Douglas YOA-1E 'LAGOS Skyraider'; ‘2’/'Jungle Queen' of USN VA-33, Vietnam 1968

Dizzyfugu · November 17, 2015, 04:35:54 AM

1:72 Douglas YOA-1E 'LAGOS Skyraider'; Aircraft '2'/'Jungle Queen' of US Navy VA-33 'Ironhides'; Cam Ranh Air Base, South Vietnam, November 1968. (Whif/Monogram kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Some background:
The OA-1E was a response to the 1963 "tri-service" specification for the Light Armed Reconnaissance Aircraft (LARA) for U.S. Navy, Air Force and Army. The LARA requirement was based on a perceived need for a new type of "jungle fighting" versatile light attack and observation aircraft. Existing military aircraft in the observation role, such as the Cessna O-1 Bird Dog and Cessna O-2 Skymaster, were perceived as obsolescent, with too slow a speed and too small a load capacity for this flexible role.

A total of eleven proposals were submitted, among them were the Grumman Model 134R (a tandem-seat version of the already fielded U.S. Army's OV-1 Mohawk), the Convair Model 48 Charger, the Helio 1320, the Lockheed CL-760, a Martin design, and the North American/Rockwell NA-300. The LARA competition raged on until mid-1964, and it eventually spawned the successful OV-10 Bronco, which made its maiden flight in 1965 and eventually entered frontline service in Vietnam in 1968.

Douglas had proposed the D-885 design to the LARA competition, but had already been working on a concept for an armed military observation and attack aircraft, designed for battlefield surveillance and strike capabilities, in all weather conditions, day and night. This had been a private venture proposal, and USN and USMC approved it under the condition that it would be a cheap solution, being ready for front line tests in mid-1965 – much quicker than the OV-10, which also lacked the all-weather capability at that time.

1:72 Douglas YOA-1E 'LAGOS Skyraider'; Aircraft '2'/'Jungle Queen' of US Navy VA-33 'Ironhides'; Cam Ranh Air Base, South Vietnam, November 1968. (Whif/Monogram kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Douglas YOA-1E 'LAGOS Skyraider'; Aircraft '2'/'Jungle Queen' of US Navy VA-33 'Ironhides'; Cam Ranh Air Base, South Vietnam, November 1968. (Whif/Monogram kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Since time was pressing, the aircraft was based on the AD/A-1 Skyraider airframe and the program christened "Low Altitude Gunship and Obeservation System" (LAGOS). The resulting YOA-1E was based on the "Flying Dumptruck", the A-1E (AD-5) airframe with side-by-side seating and a spacious cockpit which had become necessary for the crew of three: a pilot, a co-pilot/navigator and an observer/gunman, combined with state-of-the-art sensor and weapon equipment plus the technical infrastructure for both.

The YOA-1E's special equipment included a relatively compact, turreted forward looking infrared (FLIR) sensor ball under the fuselage, combined with a laser target designator, a highly innovative feature at the time. The respective 'Paveway' series of laser-guided bombs had just been developed by Texas Instruments, starting in 1964, and the LAGOS YOA-1E had been one of the first operational aircraft that could illuminate and deploy laser-guided smart weapons. Other sensors included low-light cameras and an array of IR sensors that were installed in a bulged faring on port side. Several passive radar and IR warning sensors completed the package.

Tactically, the idea was to identify a ground target, lock onto it with the sensors and either mark the target with the laser for other aircraft that would deploy laser-guided ordnance, or circle around the target at maximum cannon range (which was outside of typical small arms fire) at an altitude of 6.000-8.000 feet and suppress or destroy the target with gun fire.

1:72 Douglas YOA-1E 'LAGOS Skyraider'; Aircraft '2'/'Jungle Queen' of US Navy VA-33 'Ironhides'; Cam Ranh Air Base, South Vietnam, November 1968. (Whif/Monogram kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Douglas YOA-1E 'LAGOS Skyraider'; Aircraft '2'/'Jungle Queen' of US Navy VA-33 'Ironhides'; Cam Ranh Air Base, South Vietnam, November 1968. (Whif/Monogram kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

The OA-1E would not carry laser-guided bombs, though, since it lacked proper speed to deploy them effectively, and laser-guided missiles were still far beyond the horizon (the light AGM-114 Hellfire's development started in 1974, and the laser-guided AGM-65C Maverick would enter testing in 1978!).

