Vultee XA-41 - A Greatest Missed Opportunity?

Nostalgistic · January 26, 2025, 1:51am

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Vultee XA-41

Hello everybody. Today, I’d like to suggest the Vultee XA-41 for US Aviation in War Thunder. Originally designed as a dive bomber, the XA-41 was later developed into a low-level ground attack aircraft by Vultee for the US Army. Its design included features that would later become familiar in aircraft like the AD Skyraider. While the XA-41 successfully passed flight tests and demonstrated excellent performance, the Army ultimately decided not to enter it into production or service during World War II. This was primarily due to the P-47 Thunderbolt and other fighter-bombers already fulfilling the same role, making the XA-41 redundant.

Key Characteristics

The last WWII “dive-bomber” attack aircraft developed for the US military
Powered by a 3,000-bhp Pratt & Whitney R-4360-9 radial piston engine
Armed with 4 x 0.50-cal. machine guns and 4 x 37-mm autocannons
Access to decent ground weaponry

History

In September 1942, the US Army approached Vultee to perform a study for a single-seat dive bomber and develop it with a more powerful powerplant, the 3,000-hp XP-4360 radial piston engine. Vultee was tasked with competing against Kaiser-Fleetwings and Curtiss, who were also commissioned by the Army to design new aircraft. Inspired by the successful exploits of the German Luftwaffe’s dive bombers during the early stages of World War II, the US sought to modernize its dive bomber fleet, even after the Brewster XA-32 program had failed spectacularly.

Vultee responded with its Model 90 design, which impressed the Army enough to secure a contract to build two prototypes on November 10, 1942. In March 1943, Vultee presented a mockup, which passed a successful Army inspection. However, just weeks later, the Army changed the mission requirements for the original dive bomber to a dedicated low-altitude attack aircraft. Changing war situations in Europe revealed the vulnerabilities of dive bombers, prompting the Army to reconsider their role in combat operations.

This decision caused delays, and a new contract was signed on April 30, 1943. Vultee, which would later become Convair, began redesigning the aircraft for its new role. Development progressed without major issues, and by September 1943, the first XA-41 prototype was nearly half-complete. However, the Army decided it no longer needed the XA-41, as existing P-47 Thunderbolts and other fighter-bombers were already fulfilling the same role.

Despite this, the Army’s Materiel Division encouraged Vultee to complete the XA-41 and conduct flight tests. By November 20, 1943, the first prototype was 75% finished, but the second prototype was canceled. The aircraft was completed with an all-metal construction and designed to be heavily armored. It was powered by an R-4360-9 engine with a four-blade Hamilton Standard propeller and featured a shallow internal bomb bay that could carry various payloads, including four 500-pound bombs, two 1,600-pound bombs, a torpedo, or additional fuel tanks. Its armament included four .50-caliber machine guns (400 rounds per gun) in the outer wings and four 37mm cannons (30 rounds per gun) in the inboard wings, all mounted outside the propeller arc.

The XA-41 first flew on February 11, 1944, from Vultee Field, California, reaching a top speed of 353 mph (584 km/h) and landing at March Field, California. Subsequent tests revealed the aircraft had good handling and impressive agility. Minor issues, such as the lack of tail wheel doors and a spinner, were quickly resolved.

The Army accepted the XA-41 on June 25, 1944. On its 60th flight, the aircraft was ferried to Eglin Field, Florida, for further testing. Despite proving to be an excellent low-altitude attack aircraft with exceptional turning ability, the Army lost interest in the program. They deemed the XA-41 unsuitable for self-defense against enemy fighters, as its top speed was insufficient compared to faster fighters already in service. With existing fighter-bombers effectively fulfilling the same role, the XA-41 was no longer a priority.

