Douglas A-20K Havoc

Last revised August 5, 2000

The final production version of the A-20 was the A-20K. It was similar to the glass-nosed A-20J, but used the R-2600-29 powerplants introduced on the A-20H. Aside from the engine change, the A-20K was identical to the A-20J. It had essentially the same relation to the A-20J as the A-20H had to the A-20G.

The prototype A-20K was oconverted from an A-20H-1 (44-9). The A-20K-5-DO reverted to R-2600-23 engines, but Army documentation does not mention any flame damping exhausts being fitted. The A-20K-10-DO returned to R-2600-29 engines, and was basically similar to the A-20H-10-DO except for the bomber nose. The A-20K-15-DO was generally similar to the A-20K-10-DO.

A total of 413 A-20Ks were built, all of them by Douglas-Santa Monica. Included in this total were 90 A-20Ks delivered to the RAF as Boston Vs. RAF serials were BZ580 to BZ669.

Havoc production ended on September 20, 1944, with the delivery of the last A-20K. 7098 had been built by Douglas and 380 under license by Boeing.

Serials of A-20K:

44-9			Douglas A-20K-1-DO Havoc
44-66/100			Douglas A-20K-5-DO Havoc
44-101/198		Douglas A-20K-10-DO Havoc
44-329/406		Douglas A-20K-10-DO Havoc
44-537/550		Douglas A-20K-10-DO Havoc
44-551/618		Douglas A-20K-15-DO Havoc
44-707/825		Douglas A-20K-15-DO Havoc

Specification of Douglas A-20K Havoc:

Engines: Two 1600 hp Wright R-2600-29 Double Cyclone 14 cylinder twin-row air-cooled radial engines equipped with two-speed superchargers. Rated at 1700 hp for takeoff. Performance: Maximum speed 333 mph at 15,600 feet. Cruising speed 269 mph. An altitude of 10,000 feet could be attained in 6.6 minutes. Service ceiling 25,100 feet. Normal range 830 miles. Maximum ferry range 2200 miles. Dimensions: Wingspan 61 feet 4 inches, length 48 feet 4 inches, height 17 feet 7 inches, wing area 465 square feet. Weights: 17,266 pounds empty, 23,953 pounds gross, 27,000 pounds maximum. Armament: Two 0.50-inch machine gun in dorsal power turret with 400 rpg. One 0.50-inch machine gun in the ventral tunnel position with 400 rounds. Two forward-firing 0.50-inch machine guns in lower fuselage. Maximum internal bomb load 2000 pounds in split bomb bay plus 2000 pounds on four underwing hardpoints.

Sources:


  1. American Combat Planes, Third Enlarged Edition, Ray Wagner, Doubleday, 1982.

  2. McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Since 1920, Vol 1, Rene J. Francillon, Naval Institute Press, 1988

  3. United States Military Aircraft Since 1909, Gordon Swanborough and Peter M. Bowers, Smithsonian, 1989.

  4. A-20 Havoc in Action, Aircraft Number 144, Squadron/Signal Publications, Jim Mesko, 1994.

  5. Famous Bombers of the Second World War, William Green, Doubleday, 1960

  6. Boston, Mitchell and Liberator In Australian Service, Stewart Wilson, Aerospace Publications, 1992.

  7. Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Military Press, 1989.

  8. Dog of War, Peter Bowers, Wings, Volume 26 No. 1 (1996)