But the agile and stable aircraft had other benefits: One special feature of the YOA-1E was a turreted, three-barreled 20 mm (.79 in) XM197 gun under the rear fuselage. This gatling gun, also a new development, originally for the AH-1 attack helicopter, was slaved to the FLIR aimpoint and could cover almost the complete lower hemisphere. Using a gun turret instead of fixed armament was expected to improve versatility, esp. against small, mobile targets and at very low altitude. The gun could also fire directly backwards, so that a limited rear defense was provided, too.

The XM197 was supplied from a massive magazine of 1.500 linked rounds that occupied much of the cabin's rear, with a total capacity including feeder system of 1.600 rounds. This early XM 197 had a cyclic rate of fire of 650 RPM, at a muzzle velocity of 1.030 m/sec. This resulted in a potential constant fire of almost 3 min., even though standard practice was to fire the cannon in 30 to 50 round bursts, in order to save ammunition and to prevent overheating problems.

As a weight compensation measure, two of the A-1E's original wing-mounted cannons were deleted, as well as the central underfuselage pylon which made way for the sensor/gun installation. The rest of the underwings hardpoints were retained, though, even though offensive ordnance was rarely carried.

In the course of the LAGOS program a total of four A-1E aircraft were modified, and three of them outfited for field testing of equipment and tactics. All of these machines were ready for service in late 1966. The operational trio was immediately transferred to East Asia in order to support the USMC troops, which had been sent to the Vietnam war theatre since March.

1:72 Douglas YOA-1E 'LAGOS Skyraider'; Aircraft '2'/'Jungle Queen' of US Navy VA-33 'Ironhides'; Cam Ranh Air Base, South Vietnam, November 1968. (Whif/Monogram kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Douglas YOA-1E 'LAGOS Skyraider'; Aircraft '2'/'Jungle Queen' of US Navy VA-33 'Ironhides'; Cam Ranh Air Base, South Vietnam, November 1968. (Whif/Monogram kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

The three operational YOA-1Es were attached to the US Navy's VA-33, 'Ironhides'. This was a short-lived Attack Squadron, originally based at Naval Station Sangley Point, Philippines, but deployed to Cam Ranh Air Base. There, the Skyraider squadron flew missions next to VAH-21 'Roadrunners', another special unit that operated four highly modfied AP-2H night surveillance and attack versions of the Lockheed P-2 Neptune aircraft. VAH-21 also had a field test task, because the squadron carried out night interdiction and electronic surveillance missions, as part of the USN's Project TRIM (Trails Roads Interdiction Multi-Sensor).

Flying covert operations, the YOA-1E trio helped a lot in technical development, and the front line test revealed several flaws and problems of the overall concept. Primarily, the early FLIR and laser designator were not reliable under the humid climate of Vietnam.

The XM 197 cannon was troublesome, too. The gun itself worked well, but the ammunition feeding system was prone to jamming – a flaw that kept haunting later, helicopter-mounted variants, too. Anyway, the massive firepower earned the YOA-1E the nickname "The Ewer" and the gun turret turned out to be highly effective.

The OA-1Es even scored a single, documented air victory: an unsuspecting Vietnamese MiG-17PF night fighter was shot down with the XM197 in early 1970, when VA-33's OA-1E '01', 'Pluto', dodged a surprise attack from behind and the gunner instinctively opened defensive fire - not an aimed counterattack, but neverthless successful!

1:72 Douglas YOA-1E 'LAGOS Skyraider'; Aircraft '2'/'Jungle Queen' of US Navy VA-33 'Ironhides'; Cam Ranh Air Base, South Vietnam, November 1968. (Whif/Monogram kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Douglas YOA-1E 'LAGOS Skyraider'; Aircraft '2'/'Jungle Queen' of US Navy VA-33 'Ironhides'; Cam Ranh Air Base, South Vietnam, November 1968. (Whif/Monogram kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

The three OA-1Es were frequently deployed in a wide range of tasks and missions. These started in 1967 with reconnaissance missions at night, but with more and more experience withz the machines, their capabilities and their maintenance, a multitude of assignments were tried and accomplished.

