Βορειοαμερικανικό A-36A Apache | |
|---|---|
| Χώρα | Ηνωμένες Πολιτείες |
| Ρόλο | Βομβαρδιστικό επίγειας επίθεσης/κατάδυσης |
| Πρώτη πτήση | October 1942 |
| Χτισμένο | 500 |
Teh Βόρεια Αμερική A-36 Apache (listed in some sources as “Invader”, but also called Mustang) was the ground-attack/dive bomber version of the North American P-51 Mustang, from which it could be distinguished by the presence of rectangular, slatted dive brakes above and below the wings. A total of 500 A-36 dive bombers served in North Africa, the Mediterranean, Italy and the China-Burma-India theater during World War II before being withdrawn from operational use in 1944.
| North American A-36A Apache | |
|---|---|
| Φωτογράφος | Τζον Χεκ |
| Εντοπισμού | Αγνοώ |
| Φωτογραφίες | 14 |
| Infos | |
|---|---|
| Ρόλο | Βομβαρδιστικό επίγειας επίθεσης/κατάδυσης |
| Κατασκευαστής | Αεροπορία Βόρειας Αμερικής |
| Σχεδιαστής | Έντγκαρ Σμουντ |
| Πρώτη πτήση | October 1942 |
| Εισαγωγή | 1942 |
| Συνταξιούχος | 1945 |
| Κύριος χρήστης | Αεροπορικές Δυνάμεις του Στρατού των Ηνωμένων Πολιτειών |
| Αριθμός που δημιουργήθηκε | 500 |
| Αναπτύχθηκε από | P-51 Μάστανγκ |
Αγόρασέ μου έναν καφέΔείτε επίσης:
| North American A-36A Apache | |
|---|---|
| Φωτογράφος | Βλαντιμίρ Γιακούμποφ |
| Εντοπισμού | Αγνοώ |
| Φωτογραφίες | 26 |
The Mustang’s Forgotten Warrior
Teh Βορειοαμερικανικό A-36A Apache (often called the “Invader” by its crews) was the ground-attack version of the early P-51 Mustang. Before the Mustang became a high-altitude escort legend with a Merlin engine, it was a low-level specialist powered by the Allison V-1710. The A-36A was specifically adapted for the dive-bombing role to satisfy U.S. Army Air Corps contracts. It was rugged, fast, and surprisingly effective, proving that the Mustang airframe was a winner long before it ever saw a drop of British-designed power.
| Attribute | Technical Specification (A-36A) |
|---|---|
| Ρόλο | Dive Bomber / Ground Attack |
| Πλήρωμα | 1 (Pilot) |
| Πλάστης ισχύος | 1 × Allison V-1710-87 liquid-cooled V12 |
| Horsepower | 1,325 hp (at low altitude) |
| Maximum Speed | 365 mph (587 km/h) at 5,000 ft |
| Dive Speed Limit | 390 mph (with brakes deployed) |
| Οπλισμός | 6 × .50 cal Browning M2 machine guns; 2 × 500 lb bombs |
| First Combat | June 1943 (North Africa/Sicily) |
Design Engineering: Brakes and Brownings
- Hydraulic Dive Brakes: The most distinctive feature of the A-36A was the set of rectangular, cast-aluminum “slats” on the upper and lower wings. These acted as fences to limit dive speeds to a manageable 390 mph, allowing for much greater bombing accuracy during a steep descent.
- Nose-Mounted Guns: Unlike later Mustangs which carried all their guns in the wings, the A-36A carried two of its six .50 caliber machine guns in the lower engine cowling, synchronized to fire through the propeller arc. This provided a very concentrated “point” of fire for strafing.
- The Allison Engine: The V-1710 was a fantastic engine at low altitudes, but it lacked a multi-stage supercharger. This made the A-36A a “mud-mover” by necessity, as its performance dropped off significantly above 12,000 feet.
- Rugged Cooling: The iconic scoop under the belly was reinforced on the A-36 to handle the debris and high-stress maneuvers associated with “hedge-hopping” and low-level ground support.
Combat History: Screaming Over the Mediterranean
- Sicily and Italy: The A-36A saw its heaviest use in the Mediterranean Theater. Pilots would dive at 70-degree angles to drop bombs on bridges, trains, and bunkers. It was so quiet in a dive that it often achieved total surprise over German and Italian positions.
- A Surprising Dogfighter: Despite being weighed down by bombs and dive brakes, the A-36A was still a Mustang. A-36 pilots were credited with 84 aerial victories, and the type even produced one ace: Lt. Michael T. Russo.
- The Name Game: While the factory called it the “Apache,” the AAF initially tried to name it the “Invader.” However, crews and the public eventually just started calling them “Mustangs,” leading to the A-36 name largely fading into the shadow of the P-51.
- The Burma Front: The A-36A also served in the China-Burma-India (CBI) theater, where its long range (compared to the P-40) allowed it to strike Japanese supply lines deep in the jungle.
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