The Curtiss P-36 Hawk, also known as the Curtiss Model 75, was an American single-seat fighter aircraft that marked a significant transition from biplane to monoplane design in the 1930s.
Though largely overshadowed by its successor, the P-40 Warhawk, the P-36 played a notable role in the early years of World War II, particularly with foreign air forces.
United States Service The P-36 saw limited combat under American colours.
At the time of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour on 7 December 1941, 39 P-36As were stationed in Hawaii.
Five of them managed to get airborne during the attack, with two credited kills—among the first U.S. aerial victories of the war.
However, the type was soon relegated to training and second-line duties as more advanced fighters entered service.
French Air Force France was the largest foreign operator of the P-36, receiving over 290 aircraft (designated Hawk 75A).
These fighters were actively engaged during the Battle of France in 1940, where they performed surprisingly well against German aircraft, including the Messerschmitt Bf 109.
French pilots flying the Hawk 75A accounted for nearly a third of all air-to-air kills scored by French forces during the campaign.
Vichy French and Axis Use After France’s surrender, surviving Hawks were absorbed into the Vichy French Air Force.
These aircraft saw combat against Allied forces during the Syria–Lebanon campaign and Operation Torch in North Africa.
Notably, Vichy Hawks shot down several Allied aircraft during the latter operation in 1942.
Finnish Air Force Finland received 44 captured Hawks from Germany, originally seized from France and Norway.
These aircraft were used extensively against Soviet forces during the Continuation War (1941–1944).
Finnish pilots achieved considerable success with the type, with several aces emerging from Hawk-equipped squadrons.
British Commonwealth and Other Operators The Royal Air Force and South African Air Force operated the P-36 under the name Mohawk, primarily in East Africa and Burma.
The aircraft also served with the Royal Indian Air Force.
Though not frontline material by mid-war standards, the Mohawk proved useful in secondary theatres.
Dutch East Indies and China Aircraft originally destined for the Netherlands were diverted to the Dutch East Indies, where they saw limited action against Japanese forces in early 1942.
China also operated a small number of Hawks, some built under license, though their impact was minimal due to limited numbers and logistical challenges.
Variants
Model 75A
Company-owned demonstrator aircraft flown with several engine fits
Model 75B
Prototype with Wright R-1820 radial engine
Model 75D
First prototype, Wright Whirlwind R-1670 radial
Model 75H
Internal company designation for a simplified export version with fixed landing gear, two slightly differing aircraft built, first sold to China, second to Argentina
Model 75I
Company designation for the P-37.
Model 75J
Company-owned 75A temporarily fitted with an external supercharger
Model 75K
Unbuilt version, intended to use the Pratt & Whitney R-2180-A Twin Hornet radial.
Model 75P
Production P-36A (serial 38-010) fitted with Allison V-1710 liquid-cooled engine, prototype for Curtiss P-40
Model 75R
Company-owned 75A temporarily fitted with R-1830-SC2-G with turbo-supercharger, attained 330 mph (530 km/h) but proved complex and unreliable
Model 75S
Company designation for the P-42
Y1P-36 (Model 75E)
USAAC prototype, Pratt & Whitney R-1830
P-36A (Model 75L)
USAAC version
P-36B
Production P-36A fitted with an R-1830-25 producing 1,100 hp (820 kW), reached 313 mph (504 km/h), returned to original P-36A configuration P-36C
An additional 0.30 in machine gun installed in each wing with external ammunition boxes under the wings, R-1830-17 of 1,200 hp (890 kW); last 30 production aircraft were completed as P-36Cs
XP-36D
Production P-36A modified with two .50 in (12.7 mm) machine guns in the nose and four 0.30 in machine guns in the wings
XP-36E
Production P-36A armed with four 0.30 in machine guns in the wings, retained standard fuselage guns
XP-36F
Production P-36A fitted with two 23 mm (0.91 in) Madsen autocannons under the wings, reverted to P-36A because guns imposed an unacceptable performance penalty with top speed of only 265 mph (426 km/h).
P-36G
Hawk 75A-8 used by Norway for training in Canada; later delivered to Peru.
R-1820-G205A of 1,200 hp.
Hawk 75A-1
First production batch for France, four 7.5 mm (0.295 in) machine guns, R-1830-SC-G of 900 hp (670 kW); 100 built
Hawk 75A-2
Second production batch for France, either R-1830-SC-G or 1,050 hp (780 kW) R-1830-SC3-G, six 7.5 mm machine guns; 100 built
Hawk 75A-3
Third production batch for France, similar with Hawk 75A-2; 135 built (133 delivered).
Hawk 75A-4
Last production batch for France, Hawk 75A-2 with Wright R-1820-G205A Cyclone radial with 1,200 hp: 285 built, 81 delivered to France; others to Great Britain as Mohawk IV
Hawk 75A-5
Similar to Hawk 75A-4. Built under license in China (production was later moved to India), absorbed into RAF as Mohawk IV
Hawk 75A-6
Version for Norway; aircraft captured during the German invasion were eventually sold to Finland.
Hawk 75A-7
Version for Netherlands East Indies: 1,200 hp Cyclone, one .5 in (12.7 mm) and one .303 in (7.7 mm)in cowl and two .303 in (7.7 mm)in wings; later four .303 in (7.7 mm) (two in nose, one in each wing) and six 50 lb (23 kg) bombs.
Hawk 75A-8
Export version for Norway.
Later redesignated P-36G.
Hawk 75A-9
10 aircraft delivered to Persia, captured still in crates and used by RAF in India as Mohawk IVs
Hawk 75M
Simplified version with fixed landing gear and Wright R-1820 Cyclone for China, built by both Curtiss and Central Aircraft Manufacturing Company in China
Hawk 75N
Simplified version for Siam (Thailand) with non-retractable landing gear and wheel pants. Locally designated B.Kh.11.
Hawk 75O
Simplified version for Argentina, 30 built and delivered by Curtiss with additional 200 to be built under license locally by Fabrica Militar de Aviones, however only 20 were completed.
Hawk 75Q
Two additional simplified demonstrators for China.
At least one is reputed to have been given an armament similar to that of the XP-36F and to have engaged in combat over Shanghai during the Japanese attacks in September 1937, reportedly shooting down several bombers before being brought down with the loss of the American pilot.
XP-37
Allison V-1710 inline, cockpit moved to the rear of the fuselage
YP-37
Service test version of XP-37, 13 built
XP-40
Allison V-1710 inline, prototype of the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, one converted from a P-36A
XP-42
Testbed for streamlining cowlings around air-cooled engines
