Here's an interesting early war plane, a contender with the Kate. I have read some were shot down at Pearl Harbor. They were fully carrier-capable, but most ended up relegated to land bases after 1941, finishing their careers as trainers and kamikazes in the late war.
Post by Armchair Admiral on Oct 14, 2019 1:15:38 GMT
Fan of HMAS Albatross. I kitbashed a flightdeck on a surplus GiovanniDelleBande Nere (31/40) CL a few years back with a 1/700 Walrus stand for her AirDet when this was proposed; once upon a time.
Fan of HMAS Albatross. I kitbashed a flightdeck on a surplus GiovanniDelleBande Nere (31/40) CL a few years back with a 1/700 Walrus stand for her AirDet when this was proposed; once upon a time.
Glad you like it. I know it was somewhat unique for the Aussies, and gives the RN a seaplane ability they previously lacked!
Fan of HMAS Albatross. I kitbashed a flightdeck on a surplus GiovanniDelleBande Nere (31/40) CL a few years back with a 1/700 Walrus stand for her AirDet when this was proposed; once upon a time.
The Bell YFM-1 Airacuda was an American heavy fighter aircraft, developed by the Bell Aircraft Corporation during the mid-1930s. It was the first military aircraft produced by Bell. Originally designated the Bell Model 1, the Airacuda first flew on 1 September 1937. The Airacuda was marked by bold design advances and considerable flaws that eventually grounded the aircraft.
The Airacuda was Bell Aircraft's answer for a "bomber destroyer" aircraft. Although it did see limited production, and one fully operational squadron was eventually formed, only one prototype and 12 production models were ultimately built, in three slightly different versions.
Despite these problems, one fully operational Airacuda squadron was eventually assembled, and operated from 1938 until 1940. Funds were appropriated, but never released, for the purchase of two groups of Airacudas. Continuing problems gave the aircraft a reputation as "hangar queens". Near the end of the type's operational life, the aircraft were flown primarily for photo opportunities and always accompanied by a chase plane for safety.
General characteristics
Crew: five (pilot, copilot/navigator, radio operator/gunner, two gunners)
Length: 44 ft 10 in (13.67 m)
Wingspan: 69 ft 10 in (21.29 m)
Height: 13 ft 7 in (4.14 m)
Wing area: 684 sq ft (63.5 m2)
Airfoil: NACA 23018/NACA 23009 [15]
Empty weight: 13,376 lb (6,067 kg)
Gross weight: 17,333 lb (7,862 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 21,625 lb (9,809 kg)
Fuel capacity: 400 US gal (1,500 l)
Powerplant: 2 × Allison V-1710-9 liquid-cooled turbosupercharged V-12, 1,090 hp (810 kW) each
Propellers: three-bladed
Performance
Maximum speed: 277 mph (446 km/h, 241 kn)
Cruise speed: 244 mph (393 km/h, 212 kn)
Range: 2,600 mi (4,200 km, 2,300 nmi)
Service ceiling: 30,500 ft (9,300 m)
Rate of climb: 1,480 ft/min (7.5 m/s)
Armament
Guns:
2 × 37 mm (1.46 in) M4 cannons (110 rpg)
2 × .30 in (7.62 mm) M1919 Browning machine guns in front of nacelles
2 × .50 in (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns (600 rpg) in side blisters
Bombs: 20 × 30 lb (14 kg) fragmentation bombs in wing bays
IMHO not worth the time or work to make a WAS card for this aircraft... One could say make a card for the Spruce Goose that Howard Hughes designed and flew but only yards above the water....
OK, people were asking for a Canadian DD... here we go. HMCS Saskatchewan, formerly HMS Fortune. She fought in the Battle of Pierres Noires off Brest in 1944.