North American T-6 Texan variants

North American T-6Gs of the Portuguese Air Force in a training flight, during the 1960s.

This article describes the different variants of the North American T-6 Texan.

BT Series

BT-9A at Langley

BT-14 in flight

BT-9: Basic Trainer with 400hp Wright R-975-7 Whirlwind and new canopy. Dangerous stall resulted in a variety of unsuccessful fixes. 42 built.
BT-9A: Armed BT-9 with one cowl gun and one rear flexible gun, and modified canopy. 40 built.
BT-9B: Minor changes from BT-9, unarmed. 117 built. 1 modified as sole BT-9D which was modified as a prototype for BT-14 with new outer wing panels and other alterations.
BT-9C: Wright R-975-7, similar to the BT-9A with minor changes. 66 built
BT-9D: One prototype only, Intermediate step in development of the BT-14.
Y1BT-10: 600hp Pratt & Whitney R-1340-41. First aircraft of batch of BT-9C completed as Y1BT-10.
BT-10: Production version of Y1BT-10 - cancelled
BT-14: lengthened all metal fuselage and new canopy, Pratt & Whitney R-985-25, 251 built.
BT-14A: 27 BT-14s were re-engined with 400 hp (298 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-985-11.

BC Series

A North American BC-1, circa 1939.

North American BC-1: Basic Combat trainer version initial production version with 600hp R-1340-47 engine, Early examples had round rudder, later examples had square bottom rudder. 177 built
BC-1A: New longer semi-monocoque fuselage, new outer wing panels angled forward slightly, squared-off wingtips and triangular rudder, 93 built. Identifiable from later types by blister fairing between undercarriage.
BC-1B: One BC-1A fitted with an AT-6A wing centre section.
BC-1I: BC-1s converted to instrument trainers, 30 modified
BC-2: Similar to BC-1A and AT-6, modified from NA-36 with details from NA-44, 3 bladed propeller.

AT Series (Texan)

North American AT-6A (Charge Number NA-78) in flight

AT-6 Texan: Advanced Trainer - same as BC-1A with minor changes, powered by a 600hp R-1340-47 and armed with forward-firing 0.3in machine gun, nine original started as BC-1As and 85 built.
AT-6A: Same as AT-6 but with 600hp R-1340-49 and removable wing centre section fuel tanks, 1847 built with 298 transferred to the United States Navy as the SNJ-3. Survivors re-designated T-6A in 1948.
AT-6B: Same as AT-6A but with 600hp R-1340-AN-1 and dorsal gun fitted as standard, 400 built.
AT-6C: Same as AT-6B but with material changes to low-alloy steel and plywood, 2970 built including transfers to the United Kingdom as the Harvard III.
AT-6D: Same as AT-6B but with a 24V DC electrical system, 4388 built including transfers to the United States Navy as the SNJ-5 and to the United Kingdom as the Harvard IIA. Redesignated T-6D in 1948.
XAT-6E: One AT-6D re-engined with a 575hp V-770-9 V-12 inline engine for trials.
AT-6F: Same as AT-6D but with a strengthened airframe and minor modifications, 956 built including transfers to the United States Navy as the SNJ-6, Redesignated T-6F in 1948. Clear fixed rear canopy. Some went to Russia via Lend-Lease.
AT-16: Noorduyn built lend-lease Harvards, 1800 built

A-27

North American A-27: Two-seat attack version of AT-6 with a 785hp R-1820-75 engine and five 0.3in machine guns (two in nose, one on each wing and one dorsal). Designation used for ten aircraft for Thailand impressed into United States Army Air Corps use.

T-6 (Texan)

West Virginia ANG T-6G.

USAF LT-6Gs during the Korean War.

T-6A: AT-6As re-designated in 1948.
T-6C: AT-6Cs re-designated in 1948 including 68 re-builds with new serial numbers.
T-6D: AT-6D re-designated in 1948 including 35 re-builds with new serial numbers.
T-6F: AT-6F re-designated in 1948.
T-6G: Earlier model AT-6/T-6s re-built between 1949-1953 with improved cockpit layout, increased fuel capacity, steerable tailwheel, updated radios and a 600hp R-1340-AN-1 engine. Identifiable by simplified canopy framing. 2068 modified.
LT-6G: T-6Gs converted for battlefield surveillance and forward air controller duties, 97 modified. Nicknamed Mosquito.
T-6H: T-6Fs converted T-6G standard.
T-6J: Designation claimed to have been used for Canadian-built Harvard Mk 4s, however no proof has ever surfaced that this designation was ever used, and aircraft record cards and markings on aircraft called them Harvard 4s. Supplied to Belgian, France, Italy, Portugal and West Germany, 285 aircraft.
KN-1: A single T-6F damaged in a crash during the Korean War that was rebuilt as a floatplane by the Republic of Korea Navy.^[1]

