Author Topic: Douglas P-70 Night Fighter? (Read 1603 times)

Treize69 · « **on:** November 10, 2005, 02:30:36 PM »

How hard would it be to modify the current A-20 into the P-70 Night Fighter version? I know we don't have night in the MA, but it might make an interesting interceptor aircraft, or perhaps see use in TOD or scenarios.

Later model P-70A and B had the same 6 .50 MGs as the Havoc did, but without the top turret, but the original P-70 (no letter designation) had 4 20mm M2s (same as used on the P-38J and L). According to the source I'm looking at, all were based on the A-20G airframe, and performance is listed as identical in terms of speed and ceiling. I can't see any reference to it carrying a bombload, but that may just have been overlooked in this source (it says its based on the 20G, and the 20G carried bombs obviously).

Simaril · « **Reply #1 on:** November 10, 2005, 02:46:20 PM »

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SPECIFICATIONS (P-70)
Span: 61 ft. 4 in.
Length: 47 ft. 7 in.
Height: 18 ft. 1 in.
Weight: 15,730 lbs. empty/19,750 lbs. gross
Armament: Four 20mm cannon
Engines: Two Pratt & Whitney R-2600-11 radials of 1,600 hp. each
Crew: Two
PERFORMANCE
Maximum speed: 338 mph.
Service ceiling: 28,250 ft.

http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/p70.htm

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Before the USA entered the Second World War, the USAAC felt that it needed long-range fighters more than it needed attack bombers, and the prototype A-20 (39-735) was adapted for night fighting duties under the designation XP-70. Two unsupercharged 1600 hp Wright R-2600-11s replaced the turbosupercharged R-2600-7s. RAF experience with the modified DB-7 Havoc was used as a guideline. British AI Mk IV radar was mounted in an unglazed nose, with an arrow-like transmitting antenna located in front of the nose, and receiving antennae being located on the fuselage sides and on the port wing. All bomb racks and all defensive armament were removed. The crew was reduced from three to two, the second crewman being a radar operator seated in the rear cockpit. Four 20-mm cannon with 60 rpg were installed in a ventral tub. The success of these modifications led to a USAAC decision on October 15, 1940 to have fifty-nine more of the A-20s on order modified as P-70 night fighters.

Fifty-nine P-70s, originally ordered as A-20s were completed with R-2600-11 engines as night fighters. Serials were 39-736 to 39-740, 39-742 to 39-744, 39-746 and 39-747 and 39-749 to 39-797) They were identical to the XP-70 except for minor equipment changes. Maximum speed was 329 mph at 14,000 feet. An altitude of 12,000 feet could be attained in 8 minutes, service ceiling was 28,250 feet, and combat range was 1060 miles. Weights were 16,031 pounds empty and 20,984 pounds gross. The first P-70 was delivered in April of 1942, and the order was completed in September of that year.

snip

The P-70 actually saw some combat action in the Pacific Theatre, although their service there was quite brief. The 6th Night Fighter Squadron began operations in February of 1943 with its P-70s from Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, in an attempt to intercept high-flying Japanese night raiders. It was later supplanted by the 419th Night Fighter Squadron. The 418th and 421st Night Fighter Squadrons flew P-70s operationally in New Guinea for a brief time. The P-70 was not very successful in combat, scoring only two kills during the entire war. The P-70 lacked sufficient performance to intercept Japanese night raiders unless it was extremely fortunate. P-70s were replaced with P-61s just as soon as these aircraft would be made available.

http://home.att.net/~jbaugher1/p70.html

Nice shot of P-70 on Guad in 1943 on this page
http://rnzaf.hobbyvista.com/donserv2.html

I'd vote for the P61 myself.

Treize69 · « **Reply #2 on:** November 10, 2005, 07:02:59 PM »

I would too, but I think we stand a snowballs chance in hell of ever getting one, so I figured this might be an interesting alternative. Much easier than making a whole new plane too.

cobia38 · « **Reply #3 on:** November 10, 2005, 07:56:25 PM »

mmmmmm quad 20,s in me havoc !!! I want,gimmee gimmeee gimmmme

Mr No Name · « **Reply #4 on:** November 10, 2005, 11:52:41 PM »

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Originally posted by cobia38
mmmmmm quad 20,s in me havoc !!! I want,gimmee gimmeee gimmmme

cobia, unless you are a knight you would be banned from using this plane... I HOPE :-D

Krusty · « **Reply #5 on:** November 11, 2005, 01:02:07 AM »

It doesn't interest me like some other planes do. It was a flop. Couldn't perform its duty well. And yes 4 cannon but 60 RPG (less than hurr2) most folks wouldn't be able to get more than 1 kill.

I will with-hold any moral support for this one

But good idea, finding derivitaves of existing planes.

Debonair · « **Reply #6 on:** November 11, 2005, 01:18:38 AM »

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Originally posted by Krusty
It doesn't interest me like some other planes do. It was a flop. Couldn't perform its duty well. And yes 4 cannon but 60 RPG (less than hurr2) most folks wouldn't be able to get more than 1 kill.

I will with-hold any moral support for this one

But good idea, finding derivitaves of existing planes.

Was the ammo situation like the Beaufighter, with some unlucky R/O hand changing ammo drums in flight? Or was it 60 rounds & thats all you get?

Krusty · « **Reply #7 on:** November 11, 2005, 01:34:45 AM »

The a20 has a small tandem cockpit. There's no room for an internal space to change them. I'm guessing it was "all you get".

Wmaker · « **Reply #8 on:** November 11, 2005, 02:37:51 AM »

Tandem cockpit??

Krusty · « **Reply #9 on:** November 11, 2005, 12:00:13 PM »

one in front, one in back, not side-by-side.

Simaril · « **Reply #10 on:** November 11, 2005, 08:16:09 PM »

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Originally posted by Debonair
Was the ammo situation like the Beaufighter, with some unlucky R/O hand changing ammo drums in flight? Or was it 60 rounds & thats all you get?

Fron what I've read, the guns were in an external ventral pod.