Kamov A-7-3A

StigBelcherStyle · December 26, 2024, 10:10pm

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Kamov A-7-3A

Special thanks to Sauroposiedon who suggested the aircraft on the original War Thunder forum.

History
The Kamov A-7 began it’s development in 1931, a company by the name of TsAGI or the Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute ordered a few Cierva C.19 autogyros to study and came up with a prototype of their own the TsAGI A-4. This eventually lead to Kamov building it’s own prototype the A-7. The aim of the project was to develop a communications, reconnaissance, artillery monitoring and naval attack aircraft for the soviet military.

The first A-7 was finished in 1934, followed by a better autogyro in 1937 the A-7 bis, featuring improved aerodynamics and handling characteristics. The final version of the A-7 was built in 1940 called the A-7 3A, this version had a new powerful M-22 air-cooled engine, tricycle landing gear, front and rear facing machine guns, carrying capacity for bombs or unguided rockets.

Operational History
The Kamov A-7 3A was used for several reconnaissance and artillery monitoring missions in the Winter War and World War II, they also used the aircraft to drop propaganda bombs in WWII. It’s unclear whether the A-7 3A was ever used in anger against any naval targets, as not many records were kept on the A-7-3As operational career.

Specifications
General characteristics

Class: Autogyro (Helicopter)
Crew: 2
Production: 7 (total)
Length: 10.4 m (34 ft 1.4 in)
Height: 3.88 m (12 ft 8.7 in)
Empty weight: 1,553 kg (3,423 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 2,390 kg (5,269 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × PD M-22 Air-cooled radial
Radio: 13-SK3
Power: 358 kW (480 hp)

Performance

Lowest speed: 48 km/h (30 mph, 26 kn )
Maximum speed: 221 km/h (137 mph, 119 kn )
Range: 500 km (310 mi, 270 nmi) (internal fuel)
Service ceiling: 4,760 m (15,616 ft)

Armament
Guns:

1 × 7.62 mm Kulomet PV-1MG machine gun
2 × 7.62 mm DA-2 twin mounted rear machine guns

Hardpoints: 4, with provisions to carry combinations of:
Bombs and unguided rockets:

4 x 100 kg bombs (FAB-100)
2 x 500 kg bombs (FAB-500)
6 x unguided rockets (RS-82)
8 x unguided rockets (RS-132)

In Game
The Kamov A-7-3A could help with introducing some players to helicopters. Being an autogyro it would take-off like a helicopter, but fly like a plane an interesting introductory helicopter. The Autogyro shows a great evolution of planes to helicopters. Its tier would be interesting too, its possible a new rank for helicopters could appear for really old helicopters. (Rank 4 or 5)

The new “Rank 4” could feature the earliest and oldest of military armed helicopters and autogyros, from the Interwar to WWII time period.

Photos