA-16-3 Venezuela (FAV) Pratt & Whitney R-1340-S3H1 Wasp (550hp) 3 Two nose guns and rear gun, no wing guns.
&10000000000000072000000NA-72 &10000000000000044000000NA-44/BC-1A Brazil (Army Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN1/S1H1 Wasp (600hp) 30 Attack bomber, fitted with small DF loop under fuselage.
&10000000000000074000000NA-74 &10000000000000044000000NA-44 Chile (FACh) Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp 12 Attack bomber, fitted with small DF loop under fuselage.
&10000000000000075000000NA-75 Harvard II Canada (RCAF) Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp 100 Follow on order to NA-66
&10000000000000076000000NA-76 Harvard II United Kingdom (RAF) Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp 450 Originally ordered by France, taken over by RAF, many to RCAF
&10000000000000077000000NA-77 AT-6A/SNJ-3 USAAC, USN Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp 637 same as NA-66
&10000000000000078000000NA-78 AT-6A/SNJ-3/3C USAAC, USN Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp 568 As NA-77, first aircraft built in Texas, and to use name "Texan"
&10000000000000079000000NA-79 SNJ-2 USN Pratt & Whitney R-1340-56 Wasp 25
&10000000000000081000000NA-81 Harvard II United Kingdom (RAF) Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp 125 same as previous RAF Harvard II order.
&10000000000000084000000NA-84 AT-6B USAAC Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN-1 Wasp (600hp) 400
&10000000000000085000000NA-85 SNJ-3 USN Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp 0 Cancelled duplicate of NA-78 for record purposes.
&10000000000000088000000NA-88 AT-6C/AT-6D/XAT-6E
SNJ-4/SNJ-5		 USAAC/USAAF, USN Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp 9331 (last 800 as NA.121) AT-6D used 24 volt electrics, previous versions used 12 volt systems. XAT-6E fitted with inline Ranger engine
&10000000000000119000000NA-119 AT-6D Brazil (FAB) Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp 81 20 examples built in Brazil under licence
&10000000000000121000000NA-121 AT-6D/AT-6F USAAF, USN Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp 4378 800 AT-6Ds, 211 SNJ-5, 956 AT-6F and 411 SNJ-6. AT-6F and SNJ-6 have clear fixed rear canopy section
&10000000000000128000000NA-128 AT-6D USAAF, USN Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp 0 Canceled orders to have been built in Texas.
&10000000000000168000000NA-168 T-6G/LT-6G USAF/US ANG Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp 109 Re-manufactured and converted from earlier versions. Mostly internal changes but canopy simplified slightly
&10000000000000182000000NA-182 T-6G/LT-6G USAF/US ANG Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp 824 as per NA-168, Re-manufactured and converted from earlier versions.
&10000000000000186000000NA-186 Harvard IV Canada (RCAF)/US MDAP Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp 555 Design Data for Canadian Car and Foundry possibly to build Harvard IV or T-6G, sole new post war production.
&10000000000000188000000NA-188 T-6G/LT-6G USAF/US ANG Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp 107 Re-manufactured and converted from earlier versions.
&10000000000000195000000NA-195 T-6G/LT-6G USAF/US ANG Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp 11 Re-manufactured and converted from earlier versions.
&10000000000000197000000NA-197 T-6G USAF/US ANG Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp 110 Re-manufactured and converted from T-6D.
&10000000000000198000000NA-198 SNJ-8 USN Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp 0 Cancelled Contract for SNJ-8 (similar to T-6G)

References

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