NJ/SNJ Texan

NJ-1: United States Navy specification advanced trainer powered with 550hp Pratt & Whitney R-1340-6. Some re-engined with later versions of R-1340. Similar to BT-9, 40 built.

An early SNJ-1 at NAS Pensacola. Note the original form of the tail.

The SNJ-3C/-4C/-5C versions had an arrestor hook for carrier landings.

SNJ-1: Similar to Harvard I but with BC-1 wing center section, metal-covered fuselage and late T-6 type wing, 16 built.
SNJ-2: Same as SNJ-1 but with a R-1340-56 engine and changes to carborettor and oil cooler scoops, 61 built.
SNJ-3: Same as AT-6A, 270 built and 296 transferred from USAAC.
SNJ-3C: SNJ-3 converted as deck landing trainers with tailhook arrester gear, twelve modified.
SNJ-4: Same as AT-6C, 1240 built.
SNJ-4C: SNJ-4s converted as deck landing trainers with tailhook arrester gear.
SNJ-5: AT-6Ds transferred from the USAAC, 1573 aircraft.
SNJ-5C: SNJ-5s converted as deck landing trainers with tailhook arrester gear.
SNJ-6: AT-6Fs transferred from the USAAF, 411 aircraft.
SNJ-7: Early models modified to T-6G standards in 1952.
SNJ-7B: An armed variant of the SNJ-7.
SNJ-8: Order for 240 cancelled.

Harvard

Harvard IIA

Restored Harvard II in wartime colours

Harvard I: Similar to BC-1 but without rear gun and with a 600hp R-1340-S3H1 engine, 400 aircraft.
Harvard II: Similar to BC-1A, 526 built, again without provision for rear gunner.
Harvard IIA (RAF & Commonwealth): AT-6C, many with wooden rear fuselages when first delivered.
Harvard IIA (RCAF): 'Armed' Harvard II - Any RCAF Harvard II or IIB fitted with wing guns, rockets or bombs.
Harvard IIB: Noorduyn built Mk.II's, some to US orders as AT-16's for lend-lease. Transfers back from the USAAF (1800) and 757 built.
Harvard T.T. IIB: Target Tug - 42 aircraft built for the RAF by Noorduyn. Number probably included in II totals.
Harvard IIF: Bombing/gunnery trainer - One-off modified from Mk.II with bomb aimer's blister and AT-6 type cockpit.
Harvard III: AT-6D, 537 aircraft for RAF.
Harvard 4: Canadian development of Harvard II paralleling the T-6G, and built by Canadian Car & Foundry, 270 for the RCAF and 285 for USAF. Some publications refer to these as T-6J however the aircraft record cards do not use this designation.
Harvard 4K: Belgian designation for Harvard IIs and IIIs upgraded to roughly Harvard 4 specifications.
Harvard 4KA: Belgian designation for armed variant of 4K.

