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Aviation History
1956
1956 - 0721.PDF
FLIGHT, 8 June 1956 721 GROUND ATTACK AND FIGHTER/BOMBERS •THE addition of "Fighter/Bombers" to the title of this section•*- was in recognition of the already great significance of the supersonic fighter-type aircraft (such as the North AmericanSuper Sabre) carrying a nuclear weapon. And though that weapon may be formally described as "tactical", it must be recognized thatsuch machines, even when carrying such devastating armament, may have (especially with flight-refuelling) "strategic" range.Moreover, unlike the representative types of ground-attack fighter- adaptations which comprise the bulk of types reviewed, they areable to deliver their war load with accuracy from great altitudes, using new radar aids. Specialized attack machines designed for indigenous require-ments are represented by the Swedish Lansen and the Swiss P-16; and we have included due references to the Canberra, B-57 andVautour (basically light bombers) as equipped for the ground- attack role. The NATO-sponsored or -inspired light single-seaters (of which the Fiat G.91 is the most promising example) are, it would appear, open to criticism by reason of their lightwar-loads and questionable accuracy of delivery. Particular interest attaches to the experimental employmentof air-to-ground missiles from a helicopter (S.O. Djinn —a form of attack, this, which may finally end the once-promisingcareer of the Potez 75 "tank-stalker". It is not without interest, incidentally, that the "75" has been adapted for colonial use,"second class" warfare being much in the thoughts of the French —and other—Governments. A project for a twin-engined"colonial police and night interdictor"—the S.O.7100 Dogue, with Leonides engines, 30 mm guns, bombs and rockets—nevercame to fruition. Meanwhile, ex-fighter Ouragans are being developed, withspecial undercarriages, for rough work overseas, and research is proceeding in France, as in other countries, with various aids totake-off and landing, in recognition that "close support" may often entail close basing as well as close fighting. GREAT BRITAIN English Electric Canberra B(I).8 For ground attack and night intru-sion this version of the Canberra carries four 20 mm guns, combined, with ammunition supply, in a quickly replaceable pack developed byBoulton PauL A very large quantity of ammunition is provided for each gun, possibly of the order of 500 rounds. Provision is made for internaland external bombs. Pending introduction of B(I).8s into squadrons con- verted B.6s, known as B(I).6s, have been placed in service. These other-wise standard bombers carry a gun pack and wing bomb pylons. Folland Gnat As a tactical support aircraft the Gnat can carry asalternative loads, additional to two 60-gal drop tanks, two 500 lb bombs, twelve 3in rocket projectiles, or two napalm bombs. Without drop tanks,eighteen 3in r.p.s. or two 500 lb bombs and six 3in r.p.s. are possible loads. The small size of this aircraft confers a valuable element oftactical surprise. Hawker Hunter Hunter Mks 4, 5 and 6 have provision for under-wing ordnance. Possible loads are 24 rocket projectiles mounted outboard of under-wing tanks, or two 1,000 lb streamlined bombs. .:-., U.S.A. ..; •, --. . ,.•". Douglas F4D-1 Skyray Possible attack loads of this carrier-borne fighter (additional to four 20 mm guns) are two 1,000 1b or 2,000 lb bombs, or six pods each containing seven 2.75in folding-fin rockets, or four pods each with 19 projectiles of the same calibre. Martin B-57B In the low-attack role the B-57B bomber is well qualified, for it mounts eight 0.5in or four 20 mm guns and carries such external loads as eight Sin rockets and four napalm tanks, in addition to internally stowed bombs. North American F-86F Sabre Conventional attack loads of thismachine can be two 1,000 1b bombs or sixteen 5in rocket projectiles. Gun armament is 6 x 0.5in. Under the designation F-86F-35 the typehas been developed to carry "special weapons," and it is reported that the only modifications necessary are the installation of an S-3 bombrack and the "instrument required for delivery." No airframe modi- fications are apparently called for. North American F-86H Sabre In addition to the built-in arma-ment of four 20 mm M-39 guns, the F-86H has provision for under-wing loads as specified for the F-86F. North American F-100D Super Sabre Testimony to the potency ofthe Super Sabre in the ground-attack role is the photograph on this page, showing an F-100C with a bomb load of 7,000 1b. The "D" variant North American F-100C Super Sabre.
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