One very successful role was the OA-1E's use as mini gunships during "Sandy" (pilot recovery) missions, in which they escorted CH-53 rescue helicopters, suppressed enemy fire or supported other escorting A-1s, guiding them to hidden targets.
The LAGOS Skyraiders were also tested in pathfinder missions for faster aircraft, which would deploy their laser-guided Paveway bombs in a more effective fashion from a safe distance and from higher altitudes.

Another field in which the OA-1Es helped to gather tactical information for the later OV-10 was FAC duty. The Skyraider's high loitering time proved to be very valuable, as well as its rigidity and its sophisticated sensor array.

Furthermore, the three Ewers accomplished aerial radiological reconnaissance, tactical air observation, artillery and naval gunfire spotting, airborne control of tactical air support operations as well as front line, low-level aerial photography. One of the machines ('03', 'Journey's End') was even provisionally modified to lay smoke screens, and it was extremely successful.
The aircraft was kept in service by its evaluators for several months and only reluctantly released. The smoke screen system did not catch on, though, due to a perceived lack of missions.

1:72 Douglas YOA-1E 'LAGOS Skyraider'; Aircraft '2'/'Jungle Queen' of US Navy VA-33 'Ironhides'; Cam Ranh Air Base, South Vietnam, November 1968. (Whif/Monogram kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Douglas YOA-1E 'LAGOS Skyraider'; Aircraft '2'/'Jungle Queen' of US Navy VA-33 'Ironhides'; Cam Ranh Air Base, South Vietnam, November 1968. (Whif/Monogram kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Racked armament in the Vietnam War was usually light. Beyond drop tanks to extend loitering time, typical loads were seven- and nineteen-shot 2.75 in (70 mm) LAU rocket pods with white phosphorus marker rounds or high-explosive rockets or 5" (127 mm) four-shot Zuni rocket pods. Bombs, ADSIDS air-delivered seismic sensors, Mk-6 battlefield illumination flares, and other stores were carried as well. But the heavy equipment load and the XM197's ammunition (the rounds themselves weighed more than 3.500 lb (1.600 kg)!) naturally limited the external ordnance stores' volume and made the aircraft rather sluggish.

The LAGOS OA-1E proved to be too heavy and limited for a COIN aircraft, even though it was popular among the crews and basically performed well. The Skyraider airframe could take a lot of punishment and still make it home, and the low speed/low altitude handling was very good, despite the ponderous special equipment. But the aircraft could only be safely deployed in total air superiority conditions, and in the end the modern technology could not make up the old airframe's weaknesses.

Consequently, the field tests were stopped in late 1970, the three machines taken back to the US and Douglas and further development of the LAGOS concept was halted, even though the insights were transferred to other developments like the OV-10D NOGS for the USMC and the AC-130 gunships for the USAF.

1:72 Douglas YOA-1E 'LAGOS Skyraider'; Aircraft '2'/'Jungle Queen' of US Navy VA-33 'Ironhides'; Cam Ranh Air Base, South Vietnam, November 1968. (Whif/Monogram kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Douglas YOA-1E 'LAGOS Skyraider'; Aircraft '2'/'Jungle Queen' of US Navy VA-33 'Ironhides'; Cam Ranh Air Base, South Vietnam, November 1968. (Whif/Monogram kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Douglas YOA-1E 'LAGOS Skyraider'; Aircraft '2'/'Jungle Queen' of US Navy VA-33 'Ironhides'; Cam Ranh Air Base, South Vietnam, November 1968. (Whif/Monogram kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Douglas YOA-1E 'LAGOS Skyraider'; Aircraft '2'/'Jungle Queen' of US Navy VA-33 'Ironhides'; Cam Ranh Air Base, South Vietnam, November 1968. (Whif/Monogram kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Douglas YOA-1E 'LAGOS Skyraider'; Aircraft '2'/'Jungle Queen' of US Navy VA-33 'Ironhides'; Cam Ranh Air Base, South Vietnam, November 1968. (Whif/Monogram kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