North American company designations

NAA Charge Number	NAA Model or Designation	Customer	Engine Installed	Number built/ Modified	Notes
7001160000000000000♠NA-16	7001160000000000000♠NA-16	USAAC (trials)	Wright R-975-E3 Whirlwind (420 hp)	1	Prototype NX-2080, was open cockpit, received greenhouse canopy for trials
7001180000000000000♠NA-18	7001180000000000000♠NA-18	USAAC (trials)	Wright R-975-E3 Whirlwind (420 hp)	1 (modified)	Ex-NA-16, won against Seversky BT-8 and Curtiss-Wright CW-19R, to Argentina in 1937
7001190000000000000♠NA-19	7001190000000000000♠NA-19/BT-9	USAAC	Wright R-975-7 Whirlwind (400 hp)	42	Minor changes from NA-18, new canopy
7001190000000000000♠NA-19A	7001190000000000000♠NA-19A/BT-9A	USAAC	Wright R-975-7 Whirlwind (400 hp)	40	Armed BT-9 with one cowl gun and one rear flexible gun, and suitably modified canopy.
7001200000000000000♠NA-20	7001160000000000000♠NA-16-2H	Trials, to Honduras (FAH)	Wright R-975 Whirlwind (Unknown sub-type)	1	NC16025 originally intended as demonstrator for China
7001220000000000000♠NA-22	7001220000000000000♠NA-22	USAAC (rejected)	Wright R-760ET (J-6-7) (225 hp)	1	Dangerously underpowered
7001230000000000000♠NA-23	7001230000000000000♠NA-23/BT-9B	USAAC	Wright R-975-7 Whirlwind (400 hp)	117	Unarmed. 1 modified as sole BT-9D as BT-14 prototype with new outer wings and other alterations.
7001260000000000000♠NA-26	BC-1	Trials, to Canada (RCAF)	Pratt & Whitney R-1340-S3H1 Wasp (550 hp)	1	Basic Combat Demonstrator NX18990 - no relation to later BC-1, first retractable gear variant, later modified with Yale parts.
7001270000000000000♠NA-27	7001160000000000000♠NA-16-2H	to Fokker and R. Netherlands AF	Pratt & Whitney R-1340-S2H1 Wasp (500 hp)	1	European demonstrator armed NA-26 with fixed gear.
7001280000000000000♠NA-28	NJ-1	USN	Pratt & Whitney R-1340-6 Wasp (550 hp)	40	USN specification up engined BT-9 as advanced trainer, some reengined with later R-1340 versions.
7001290000000000000♠NA-29	BT-9C	USAAC	Wright R-975-7 Whirlwind (400 hp)	67	as per BT-9A with minor changes. First aircraft completed as Y1BT-10.
7001300000000000000♠NA-30	BT-10	USAAC (Cancelled)	Pratt & Whitney R-1340-41 Wasp (600 hp)	0	cancelled production version of Y1BT-10
7001310000000000000♠NA-31	7001160000000000000♠NA-16-4M/ Sk-14/14A	Sweden (Flygvapnet)	Wright R-975-E3 Whirlwind(420 hp)/ Piaggio P VIIc(525 hp)	137	BT-9C but different engine variant. Licence production (NAA built 1, ASJA 76, SAAB 60), Trialled undercarriage for Saab 21.
7001320000000000000♠NA-32	7001160000000000000♠NA-16-1A	Australia (RAAF)	Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp	1	Fixed gear pattern aircraft similar to NJ-1 or Y1BT-10, not followed up.
7001330000000000000♠NA-33	7001160000000000000♠NA-16-2K/ Wirraway	Australia (RAAF)	Pratt & Whitney R-1340-S1H1G (600 hp)	756	Retractable gear pattern aircraft for Australia, 1 built by NAA and 755 by Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation)
7001340000000000000♠NA-34	7001160000000000000♠NA-16-4P	Argentina (FAA)	Wright R-975-E3 Whirlwind (420 hp)	29	First major export order (not licence), had 2 cowl guns, a flexible rear gun and a radio mast
7001360000000000000♠NA-36	BC-1	USAAC	Pratt & Whitney R-1340-47 Wasp(500 hp)	177	Retractable undercarriage and first aircraft with square bottom rudder. Large DF loop between undercarriage, blister covering fuel transfer gear along centerline aft of wheel wells.legs.
7001370000000000000♠NA-37	7001160000000000000♠NA-16-4R/KXA1	Japan (IJN) (Evaluation)	Pratt & Whitney R-985-9CG Wasp Junior (500 hp)	1	Technology demonstrator, unarmed, fixed landing gear and three bladed prop.
7001380000000000000♠NA-38	7001160000000000000♠NA-16-4M	Sweden (Flygvapnet)	Wright R-975-E3 Whirlwind (420 hp)	1	same as NA-31
7001410000000000000♠NA-41	7001160000000000000♠NA-16-4	China (ROCAF)	Wright R-975 Whirlwind	35	Similar to BT-9C with short fabric covered fuselage, combat aircraft with two fixed forward guns and one flexible rear gun.
7001420000000000000♠NA-42	7001160000000000000♠NA-16-2A	Honduras (FAH)	Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp (520 hp)	2
