Beechcraft XA-38 Grizzly

The Beechcraft XA-38 "Grizzly" was a World War II-era ground attack aircraft, developed by Beechcraft, but never put into production. The Grizzly was to have been fitted with a forward-firing 75 mm cannon to penetrate heavily armored targets.

While the first prototype flew on 7 May 1944, testing established that the type would not be ready for the projected invasion of Japan. It also featured the Wright R-3350 engines already in use with the Boeing B-29 Superfortress—which had priority. Consequently, the XA-38 was canceled after a second prototype had been completed.

The United States Army Air Forces awarded the Beech Aircraft Corporation a contract in December 1942 for two prototypes for their Model 28 "Destroyer".^[1] Initially the Model 28 had been a bomber-destroyer design but shifted^{[citation needed ]} to give a powerful ground attack aircraft to replace the Douglas A-20 Havoc, with the ability to hit "hardened" targets like tanks and bunkers and to attack coastal shipping.^[1] This capability was achieved through a 75 mm cannon with 20 rounds, mounted in a fixed position on the nose as well as two .50 cal (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns firing forward. Defensive armament consisted of remotely controlled ventral and dorsal turrets, each armed with twin .50 cal (12.7 mm) machine guns. There were to be two crew members, a pilot and an observer/gunner in the rear cabin, using periscope sights to aim the guns.^[2]

On 7 May 1944, Beech test pilot Vern Carstens flew the XA-38 on its maiden flight from the company's Wichita, Kansas airfield.^[3]

During testing, the XA-38 prototypes were flown by USAAF pilots and serviced by military personnel, proving to be reliable and establishing a high level of serviceability.^[4] The aircraft proved satisfactory in all respects and better than expected in some, including top speed. The armament proved especially effective; however the B-29 had priority for the Wright R-3350 engines, and when sufficient engines had become available despite the B-29's priority, the war was nearly over and no production was ordered.^[5]

Instead, one prototype was scrapped and the other, intended for the USAF Museum, had an unknown fate.^[6]

Data from Plane Facts: The big gun Beech^[7]

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Length: 51ft 9in (15.77m)
• Wingspan: 67ft 4in (20.52m)
• Height: 15ft 6in (4.72m)
• Wing area: 626sqft (58.2m²)
• Empty weight: 22,480lb (10,197kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 35,265lb (15,996kg)
• Powerplant: 2 ×ばつ Wright R-3350-43 air-cooled radial engines, 2,300hp (1,700kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 370mph (600km/h, 320kn)
• Range: 1,625mi (2,615km, 1,412nmi)
• Service ceiling: 29,000ft (8,800m)
• Rate of climb: 2,600ft/min (13m/s)

Armament

• Guns:
  • 1 ×ばつ T15E1 75 mm cannon (20 rounds)
  • 6 ×ばつ .50 caliber (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns (2 forward-facing, 2 in ventral turret, 2 in dorsal turret)

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• Breda Ba.88 Lince– 1936 Italian aircraft
• Bristol Beaufighter– British heavy fighter aircraft of WWII
• Douglas A-20 Havoc– American light bomber and attack aircraft of World War II
• Douglas A-26 Invader– 1941 attack/bomber aircraft family by Douglas

Related lists

• List of aircraft of World War II
• List of military aircraft of the United States

• Johnson, E. R. (2008). American Attack Aircraft Since 1926. Jefferson, North Carolina, USA: McFarland & Company. ISBN 978-0-7864-3464-0.
• Pelletier, A. J. (1995). Beech Aircraft and their Predecessors. Annapolis, Maryland, USA: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-062-2.

• McCullough, Anson (August 1995). "Grind 'Em Out Ground Attack: The Search for the Elusive Fighter Bomber". Wings. 25 (4).
• Bridgman, Leonard, ed. (1947). Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1947. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co. p.181c.

• USAF Museum: XA-38 Grizzly