Curtiss H.75 Hawk P-36 Scale Models

Curtiss H.75 Hawk

First flown in 1935, the P-36 saw little combat with the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. It was nevertheless the fighter used most extensively and successfully by the French Armee de l’air during the Battle of France, which operated the Curtiss H.75 Hawk export version. The P-36 was also ordered by the governments of the Netherlands and Norway, but did not arrive in time to see action before both were occupied by Nazi Germany. The type was also manufactured under license in China, for the Republic of China Air Force, as well as in British India, for the Royal Air Force (RAF) and Royal Indian Air Force (RIAF).

Axis and co-belligerent air forces also made significant use of captured P-36s. Following the fall of France and Norway in 1940, several dozen P-36s were seized by Germany and transferred to Finland; these aircraft saw extensive action with the Ilmavoimat (Finnish Air Force) against the Soviet Air Forces. The P-36 was also used by Vichy French air forces in several minor conflicts; in one of these, the Franco-Thai War of 1940–41, P-36s were used by both sides.

From mid-1940, some P-36s en route for France and the Netherlands were diverted to Allied air forces in other parts of the world. The Hawks ordered by the Netherlands were diverted to the Dutch East Indies and later saw action against Japanese forces. French orders were taken up by British Commonwealth air forces, and saw combat with both the South African Air Force (SAAF) against Italian forces in East Africa, and with the RAF over Burma. Within the Commonwealth, the type was usually referred to as the Curtiss Mohawk.

General characteristics

Crew: 1
Length: 28 ft 6 in (8.69 m)
Wingspan: 37 ft 4 in (11.38 m)
Height: 8 ft 5 in (2.57 m)
Wing area: 235.94 sq ft (21.920 m²)
Airfoil: root: NACA 2215; tip: NACA 2209
Empty weight: 4,567 lb (2,072 kg)
Gross weight: 5,650 lb (2,563 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 6,010 lb (2,726 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-1830-17 Twin Wasp 14-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 1,050 hp (780 kW)
Propellers: 3-bladed constant-speed propeller

Performance

Maximum speed: 313 mph (504 km/h, 272 kn)
Cruise speed: 270 mph (430 km/h, 230 kn)
Range: 625 mi (1,006 km, 543 nmi) at 270 mph (230 kn; 430 km/h); 860 mi (750 nmi; 1,380 km) at 200 mph (170 kn; 320 km/h)

Service ceiling: 32,700 ft (10,000 m)
Rate of climb: 3,400 ft/min (17 m/s)
Wing loading: 23.9 lb/sq ft (117 kg/m²)
Power/mass: 0.186 hp/lb (0.306 kW/kg)

Armament

Guns: ** 1 × 0.30 in (7.62 mm) M1919 Browning machine gun
- 1 × 0.50 in (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine gun
Bombs: some were also later fitted with a single hardpoint under each wing that could carry a bomb of up to 100 lb (45 kg) or a light bomb rack for three 50 lb (23 kg), five 20 lb (9 kg) or 30 lb (14 kg) bombs