General characteristics:
Crew: Three
Length: 38 ft 10 in (11.84 m)
Wingspan: 50 ft 0¼ in (15.25 m)
Height: 15 ft 8¼ in (4.78 m)
Wing area: 400.3 ft² (37.19 m²)
Empty weight: 11,968 lb (5,429 kg)
Loaded weight: 18,106 lb (8,213 kg)
Max. take-off weight: 25,000 lb (11,340 kg)

Powerplant:
1× Wright R-3350-26WA radial engine, 2,700 hp (2,000 kW)

Performance:
Maximum speed: 322 mph (280 kn, 518 km/h) at 18,000 ft (5,500 m)
Cruise speed: 198 mph (172 kn, 319 km/h)
Range: 1,316 mi (1,144 nmi, 2,115 km)
Service ceiling: 28,500 ft (8,685 m)
Rate of climb: 2,850 ft/min (14.5 m/s)
Wing loading: 45 lb/ft² (220 kg/m²)
Power/mass: 0.15 hp/lb (250 W/kg)

Armament:
2× M2 20mm (0.79 in) cannon in the wings
1× XM 197 20mm (0.79 in) cannon in a ventral turret
15 hardpoints for theoretically up to 8,000 lb (3,600 kg) of external ordnance, but rarely used due to the massive ammunition magazine of the XM 197

The kit and its assembly:
This has been on my whif agenda for long, and was initially inspired by the OV-10D NOGS project – a Bronco with night vision sensors and a turreted cannon under its belly. I wondered if this concept could not have been tested a few years earlier, during the Vietnam conflict? The technology underwent initial field tests at that time, e. g. in form of the AP-2H or the B-57G "Tropic Moon". Gunships like the AC-47 or AC-119 were also a proven concept – so why not meld everything into a compact aircraft?

The A-1E seemed a good basis, with its spacious fuselage, and the basis for this modification is the Monogram kit from the late 60ies, in this case a Revell re-boxing.

The kit is rather simple and has some weak points, e.g. the crude landing gear and engine, or massive ejector pin markings under the stabilizer. I only changed what I deemed necessary, as this was to become a prototype on the basis of a stock A-1E. Hence, I only changed the interior layout with a massive box (the ammunition depot, actually a Revell Me 262 cockpit tub turned upseide down...) and a work station for the observer/gunner behind the pilots' cabin with a seat and a screen.

1:72 Douglas YOA-1E 'LAGOS Skyraider'; Aircraft '2'/'Jungle Queen' of US Navy VA-33 'Ironhides'; Cam Ranh Air Base, South Vietnam, November 1968. (Whif/Monogram kit conversion) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Douglas YOA-1E 'LAGOS Skyraider'; Aircraft '2'/'Jungle Queen' of US Navy VA-33 'Ironhides'; Cam Ranh Air Base, South Vietnam, November 1968. (Whif/Monogram kit conversion) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

The sensor and turret balls were scratched – these are actually shoulder joints from a Dorvack PA mecha kit, fitted in matching holes in the fuselage. As a side effect, the things can be moved and the shoulder fulcrum was used to mount the cannon, so that this became moveable, too. The space between the turrets was faired as good as possible.

1:72 Douglas YOA-1E 'LAGOS Skyraider'; Aircraft '2'/'Jungle Queen' of US Navy VA-33 'Ironhides'; Cam Ranh Air Base, South Vietnam, November 1968. (Whif/Monogram kit conversion) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Douglas YOA-1E 'LAGOS Skyraider'; Aircraft '2'/'Jungle Queen' of US Navy VA-33 'Ironhides'; Cam Ranh Air Base, South Vietnam, November 1968. (Whif/Monogram kit conversion) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

On the hull, several antennae and bumps were added, and different main wheels (IIRC from an Italeri MiG-29!) were used. The flaps were lowered, too, for a more lively look. As ordnance, two drop tanks (smaller than those that come with the kit, from an Italeri BAe Hawk), a single pair of LAU rocket launchers on the outer wing stations (from an Italeri A-4M, IIRC) and two first generation ECM pods (an ALQ-81 and ALQ-101, from a Hasegawa aircraft weapon set) were added.

