Curtiss A-18 Shrike

The Curtiss A‑18 Shrike was the United States Army Air Corps’ first dedicated two‑seat attack aircraft, entering service in 1935 after being developed by Curtiss‑Wright’s Buffalo plant. Derived from the earlier P‑36 Hawk fighter, the A‑18 combined a low‑wing monoplane layout with a reinforced airframe, allowing it to carry up to 800 lb of bomb or rocket payload while retaining good maneuverability for low‑level strafing runs. Powered by a 1,050 hp Wright R‑1820‑53 radial engine, it reached 250 mph at sea level and featured retractable landing gear, an enclosed cockpit for the pilot and gunner, and forward‑firing .30‑caliber machine guns plus a flexible rear gun position. Though quickly outclassed by newer monoplane bombers, the Shrike saw limited action during the early stages of World War II, primarily in the Caribbean and Panama defenses, where its ruggedness and simple maintenance proved valuable. Its development marked a transitional step from biplane attack concepts to modern, fast‑flying ground‑attack platforms, influencing later designs such as the Douglas A‑20 and the North American A‑26. The A‑18 remains a noteworthy example of interwar innovation that helped shape American tactical aviation doctrine.

Curtiss-Wright

Classification

Production & History

Design & Classification