Name: Name: | A8V1 Navy Type S | A8V1 Navy Type S |
Original Name: Original Name: | Seversky 2PA-B3 | |
Category: Category: | fighter aeroplane | fighter aeroplane |
Manufacturer: Producer: | Seversky Aircraft Company, Farmingdale, Long Island, New York | |
Period use in Japan: Period use in Japan: | DD.MM.1937-DD.MM.1942 | |
Number of Imported: Number of Imported: | 20 | |
User: User: | Imperial Naval Air Service | Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service |
Note: Note: | Double-seat fighter Name: Dick Deployment: In 1936, the naval air force, in combat over China, found it had no fighter aircraft suitable to escort its bombers G3M Nell. The otherwise excellent Micubish A5M deck fighter had too short a range, and although the designers tried to extend it, it was clear - the A5M could never be an escort fighter. However, bomber losses had already reached unacceptable levels and so Kaigun Koku Hombu was forced to commission aircraft factories to develop a long-range fighter, this was the basis of the 13-Shi specifications (which later became the basis of the J1N1). However, the development of its own escort fighters was a difficult and lengthy undertaking, while the quick solution seemed to be to purchase suitable aircraft abroad. The Japanese Purchasing Commission negotiated with Seversky to purchase 20 two-seat Seversky 2PA, this type was an unsuccessful competitor to the Curtiss Hawk, so Seversky was happy to offer it to foreign bidders. Japanese naval pilots flew these aircraft operationally over China until 1940, but as a fighter it did not make much of an impact there either. As soon as possible these aircraft were converted to tactical reconnaissance. After their withdrawal from first-line units they were transferred to training units and from there they were retired in 1942. The Allies named these Japanese aircraft Dick. | Allied Code Name: "Dick" Navy Type S Two-Seat Fighter or A8V-1 was briefly employed them in the Second Sino-Japanese War. |
Resources: Sources: | William Green, War Planes of the Second World War, Volume Four: Fighters, London, Macdonald & Co. (Publishers) Ltd, 1961 (Sixth impression 1969), ISBN 0-356-01448-7. Larry Davis, Mini in Action, (Mini Number 1), Carrollton, Texas, Squadron/Signal Publications, 1994. ISBN 0-89747-321-3. Aerofiles.com. Seversky http://navylabs.cort.ru/avia/seversky/ allrss.com http://www.airwar.ru/enc/fww2/2pa.html http://avia.russian.ee/air/usa/seversky_2pa.html author's archive |