A3D Skywarrior
| A-3 Skywarrior |
|---|
A-3 Skywarrior |
| Description |
|---|
| Role | Strategic bomber |
| Crew | Three: pilot, bombardier, gunner |
| Dimensions |
|---|
| Length | 74.7 ft | 22.8 m |
| Wingspan | 72.5 ft | 22.1 m |
| Height | 22.8 ft | 6.9 m |
| Wing area | 770 ft² | 71.5 m² |
| Weights |
|---|
| Empty | 37,077 lb | 16,818 kg |
| Loaded | | |
| Maximum take-off | | |
| Powerplant |
|---|
| Engines | Two J57-P10 Pratt & Whitney turbojet dual rotor, axial
flow engines. |
| Power | | |
| Performance |
|---|
| Maximum speed | | |
| Combat range | | |
| Ferry range | | |
| Service ceiling | | |
| Rate of climb | | |
| Armament |
|---|
| Guns | Two 20 mm M3 cannon and an Aero 21B rear turret |
| Bombs | Twelve 500 lb (230 kg) general purpose
Six 1,000 lb (450 kg) general purpose
Eight 1,600 lb (730 kg) armor piercing
Four 2,000 lb (900 kg) general purpose |
| Mines | Twelve 500 pound (230 kg) Mk 50
Six 1,000 lb (450 kg) Mk 36
Four 2,000 lb (900 kg) Mk 25
Two 2,000 lb (900 kg) Mk 10
Six 1,000 lb (450 kg) Mk 52-1
Twelve 374 lb (170 kg) Mk 53-0
Four 2,000 lb (900 kg) XG-7
One 1,558 lb (707 kg) Mk 12
Four 2,000 lb (900 kg) Mk 39-0 |
The A-3 Skywarrior was the only strategic bomber ever built for the United States Navy
Early in the Second World War, the Navy began to explore the concept of a jet powered aircraft operating from carriers. Success encouraged further development of the concept, and early in the post war years the Navy began to consider jet power as a possible means of operating from carriers, aircraft that were large enough to provide a strategic bombing capability.
In January 1948, the Chief of Naval Operations issued a requirement to develop a long range, carrier-based attack plane that could deliver a 10,000 pound (4,500 kg) bomb load. The contract which the Navy awarded to the Douglas Aircraft Company on 29 September 1949 led to the development and production of the A3D Skywarrior. Unusually large for a carrier-based aircraft, the A3D quickly earned the nickname whale. Because of its slow airspeed and curious lack of ejection seats, pilots began joking morbidly that the designation "A3D" stood for "All Three Dead" (the plane carried a three-man crew).
The Navy would never have a strategic bombing role in the defense of the United States, but the 282
Skywarriors which the Navy purchased served well in many roles. And as the last decade of the century began, the KA-3 and EA-3 soldiered on as tankers and electronic warfare aircraft.
The primary mission was attack of enemy surface targets. The A-3A had a conventional swept-wing
structure, two turbo-jet engines, provisions for a three-man crew of pilot, bomber-assistant pilot and a gunner-navigator. There were provisions for twelve 4,500 pound force (20 kN) thrust JATO bottles and for in-flight refueling. The airplane was a conventional swept-wing structure with an all metal wing and a semi-monocoque fuselage. The two turbo-jet engines were enclosed in under-wing nacelles. The tricycle landing gear, arresting gear, wing fold and tail fold mechanisms, single slotted wing flaps and power boost were operated by hydraulic power. The horizontal stabilizer was adjustable for trim in flight.
Variants
- XA3D-1
- YA3D-1
- A3D-1 (A3-A)
- A3D-1P (RA-3A)
- A3D-1Q (EA-3A)
- A3D-2 (A3-B)
- A3D-2P (RA-3B)
- A3D-2C (EA-3B)
- A3D-2T (TA-3B)
- KA-3B
- EKA-3B
- ERA-3B
- NRA-3B
- VA-3B
Units Using the A-3
USN Squadrons
- VAH-8
- VAH-123
- VAK-208
- VAK-308
- VCP-61
- VAP-62
- VAQ-132 (EKA-3B)
- VAQ-135 (EKA-3B)
