The P-12 was designed as a successor to Boeing’s PW-9 fighter. The first P-12 flew in early 1929. The –E model was the last major version of the P-12. It had an engine cowl (missing on the earliest versions), a streamlined headrest and an improved vertical stabilizer (the –E type was rounded while the earlier ones had an angular shape).

The first (and only) use in combat was over Shanghai in 1932, where a P-12 shot down two Japanese fighters before being itself shot down. P-12E’s and –F’s served as front-line fighters into 1935, when they were replaced by the P-26 Peashooter. Those still flying were given secondary roles and used for training. In 1941, most were grounded and used at mechanic shools. Two dozen P-12’s were given to the Navy as radio-controlled target aircraft.

There were 110 P-12E’s built (while the order was for 135, the final 25 were built as P-12F’s) and 91 F4B-3’s (with 21 going to the Marines). Overall, some 360 P-12’s and 220 F4B’s were constructed.

The P-12E uses 17.6 gallons of aviation fuel per hour at routine usage. Fuel and ammo costs $25.

P-12E (F4B-3)

Subassemblies: Recon Fighter chassis +2, Recon Fighter Wings with Biplane option+2, three fixed wheels +0.

Powertrain: 392-kW aerial HP gasoline engine with 392-kW old prop and 51-gallon fuel tank [Body].

Occupancy: 1 XCS Cargo: 0.5

Armor
Body: 1/2 all
Wings: 1/2 all

Weaponry

Long Aircraft HMG/M-2 [Body:F] (300) *
Aircraft LMG/ [Body:F] (500) *
* Link fires both

Equipment
Body: Large radio receiver and transmitter, navigation instruments, autopilot (arrestor hook on F4B).

Statistics

Size: 30’¥20’¥9’ Payload: 0.3 tons Lwt.: 1.34 tons
Volume: 96 Maint.: 71 hours. Price: $8,000.

HT: 7.
HPs: 30 Body, 50 each Wing, 4 each Wheel.

aSpeed: 189 aAccel: 14 aDecel: 26 aMR: 6.5 aSR: 1
Stall speed 47.

Design Notes

Design speed was 209 mph and a 51 gallon fuel tank was purchased. The historical values have been used, as well as the actual wing area (228 square feet). The body’s HPs (and cost and weight) were doubled to provide a more realistic HT and to increase weight.

The P-12 could, if required, carry up to 244 lbs of bombs on underwing racks.

Some planes carried two .30-cal MGs instead of one .30 and one .50.

Most F4B-3’s carried an inflatable raft in the headrest spine; on earlier models, this was carried in the upper wing.

Variants

The P-12 was used by the U.S. Navy as the F4B. Aside from adding an arresting hook, the F4B models were similar to various P-12 models.

The first production run was 90 P-12B’s (F4B-1). They were virtually the same as the –E, but with a 336-kW engine reducing top speed to 166 mph.

There were 96 P-12C’s (F4B-2) and 35 P-12D’s built. The P-12C had a top speed of 176 mph while the P-12D, with a 392 kW engine, could reach 178 mph.

The P-12F (F4B-4) was a modification of the last 25 P-12E’s to take a 448-kW engine. Top speed was 195 mph.

The XP-12G was the first P-12B, fitted with a turbo-supercharger for tests. The unit was later removed and the plane was redesignated the P-12B.