The US Navy had an interest in the XA-41 and briefly evaluated the aircraft at Patuxent River, Maryland, to determine its suitability for carrier operations. However, they ultimately decided it was unnecessary for their fleet and handed over the prototype to Pratt & Whitney in East Hartford, Connecticut, on August 22, 1944. Pratt & Whitney used the XA-41 as a testbed for engine development, including a supercharger-mounted engine. The aircraft remained in use for testing purposes until it was finally scrapped in 1950.

Specifications

Vultee XA-41

General Characteristics

Crew: 1 (Pilot)

Dimensions:

Length: 48 ft 8 in (14.83 m)

Height: 13 ft 11 in (4.24 m)

Span: 54 ft (16 m)

Wing area: 540 sq ft (50 sq m)

Propeller:

Type: 4-blade Hamilton Standard propeller

Diameter: 13 ft 2 in (4.01 m)

Powerplant:

Type: Pratt & Whitney R-4360-9 Wasp Major radial piston engine

Power Output: 3,000 hp (3,042 ps)

Internal Fuel: 350 US gal. (1,325 L)

Weights:

Empty: 13,336 lb (6,049 kg)

Gross: 18,800 lb (8,527 kg)

Max. Takeoff: 24,200 lb (10,977 kg)

Performance

Power-to-Weight Ratio: 0.16 hp/lb (0.37 ps/kg)

Wing Loading: 34.81 lb/sq ft (170.5 kg/sq m)

Speed:

Cruise: 270 mph (434 km/h)

Sea Level: 333 mph (536 km/h)

Critical Altitude: 363 mph @ 15,500 ft (564 km/h @ 4,724 m)

Climb Performance:

Rate of Climb: 2,730 fpm (13.9 m/s)

Time to 10,000 ft (3,048 m): 4.3 minutes

Service Ceiling: 27,000 ft (8,230 m)

Combat Range: 800 miles (244 m)

Armament

Guns:

4 x 37-mm M9 cannons (30 rpg; 120 rounds)

4 x .50-cal. M2 Browning machine guns (400 rpg; 1,600 rounds)

Bombs:

Bombload: 6,400 lb

Fuselage: 2,000 lb max

Underwings: 4,400 lb max

Rockets:

12 x rockets

Torpedoes

1 x torpedo

Conclusion | Why it should be in the game

Sadly, the XA-41 never made it to production. If it had, it might have become the Army Air Forces’ equivalent to the Navy’s AD Skyraider, a dedicated ground-attack aircraft that proved essential during the Korean and Vietnam Wars. The Air Force lacked its own dedicated attack aircraft until it received A-1 Skyraiders handed down from the Navy during the Vietnam War. This highlighted the need for a dedicated Air Force ground-attack platform, eventually leading to the development of the A-7 Corsair and A-10 Warthog.

In War Thunder, the US aviation currently lacks fast attack aircraft with a single-seat configuration specifically designed for the Army’s ground-attack role. I believe the XA-41 would fill this gap nicely, offering an alternative aircraft with a BR lower than the AD Skyraiders.

Sources

General Dynamics Aircraft and Their Predecessors (1990)
US Experimental & Prototype Aircraft Projects: Fighters 1939-1945 (2008)
Vultee/Convair XA-41; The Right Aircraft for the Wrong War? - Forgotten Aircraft - Military Matters
Vultee XA-41 Dive Bomber / Low-Level Attack Aircraft
https://plane-encyclopedia.com/ww2/vultee-xa-41/
Vultee XA-41 - Wikipedia

Thank you for taking the time to read my suggestion! 😃

Pangolin_Fan · January 26, 2025, 1:53am

This would be a great way to make America’s CAS line unique lol.

JamesPond1200-psn · January 26, 2025, 4:06am

FOUR 37mm cannons??? That alone makes this a ground attack beast. +1 for sure!

Nostalgistic · January 26, 2025, 4:18am

Yes. This aircraft was supposedly planned to be armed with 37-mm M9 high-velocity cannons, identical to those found on the P-63D Kingcobra. Don’t have primary sources to confirm this at the moment, but these cannons should deliver enough serious firepower to be highly lethal in ground attack operations!