The Northrop A-17 could be considered one of the first American-designed and built dive bombers that were heavily used in the period between the two world wars and at the beginning of WWII. Developed by the Northrop Corporation, the A-17 was among the first machines specifically designed for delivering CAS, as well as tactical bombing, with great accuracy. Coming to the characteristics and functioning of various combatants, in this article we are going to contemplate the historical background, along with some of the aspects of designing and functioning of Northrop A-17, some of its functioning during World War Two besides its technical nominal description.
Early History and Development of the Northrop A-17
The Northrop A-17 was built during the late 1930s and it all times, military aircraft were undergoing significant transformation. The primary role of the aircraft was to act as a dive bomber, a strategic plan that employs precision bombing – dropping bombs from a steep dive, an approach that was especially boring in early aerial combat.
Design and Prototype
At Northrop, based on the contingency approach, its design philosophy featured increasingly more accommodating and efficient bombers as called for by the world’s current circumstances. The A-17 was developed from the Northrop 8A, a commercial transport that was converted to a military aircraft. For its time of manufacture the A-17 came with some design attributes; low wing monoplane, retractable undercarriage, an eager capable of delivering top knot performance for its size and weight.
The concept of Northrop A-17 was first manufactured in 1935; soon the plane was appreciated for well built and for very good performance. In 1937, A-17 bomber was ordered by the United States Army Air Corps and by 1938, the aircraft became operational.
Specifications of Northrop A-17
This paper will analyze the importance of some speciation that was incorporated in the construction of the Northrop A-17 to help in developing a clear perspective of the aircraft in the time that it was developed. Let’s take a look at its main technical features:
Engine: The A-17 they were built with Pratt & Whitney R-1535 Twin Wasp Junior either with 900 horse-powered models. The engine in this aircraft enabled the aircraft to have a maximum operating speed of about 240 mph or 386 km/h.
Wingspan: The span of the A-17 as a twin-engine aircraft was 46 feet 3 inches (14.1 meters) making the plane to have fairly maneuverability to the class.
Length: It has a wingspan of roughly 53 feet 4 inches (16.27 meters) and the airplane had a length of approximately 34 feet 7 inches (10.5 meters), small and mighty for a dive bomber.
Armament: The plane had two .30 caliber machine guns in the wings and a caliber machine gun in the rear of the aircraft. Of armoury, it could carry up to 1000 pounds of bombs for bombing missions.
Range: Its operational radius was approximately 650 miles (1,050 km), enough for the tasks that it was going to be used for, mostly close support missions.
Crew: It was normally manned by two people, or rather – two crew members which included a pilot and a rear gunner, this was the typical story for bomber aircraft of that time.
Performance: The A-17 was capable of reaching a service ceiling of about 23,000 feet (7,010 meters) and a climb rate of 1,200 feet per minute.
Function of Northrop A-17 in World War II
Although the Northrop A-17 was designed before America entered WWII, it saw only limited front-line service during the early part of the war. The aircraft was first operated by the U.S. Army Air Corps and then was used in different parts of the world. Here’s an overview of its role in the war:
Pre-War and Early Service
The A-17 aircraft was ordered by the United States Army Air Corps in the late 1930s. A-17 was primarily meant for dive bombing for tactical ones but was utilized for training by many squadrons. A-17 by 1939 and noticed that this aircraft is not as technologically advanced as some of the new designs of modern airplanes such as the Douglas SBD Dauntless. However, it kept performing its function in the air forces up to the late 1940s.
Service in Latin America
The A-17 was also used by several Latin American countries throughout the late 1930s and well into the early 1940s. However, some of the countries that bought the planes include Chile and Peru. The A-17 was used in several internal Peruvian missions including the Peruvian – Ecuadorian war in 1941 by the Peruvian Air Force.
The Northrop A-17 was one of the first aircraft that Latin American forces employed in the modern aerial warfare age as a tactical weapon and source of striking power when no other was possible.
U.S. Service During WWII
Finally, the A-17 was phased out by later and more improved bombers and remains important in representing one of the initial few tactical bombers. They were called into use during the Philippine invasion by the Japanese and only saw minor action in the Pacific. By the time of entry of America into the war in 1941, the A-17 was already outmoded for the newer models but it played the role of providing the link between the older biplane bombers and quite superior monoplane bombers.
Legacy of the Northrop A-17
Though it is not possible to say that the Northrop A-17 was significant in the Second World War, it is vital to state that it had a profound effect on the future designs of aircraft. This plane was among the first of the later dive bombers, thus making a significant impact on the future of aviation not just on the Naval Forces of the United States and the United States Air Force.
Influence on Future Aircraft
The principles of design that went into the A-17 such as the low-wing monoplane, the retractable undercarriage as well as the strong airframe, are visible concepts that were carried forward into other dive bombers such as the SBD and the A-20 planes. These later models would be used extensively during the war with advanced lessons learned from the likes of A-17 being implemented.
It was phased out when newer models of dive bombers came on the scene but, its use is what helped define a point in time when tactical bombers had come of age. Although it is not considered one of the dramatic legends of the air wars, the A-17 was a logical link between the two types of aircraft.
FAQs
What was the first time that Northrop A-17 was used?
Northrop A-17 was developed in 1935 and was delivered to the USAAC in 1937, according to some sources in 1936.
Before its transformation what was the main function of the Northrop A-17?
The Northrop A-17 was designed as a plane of close-support or dive bomber primarily used in tactical bombing fashion where it would usually do steep dive to inflict the bombs’ damage.
How many Northrop A-17 were built in produced?
A series of Northrop A-17 bombers were manufactured between 1935 and 1939 and were used by the US Army Air Corps and some Latin states.
How extremely active was the Northrop A-17 in WWII?
As for the antiquated warfare aircraft, the Northrop A-17, used by the United States during the early phase of World War II in the Philippines more advanced bombers such as the Douglas SBD Dauntless soon replaced it. This use in the conflict was more operational.
The application of this aircraft largely remained undiscovered until the early years of World War II the Northrop A-17 was an advanced dive bomber. Its role in the evolution of tactical bombers cannot be ignored however it was soon overshadowed by newer models. Though not a great success as a bomber, the A-17 played more the role of the pioneer as a low-wing, retractable-gear bomber. It is still considered as one of the first aircraft to be employed in modern warfare aviation and a flying machine of choice used during World War II.