Painting and markings:
The wrap-around paint scheme was another important factor to build this whif kit - it looks pretty cool and popped up several times in the late 60ies and the 70ies, e. g. on the USMC's OV-10D prototypes, and on the US Navy's AP-2Hs from VAH-21 in Vietnam.

The scheme was, AFAIK, made from three grey tones: FS 36118 (Gunship Grey), FS 36231 (Dark Gull Grey) and FS 36440 (Light Gull Grey), and these colors were prone to weathering and bleaching under the tropical East Asia climate, so that the Light Gull Grey appears almost like white. This was simulated with some black ink wash and dry-brushing all over the hull.

1:72 Douglas YOA-1E 'LAGOS Skyraider'; Aircraft '2'/'Jungle Queen' of US Navy VA-33 'Ironhides'; Cam Ranh Air Base, South Vietnam, November 1968. (Whif/Monogram kit conversion) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Douglas YOA-1E 'LAGOS Skyraider'; Aircraft '2'/'Jungle Queen' of US Navy VA-33 'Ironhides'; Cam Ranh Air Base, South Vietnam, November 1968. (Whif/Monogram kit conversion) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

The interior was painted in Neutral Grey (FS 36173), while the landing gear was kept all-white.

The decals were puzzled together, but mostly from the Revell kit's decal sheet that offers a USAF machine and two USN machines, a blue and a grey one.

1:72 Douglas YOA-1E 'LAGOS Skyraider'; Aircraft '2'/'Jungle Queen' of US Navy VA-33 'Ironhides'; Cam Ranh Air Base, South Vietnam, November 1968. (Whif/Monogram kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Douglas YOA-1E 'LAGOS Skyraider'; Aircraft '2'/'Jungle Queen' of US Navy VA-33 'Ironhides'; Cam Ranh Air Base, South Vietnam, November 1968. (Whif/Monogram kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

IMHO, the result was worth the effort - the paint scheme looks very good on the bulky Skyraider, and the changes with the weapon/sensor gondola is rather subtle, it's only obvious at second glance and it IMHO even looks plausible in this position and arrangement?

Captain Canada · November 17, 2015, 05:09:50 AM

Love it ! Always been a huge fan of the Skyraider....and this has got to be one of the best yet. Love the camo, and all of the lumps and bumps. Great stuff. A great selection of pics as well, lots of action this time !

sandiego89 · November 17, 2015, 09:10:46 AM

Awesome, love the turret and FLIR especially. Well done.

nighthunter · November 17, 2015, 04:36:58 PM

Love the concept, surprised no one thought of it back then!

Dizzyfugu · November 18, 2015, 12:19:38 AM

Thank you very much!

zenrat · November 18, 2015, 01:07:59 AM

Nice. Very nice indeed.
Good job Dizz.

kerick · November 18, 2015, 08:03:19 AM

Well done! Love the concept

TallEng · November 18, 2015, 11:28:51 AM

Cracking job Dizzy

I'm just supprised it wasn't done in the real world.
Might have been a good way to get more life out of the skyraider.
For sales of 'zero' hours airframes to nations that couldn't afford the
Absolute latest toys.

Regards
Keith

DogfighterZen · November 18, 2015, 04:06:30 PM

Great stuff!!

As always, good idea and build with a great story and pics to back it up.

Dizzyfugu · November 19, 2015, 12:20:42 AM

Thank you very much. To my surprise, a similar stunt had been done in 2009 by fellow user BrittMac here (but I was not aware of that until my YOA-1E was finished):

http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,23286.0/highlight,skyraider+gunship.html

The pics are gone, but if you google Skyraider + Gunship some pop up! This modified AD-4 has a sensro array and miniguns in the left flank. Nice work, and another proof that good ideas seem to turn up more frequently than expected.