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Boeing AXB1 ( ボーイング AXB1)
The Boeing AXB1 is a Japanese modified Boeing 100D aircraft, which was a refurbished civilian Boeing 100 NC874H. This aircraft was purchased by Nakajima in 1930. Along with the Boeing Model 69B aircraft, it led to the development of the Nakajima A2N fighter.
History
After the Japanese Navy was surprised by the performance in flight of the Boeing Model 69B (Boeing F2B) aircraft in June 1928, the Japanese Navy requested Nakajima to develop a new naval fighter to replace the Nakajima A1N, which had not yet been put into production. Nakajima, also impressed by the Boeing F2B (Boeing Model 69B), decided to purchase another American carrier-based aircraft and, based on these two designs, create a new carrier fighter that would surpass it (the Nakajima A2N aircraft). Through the company Mitsui & Co. Ltd, Nakajima was able to purchase the Boeing Model 100D, which was a modified civil Boeing Model 100—this civilian version of the Boeing F4B-1/P-12. The Boeing Model 100, with the civil registration NC874H, was modified for export purposes by installing an engine cowling, landing gear, and carrier equipment from the Boeing P-12D aircraft but remained unarmed. The Boeing Model 100D aircraft was delivered to Japan at the beginning of 1930. In December 1929, the first prototype of the Nakajima A2N aircraft was created; however, during tests it did not show any improvement in performance compared to its predecessor, the Nakajima A1N. Thanks to the arrival of the Boeing Model 100D, Japanese engineers were able to examine the aircraft. The plane underwent tests at the Nakajima factories, was then armed with Japanese machine guns in the nose, and was sent for testing to the Japanese Navy, where it was designated Boeing AXB1. Based on the tests of the Boeing aircraft, modifications were made to the Nakajima aircraft design, and in May 1931, the second prototype of the Nakajima A2N was created, which was eventually accepted into service as the Nakajima A2N1. The subsequent fate of the Boeing AXB1 after 1931 is unknown, but it was probably dismantled to study its technology.
Photos of the Boeing AXB1
Construction description
The Boeing AXB1 is an aircraft with a fuselage made of a metal truss covered with fabric and wooden wings also covered with fabric. The airplane has a biplane configuration with fixed landing gear. The landing gear of the AXB1 comes from the Boeing P-12D and differs from that of the Boeing Model 100. The Boeing AXB1 is powered by a Pratt & Whitney R-1340-17 Wasp engine, air-cooled, turbocharged, nine-cylinder engine with 317 kW (425 hp), which is covered by a Townend-type cowling from the Boeing P-12D. The aircraft is equipped with a two-blade metal propeller. Two Japanese machine guns (Vickers or Lewis) are mounted in the nose of the aircraft.
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 6,12 m
- Wingspan: 9,14 m
- Height: 2,92 m
- Wing area: 21,14 m2
- Empty weight: 819 kg (?)
- Gross weight: 1225 kg (?)
- Maximum Take-off Weight: ?
- Powerplant: 1 x Pratt & Whitney R-1340-17 Wasp engine, air-cooled, turbocharged, nine-cylinder engine with 317 kW (425 hp)
- Propellers: Two-blade metal propeller
Performance
- Maximum speed: 267 km/h
- Cruising speed: 225 km/h
- Range: 966 km
- Maximum Range: ?
- Service ceiling: 7315 m
- Climb Rate: ?
- Rate of climb: ?
Armament
- 2 x Machine gun 7,7 mm in the nose (Vickers or Lewis)
Summary
The Boeing AXB1 is an interesting aircraft for Japan in War Thunder. This plane could be an exciting and unique aircraft when more early planes from the 1930s appear in War Thunder. The Japanese Boeing AXB1 is a combination of the Boeing Model 100 with the Boeing P-12D and Japanese weaponry, resulting in a unique vehicle ideal to be a premium aircraft or event plane. I encourage you to discuss in the comments and to share your own knowledge on this subject.
Finally, I apologize for the linguistic and logical errors because unfortunately English is not my main language and I had to use google translator.
Internet sources
Boeing P-12 - Wikipedia
F4B (航空機) - Wikipedia
CAFX109
Boeing F4B (1928)
Boeing P-12
Boeing 100 : Boeing
Book sources
- 日本航空機総集 輸入機篇 (Japan Aircraft Catalogue Imported Aircraft Edition) Shuppan Kyosha, 1972, page. 114
- 日本航空機辞典 1910年(明治43年)～1945年(昭和20年) 上巻 (Encyclopedia of Japanese Aircraft 1910 (Meiji 43) – 1945 (Showa 20), Volume 1) page 165
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