Douglas A-3 Skywarrior

A-3 Skywarrior
A-3 Skywarrior
Description
Role
Crew
Dimensions
Length	74.7 feet
Wingspan	72.5 feet
Height	22.8 feet
Wing area	770 square feet
Weights
Empty	37,077 lbs
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 general purpose Six 1,000 lb general purpose Eight 1,600 lb armor piercing Four 2,000 lb general purpose
Mines	Twelve 500 pound Mk 50 Six 1,000 lb Mk 36 Four 2,000 lb Mk 25 Two 2,000 lb Mk 10 Six 1,000 lb Mk 52-1 Twelve 374 pound Mk 53-0 Four 2,000 lb XG-7 One 1,558 lb Mk 12 Four 2,000 lb Mk 39-0

The A-3 Skywarrior was an unusually large jet attack aircraft of 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 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.

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 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