7001430000000000000♠NA-43	7001160000000000000♠NA-16-1G	Brazil (Army) (Cancelled)	Wright R-975 Whirlwind	0	Similar to BT-9C
7001440000000000000♠NA-44	7001440000000000000♠NA-44	to Canada (RCAF)	Wright SG-1820-F52 Cyclone (750 hp)	1	Prototype two-seat export combat aircraft similar to BC-1A
7001450000000000000♠NA-45	7001160000000000000♠NA-16-1GV	Venezuela (FAV)	Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp	3	Possibly originally built to Brazilian contract
7001460000000000000♠NA-46	7001160000000000000♠NA-16-4	Brazil (Navy)	Wright R-975-53 Whirlwind(400 hp)	12	Similar to BT-9C with wingtip slats, small DF loop under fuselage.
7001470000000000000♠NA-47	7001160000000000000♠NA-16-4RW/KXA-2	Japan (IJN) (Evaluation)	Wright R-975-E3 Whirlwind (420 hp)	1	Technology demonstrator
7001480000000000000♠NA-48	7001160000000000000♠NA-16-3C	China (ROCAF)	Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp	15	Similar to NA-45
7001490000000000000♠NA-49	7001160000000000000♠NA-16-1E/ Harvard I	United Kingdom (RAF)	Pratt & Whitney R-1340-S3H1 Wasp (600 hp)	400	Straight wing trailing edge, square rudder, short fabric covered fuselage, fixed rear canopy, no blister under wing center section
7001500000000000000♠NA-50	7001500000000000000♠NA-50	Peru (FAP)	Wright R-1820-G3 Cyclone	7	Single-seat fighter, NA-16-5
7001520000000000000♠NA-52	SNJ-1	USN	Pratt & Whitney R-1340-6 Wasp(500 hp)	16	Short metal fuselage, square rudder, late wings, fixed rear on canopy
7001540000000000000♠NA-54	BC-2	USAAC	Pratt & Whitney R-1340-45 Wasp (600 hp)	3	Based on NA-36 with some improvements from NA-44, 3 bladed prop and two blister under wing center section.
70010-945-99945-99945♠NA-55-1	BC-1A	USAAC	Pratt & Whitney R-1340-47/-49 Wasp (600 hp)	83	Bought for researve and Air National Guard units.
7001560000000000000♠NA-56	7001160000000000000♠NA-16-4	China (ROCAF)	Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp	50	Similar to NA-55 (long metal fuselage, fixed gear and engine differences)
7001570000000000000♠NA-57	7001570000000000000♠NA-57/ NAA 57 P-2	France (Armée de l'Air)	Wright R-975-E3 Whirlwind (420 hp)	230	Improved NA-23, many captured and used by Germany, some retained by Vichy France
7001580000000000000♠NA-58	BT-14/BT-14A	USAAC	Pratt & Whitney R-985-25 Wasp Junior	251	Similar to Harvard II except for fixed undercarriage and smaller engine. 27 re-engined with 400 hp (298 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-985-11 as BT-14A
7001590000000000000♠NA-59	AT-6-NA	USAAC	Pratt & Whitney R-1340-47 Wasp (600 hp)	94	First examples converted from NA-55 while still on production line, some examples had small DF loop installed
7001610000000000000♠NA-61	7001160000000000000♠NA-16-1E/ Harvard I	Canada (RCAF)	Pratt & Whitney R-1340-S3H1 Wasp (600 hp)	30	Later fitted with extended exhaust for cabin heater
7001640000000000000♠NA-64	7001640000000000000♠NA-64/ NAA 64-P2/ Yale I	France (Armée de l'Air)	Wright R-975-E3 Whirlwind (420 hp)	230	119 to Canada (RCAF) as Yale I, briefly used by France, many captured by Germany
7001650000000000000♠NA-65	SNJ-2	USN	Pratt & Whitney R-1340-36 Wasp	36	Blister covering fuel transfer gear along centerline aft of wheel wells
7001660000000000000♠NA-66	Harvard II	United Kingdom (RAF)	Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp	600	as per NA-59 but fixed rear canopy and no rear gun, also to RNZAF and RCAF, Southern Rhodesia
7001680000000000000♠NA-68	7001500000000000000♠NA-50A/P-64	Thailand (RTAF)	Wright R-1820-77 Cyclone (870 hp)	6	Short outer wing panel angled much further forward than earlier types. Diverted with start of Pacific war to USAAF as P-64
7001690000000000000♠NA-69	7001440000000000000♠NA-44/A-27	Thailand (RTAF)	Wright R-1820-75 Cyclone (745 hp)	10	Fully armed as attack aircraft. Diverted with start of Pacific war to USAAF as A-27
7001710000000000000♠NA-71	7001160000000000000♠NA-16-3	Venezuela (FAV)	Pratt & Whitney R-1340-S3H1 Wasp (550 hp)	3	Two nose guns and rear gun, no wing guns.
