Beechcraft XA-38 Grizzly

XA-38 Grizzly
Role	Heavy attack
Manufacturer	Beechcraft
First flight	7 May 1944
Status	Canceled
Primary user	U.S. Army Air Forces
Number built	Two

The Beechcraft XA-38 Grizzly was a United States ground attack aircraft, fitted with a forward-firing 75 mm cannon to attack heavily armored targets. The first prototype flew on 7 May 1944 but after testing it became obvious it would not be ready for the projected invasion of Japan, and furthermore it used engines required by the B-29 Superfortress — which had priority - and so it was canceled after two prototypes had been completed.

Design and development

The United States Army Air Forces awarded the Beech Aircraft Corporation a contract in December 1942 for two prototypes for their Model 28 "Destroyer". The requirement was for a powerful ground attack aircraft to replace the Douglas A-20 Havoc, with the ability to hit "hardened" targets like tanks and bunkers. This capability was achieved through a 75 mm cannon with 20 rounds, mounted in a fixed position on the nose as well as two .50 cal (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns firing forward. Defensive armament consisted of remotely-controlled ventral and dorsal turrets, each armed with twin .50 cal (12.7 mm) machine guns. There were to be two crew members, a pilot and an observer/gunner in the rear cabin, using periscope sights to aim the guns.

Testing

On 7 May 1944, Beech test pilot Vern Carstens flew the XA-38 on its maiden flight from the company's Wichita airfield. The aircraft proved satisfactory in all respects and better than expected in some, including top speed.

During testing, the XA-38 prototypes were flown by U.S. Army pilots and serviced by military personnel, proving to be reliable and establishing a high level of serviceability.

The armament proved especially effective and had it not been for wartime priorities shifting in 1944, the aircraft would most likely have been ordered in quantity^{[citation needed]}, although the B-29 had priority for the Wright R-3350 engines. Instead, one prototype was scrapped and the other, intended for the USAF Museum, had an unknown fate.

Specifications

Data from^{[citation needed]}

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Length: 51 ft 9 in (15.8 m)
• Wingspan: 67 ft 4 in (20.5 m)
• Height: 13 ft 6 in (4.1 m)
• Wing area: 626 ft² (58 m²)
• Empty weight: 22,480 lb (10,197 kg)
• Max. takeoff weight: 32,000 lb (14,515 kg)
• Powerplant: 2 × Wright R-3350-53 air-cooled radial engine, 2,700 hp (2,013 kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 376 mph (605 km/h)
• Service ceiling: 27,800 ft (8,500 m)

Armament

• 1 × T15E1 75 mm cannon (20 rounds)
• 6 × 50 caliber (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns (2 forward-facing, 2 in ventral turret, 2 in dorsal turret)
• 2,000 lb (907 kg) of external stores

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Bristol Beaufighter
• Douglas A-20 Havoc
• Douglas A-26 Invader
• Breda Ba.88
  

Related lists

• List of aircraft of World War II
• List of military aircraft of the United States
  

References

Notes

Bibliography

• McCullough, Anson. "Grind 'Em Out Ground Attack: The Search for the Elusive Fighter Bomber". Wings Vol. 25, No. 4, August 1995.
• Trimble, Robert L. "Beech Grizzly". Air Classics Vol. 9, no. 7, August 1983.

External links

• USAF Museum: XA-38 Grizzly