The Douglas A-3 Skywarrior was an American carrier-based bomber in service with the US Navy between 1956 and 1967. Nicknamed the 'Whale', it was one of the first aircraft that dropped bombs in anger over North Vietnam in 1965 at the beginning of Operation Rolling Thunder. However, from late 1966, the Skywarrior began to adopt other roles, such as reconnaissance and intelligence gathering, which were very important during the Cold War, as well as tanker.
Designed by Ed Heinemann in 1951, the prototype, the XA3D-1 first flew on October 28, 1952. In early flight testing, it was powered by two 7,000-lb, Westinghouse turbojet engines, which would later be replaced by two Pratt & Whitney J57 turbojet machines, which generated 10,000 pounds of thrust. From 1953 to 1954, Douglas produced 50 of its first production model; the A3D-1, which would later be redesignated A-3 Skywarrior in 1962. After the carrier trials, it finally entered service with the US Navy in November 1956 aboard the USS Forrestal. A total of 282 aircraft would be built in the following versions: A-3A and A-3B in the bomber role, and EA-3A electronic reconnaissance, RA-3B photo-reconnaissance, and EA-3B electronic warfare version.
Technical Description
The Douglas A-3 Skywarrior was a twin-engine, medium-size monoplane. It had a fuselage of all-metal construction and swept shoulder-wing, whose outer panel could be folded up and was hydraulically operated. Twin speed brakes were fitted to the rear portion of fuselage. The aircraft featured a conventional tail assembly, with swept horizontal stabilizer and vertical fin, which could be folded down sideways to the right for stowage below deck. The reconnaissance version was equipped with one AN/ASB-12 radar system.
Below, the A-3B version of VAH-3 in 1960 during carrier flight operations
Specifications (A-3B/or A3D-2)
Type: strategic attack/bomber aircraft
Length: 22.8 m (74 feet, 9 inches)
Wing Span: 20 m (72 feet, 6 inches)
Wing Area: 75.43 m2 (812 square feet)
Height: 6.86 m (22 feet, 8 inches)
Power Plant: two Pratt & Whitney J57-P-10 turbojet engines, each generating 10,000-lb.
Maximum Speed: 982 km/h (610 mph)
Range: 4,000 km (2,465 miles)
Service Ceiling: 12,495 m (41,000 feet)
Armament: two backward shooting 20-mm cannons in tail turret; 12,800-lb (5,800-kg) of ordnance, which included a nuclear bomb.
Crew: 3
Below, the prototype of the 'Whale', the XA3D-1, BuNo 125412, in 1952.
The Skywarrior flying over the Atlantic. It is an A-3B version, BuNo 142236, attached to Carrier Air Wing Twenty-one.
Below, the A-3A (A3D-1) version of the bomber.
Two 'Whales' on flight deck of USS Forrestal in 1958. Notice their vertical fins and wings are folded up.