7001720000000000000♠NA-72	7001440000000000000♠NA-44	Brazil (Army)	Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN1/S1H1 Wasp (600 hp)	30	Attack bomber, fitted with small DF loop under fuselage.
7001740000000000000♠NA-74	7001440000000000000♠NA-44	Chile (FACh)	Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp	12	Attack bomber, fitted with small DF loop under fuselage.
7001750000000000000♠NA-75	Harvard II	Canada (RCAF)	Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp	100	Follow on order to NA-66
7001760000000000000♠NA-76	Harvard II	United Kingdom (RAF)	Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp	450	Originally ordered by France, taken over by RAF, many to RCAF
7001770000000000000♠NA-77	AT-6A/SNJ-3	USAAC, USN	Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp	637
7001780000000000000♠NA-78	AT-6A/SNJ-3/3C	USAAC, USN	Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp	568	As NA-77, first aircraft built in Texas, and to use name "Texan"
7001790000000000000♠NA-79	SNJ-2	USN	Pratt & Whitney R-1340-56 Wasp	25
7001810000000000000♠NA-81	Harvard II	United Kingdom (RAF)	Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp	125	same as previous RAF Harvard II order.
7001840000000000000♠NA-84	AT-6B	USAAC	Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN-1 Wasp (600 hp)	400
7001850000000000000♠NA-85	SNJ-3	USN	Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp	0	Cancelled duplicate of NA-78 for record purposes.
7001880000000000000♠NA-88	AT-6C/AT-6D/XAT-6E SNJ-4/SNJ-5	USAAC/USAAF, USN	Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp/Ranger V-770	9331	(last 800 as NA.121) AT-6D used 24 volt electrics, vs previous 12 volt systems. XAT-6E used Ranger V-770.
7002119000000000000♠NA-119	AT-6D	Brazil (FAB)	Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp	81	20 examples built in Brazil under licence
7002121000000000000♠NA-121	AT-6D/AT-6F	USAAF, USN	Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp	4378	800 AT-6Ds, 211 SNJ-5, 956 AT-6F and 411 SNJ-6. AT-6F and SNJ-6 have clear fixed rear canopy section
7002128000000000000♠NA-128	AT-6D	USAAF, USN	Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp	0	Canceled orders to have been built in Texas.
7002168000000000000♠NA-168	T-6G/LT-6G	USAF/US ANG	Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp	109	Re-manufactured and updated from earlier versions. Mostly internal but canopy simplified slightly.
7002182000000000000♠NA-182	T-6G/LT-6G	USAF/US ANG	Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp	824	as per NA-168, Re-manufactured/updated.
7002186000000000000♠NA-186	Harvard 4	Canada (RCAF)/US MDAP	Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp	555	Design Data for Canadian Car and Foundry possibly to build Harvard IV or T-6G, sole new post war production.
7002188000000000000♠NA-188	T-6G/LT-6G	USAF/US ANG	Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp	107	Re-manufactured and converted from earlier versions.
7002195000000000000♠NA-195	T-6G/LT-6G	USAF/US ANG	Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp	11	Re-manufactured and converted from earlier versions.
7002197000000000000♠NA-197	T-6G	USAF/US ANG	Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp	110	Re-manufactured and converted from T-6D.
7002198000000000000♠NA-198	SNJ-8	USN	Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp	0	Cancelled Contract for SNJ-8 (similar to T-6G)

References

Citations

↑ Davis 1989, p.54.

Bibliography

Andrade, John M. U.S. Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909, Midland Counties Publications, England, 1979, ISBN 0-904597-22-9
Davis, Larry. T-6 Texan in action. Aircraft in Action Number 94. Carrollton, TX: Squadron/Signal Publications, 1989. ISBN 0-89747-224-1
Fletcher, David C. & Doug MacPhail. Harvard! The North American Trainers in Canada, DCF Flying Books, San Josef, BC, Canada, ISBN 0-9693825-0-2
Hagedorn, Dan. North American NA-16/AT-6/SNJ - WarbirdTech Series Volume 11, Specialty Press, USA, 1997, ISBN 0-933424-76-0
"North American AT-6 Texan", USWarplanes.net. Accessed 3 May 2010.

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