Republic P-43 Lancer

The Republic P-43 Lancer was a single-engine, all-metal, low-wing monoplane fighter aircraft built by Republic, which was first delivered to the United States Army Air Corps in 1940.

The XP-41 and sole AP-4 were nearly identical, although the AP-4 was initially fitted with a large prop spinner and a tight-fitting engine cowling, as a testbed to evaluate means of improving the aerodynamics of radial-engined fighters, following similar experiments with the first production P-35. The AP-4's big spinner was later removed and a new tight cowling fitted. Unsurprisingly, these measures led to overheating problems. On 22 March 1939, the engine caught fire in flight, the pilot had to bail out, and the AP-4 was lost. Despite the loss of the prototype, the USAAC liked the turbo-supercharged AP-4 demonstrator enough to order 13 more in May 1939, designating them YP-43.

YP-43 prototype

The YP-43 differed from AP-4 in having a "razorback" fuselage with a tall spine extending back from the canopy. The engine air intake was moved from the port wing to under the engine resulting in the distinctive ovoid cowling. The aircraft was powered by an R-1830-35 14-cylinder air-cooled radial engine with a General Electric B-2 turbo-supercharger generating 1,200 hp and driving a three-blade variable-pitch propeller. Armament consisted of two synchronized machine guns in the cowl and a single machine gun in each wing.

Production

Production aircraft, identical to the YP-43 prototypes, were designated "Lancer" and were delivered between 16 May and 28 August 1941. Ongoing delays in the P-47 program resulted in USAAC ordering an additional 80 P-43A, with Pratt & Whitney R-2180-1 Twin Hornet engine rated at . The engine promised better high-altitude performance, and armament was upgraded with 0.50 in machine guns replacing the 0.30 in in the wings. The USAAC was sufficiently interested to assign the AP-4J variant an official designation P-44 Rocket. Combat reports from Europe indicated that the new type was already obsolete, consequently, the entire order was canceled on 13 September 1940, with no prototypes built.

Alexander Kartveli and his team focused their efforts on the advanced AP-10/XP-47 which eventually became the P-47 Thunderbolt.

By 1942, a total of 272 P-43s were built, including all its variants, a remarkable number considering the original intention was to build none.

Operational history

thumb|Maintenance on a P-43A in China, circa 1943.

The Lend-Lease aircraft were delivered to China through Claire Chennault's American Volunteer Group, the Flying Tigers. Pilots involved in the ferrying flights commended the P-43 for its good high-altitude performance compared to the Curtiss P-40, good roll rate, and a radial engine without a vulnerable liquid cooling system. Apparently, several AVG pilots asked Chennault to keep some P-43s, but the request was denied due to the aircraft's lack of armor or self-sealing fuel tanks. In addition, the turbo-supercharger proved unreliable and the "wet wing" fuel tanks leaked constantly. In April 1942, Robert Lee Scott Jr. — a USAAF pilot with the AVG —photographed the peaks of Mt. Everest from , attesting to the strengths of this aircraft. On the other hand, in April 1942, veteran CAF fighter pilot Maj. Zheng Shaoyu, a survivor of many air battles including the "Zero-scourge" in the war against the Imperial Japanese invasion of China, was ferrying a P-43 back into China for renewed combat operations against the Japanese, when it suddenly caught fire causing his death in the ensuing crash.

The Japanese noted that the P-43's fuel tanks were easily punctured, making them easier to shoot down than P-40s. The type was replaced by other aircraft in early 1944. Rudimentary protection added on the P-43A-1 was insufficient. In addition, the R-1830 engines were in high demand for the Douglas C-47 transport, effectively grounding the surviving aircraft.

The USAAC considered the P-43 and its variants obsolete from the start and used them only for training purposes. In fall 1942, all surviving USAAF (transitioned from USAAC in June 1941) P-43s were redesignated RP-43, indicating a permanent change in role. Most of the aircraft that were not sent to China were modified for photo-reconnaissance duties and used for training. Eight P-43s (four P-43A-1s and four P-43Ds) were loaned to the Royal Australian Air Force in 1942 and served with No. 1 Photo Reconnaissance Unit. The RAAF flew many long range, high-altitude photo reconnaissance missions before the six survivors were returned to the USAAF in 1943.

Variants

thumb|Sketches of the proposed P-44.

;YP-43

:Pre-production prototypes; 13 built.

;P-43

:First production version, identical to YP-43; 54 built.

;P-43A

:Version powered by R-1830-49 engine and armed with 0.50 in (12.7 mm) machine guns in the wings replacing the P-43's original 0.30 in (7.62 mm); 80 built.

;P-43A-1

:Version for China, rudimentary armor and wing fuel tank protection, armed with four 0.50 in machine guns, centerline hardpoint for a drop tank or up to of bombs; 125 built.

;P-43B-RE

:Conversion of P-43A to photo-reconnaissance version with cameras in rear fuselage. Fourteen aircraft converted.

;P-43C

:Conversion of P-43A to photo-reconnaissance version with different photographic equipment than P-43B. Two converted.

|crew=1

|length ft=28

|length in=6

|length m=

|span ft=36

|span in=0

|span m=

|height ft=14

|height in=0

|height m=

|wing area sqft=223

|wing area sqm=

|empty weight lb=5,996

|empty weight kg=

|gross weight lb=7,435

|gross weight kg=

|max takeoff weight lb=8,480

|max takeoff weight kg=

|eng1 name=Pratt & Whitney R-1830-49

|eng1 type=14-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine

|eng1 number=1

|eng1 hp=1,200

|eng1 kw=

|max speed mph=356

|max speed note=at

|cruise speed mph=280

|range miles=650

|range km=

|ceiling ft=36,000

|ceiling m=

|time to altitude=6 minutes to

|guns=4 × 0.50 in (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns

References

Notes

Bibliography

Angelucci, Enzo and Peter Bowers. The American Fighter: The Definite Guide to American Fighter Aircraft from 1917 to the Present. New York: Orion Books, 1987. .
Davis Larry. P-35: Mini in Action. Mini Number 1. Carrollton, Texas: Squadron/Signal, 1994. .
Green, William. Warplanes of the Second World War, Volume Four: Fighters. London: Macdonald & Co.(Publishers) Ltd., 1961 (6th impression 1969). .
Jones, Lloyd S.U.S. Fighters: Army Air-Force 1925 to 1980s. Fallbrook, California: Aero Publishers, Inc., 1975. .
Scott, Col. Robert L., Jr. God Is My Co-Pilot. Ballantine Books, 1963 (14th paperback printing), p. 72.
Swanborough, Gordon and Peter M. Bowers. United States Military Aircraft Since 1909. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian, 1989. .

External links

Republic P-43 Lancer in Chinese service
Republic P-43 Lancer
The Republic P-43 Lancer – A Giant’s Stepping Stone