The North American AJ Savage, later designated A-2 Savage, was a carrier-based medium bomber built for the United States Navy.
The aircraft was designed shortly after World War II to carry atomic bombs and this meant that the bomber was the heaviest aircraft thus far designed to operate from an aircraft carrier.
It was powered by two piston engines and a turbojet buried in the rear fuselage.
The AJ-1 first became operational in 1950 and several were based in South Korea during 1953 as a deterrent against the Communists.
143 built, this includes 3 prototypes, of these 30 were reconnaissance aircraft.
Variants
XAJ-1
Prototype with two 2,300 hp (1,715 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-2800-44 radial engines and one Allison J33-A-10 turbojet, three built.
AJ-1 (A-2A)
Initial production version with two 2,400 hp (1,790 kW) R-2800-44W radial engines and one J33-A-10 turbojet, 55 built, survivors redesignated A-2A in 1962.
AJ-2 (A-2B)
Updated production version with two 2,500 hp (1,864 kW) R-2800-48 radial engines and one J33-A-10, taller tailfin, slightly longer fuselage, increased fuel capacity, 55 built, survivors redesignated A-2B in 1962.
AJ-2P
Photo-reconnaissance version of the AJ-2 with array of cameras, 30 built.
NA-146
Company designation for three prototypes delivered to the USN as XAJ-1.
NA-155
Development of the XAJ-1, mock up only, not built.
NA-156
Production variant delivered to the USN as AJ-1, 12 built.
NA-160
Production variant delivered to the USN as AJ-1, 28 built.
NA-169
Production variant delivered to the USN as AJ-1, 15 built.
NA-175
Photo-reconnaissance variant delivered to the USN as AJ-2P, 23 built.
NA-183
Photo-reconnaissance variant delivered to the USN as AJ-2P, 7 built.
NA-184
Improved production variant delivered to the USN as AJ-2, 55 built.
XSSM-N-4 Taurus
Proposed unmanned variant as a surface-to-surface missile.
Cancelled in 1948, none built.
Specifications
Crew
3
Length
63 ft 0.72 in (19.2207 m)
Wingspan
71 ft 4.56 in (21.7566 m) without tip tanks
75 ft (23 m) with tip tanks
Width
50 ft 6 in (15.39 m) wings folded
Height
20 ft 6.24 in (6.2545 m)
16 ft (4.9 m) fin folded
Wing area
835.45 sq ft (77.616 m2)
Airfoil
NACA 64-212
Empty weight
27,558 lb (12,500 kg)
Gross weight
47,000 lb (21,319 kg)
Max take-off weight
50,954 lb (23,112 kg)
Powerplant
2 × Pratt & Whitney R-2800-44W Double Wasp 18-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines, 2,400 hp (1,800 kW) each
