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{{More citations needed|date=January 2024}}{{Short description|United States fighter aircraft of WWII}}
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{{Infobox aircraft
| name = P-43 Lancer
| image = Republic P-43 Lancer.jpg
| caption = A [[United States Army Air Forces|USAAF]] P-43 in 1942
| type = [[Fighter aircraft|Fighter]]
| national_origin = United States
| manufacturer = [[Republic Aviation]]
| designer = 
| first_flight = March 1940
| introduction = 1941
| retired = 1944 (China)
| status = Retired
| primary_user = [[United States Army Air Corps]]
| more_users = {{plainlist|
* [[United States Army Air Forces]]
* [[Republic of China Air Force]]
* [[Royal Australian Air Force]]
}}
| produced = 1940–1941
| number_built = 272
| unit cost = 
| developed_from = [[Seversky P-35]]
| variants = 
}}
The '''Republic P-43 Lancer''' was a single-[[Piston engine|engine]], [[Aluminium|all-metal]], low-wing [[monoplane]] [[fighter aircraft]] built by [[Republic Aviation|Republic]], first delivered to the [[United States Army Air Corps]] in 1940.<ref name="Green p. 167"/> A proposed development was the '''P-44 Rocket'''. While not a particularly outstanding fighter, the P-43A had a very good high-altitude performance coupled with an effective oxygen system. Fast and well-armed with excellent long-range capabilities, until the arrival of the [[Lockheed P-38 Lightning]], the Lancer was the only American fighter capable of catching a Japanese [[Mitsubishi Ki-46]] "Dinah" reconnaissance plane at the speeds and heights at which they flew. In addition, the P-43 flew many long-range, high-altitude photo recon missions until replaced by F-4/F-5 Lightnings (P-38 variants) in both the USAAF and RAAF.

==Design and development==
The [[Seversky Aircraft Company]], which in 1939 changed its name to Republic, constructed a range of private venture, one-off variants of its [[Seversky P-35|P-35]] design, featuring different powerplants and enhancements, designated '''AP-2''', '''AP-7''', '''AP-4''' (which flew after the AP-7), '''AP-9''', and '''[[Seversky XP-41|XP-41]]'''. The series included a carrier-based version designated the '''NF-1''' (Naval Fighter 1) that was also built. The most significant of these was the AP-4, which served as the basis for future Seversky/Republic aircraft. It featured fully retractable [[Landing gear#Overview|landing gear]], flush riveting, and most significantly a [[Pratt & Whitney R-1830]]-SC2G engine with a belly-mounted [[Twincharger|turbo-supercharger]], producing {{convert|1200|hp|kW|lk=on|abbr=on}} and good high-altitude performance. The turbo-supercharger had been refined by [[Boeing]] as part of the development program for the [[Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress|B-17 Flying Fortress]], and the improved performance it offered was of great interest to other aircraft manufacturers.<ref name="Green p. 167">Green 1969, p. 167.</ref>

The XP-41 and sole AP-4 were nearly identical, although the AP-4 was initially fitted with a large [[Spinner (aeronautics)|prop spinner]] and a tight-fitting engine [[cowling]], as a testbed to evaluate means of improving the aerodynamics of [[Radial engine|radial]]-engined fighters, following similar experiments with the first production P-35. The AP-4's big spinner was later removed and a new tight cowling fitted. Unsurprisingly, these measures led to overheating problems. On 22 March 1939, the engine caught fire in flight, the pilot had to bail out, and the AP-4 was lost. Despite the loss of the prototype, the USAAC liked the turbo-supercharged AP-4 demonstrator enough to order 13 more in May 1939, designating them '''YP-43'''.<ref name="Green p. 166">Green 1969, p. 166.</ref>

===YP-43 prototype===
The YP-43 differed from AP-4 in having a "razorback" [[fuselage]] with a tall spine extending back from the [[Aircraft canopy|canopy]].<ref name="Green pp. 166–167">Green 1969, pp. 166–167.</ref> The engine air intake was moved from the port wing to under the engine resulting in the distinctive ovoid cowling. The aircraft was powered by an R-1830-35 14-cylinder air-cooled radial engine with a General Electric B-2 turbo-supercharger generating 1,200&nbsp;hp and driving a three-blade variable-pitch propeller. Armament consisted of two [[synchronization gear|synchronized]] {{convert|.50|in|mm|1|abbr=on}} [[machine gun]]s in the cowl and a single {{convert|.30|in|mm|2|abbr=on}} machine gun in each wing.<ref name="Green p. 167"/>

The first of 13 YP-43s was delivered in September 1940, the last in April 1941. Early testing revealed a strong tendency to yaw during takeoff and landing rolls, fixed by redesigning the tailwheel. Although the aircraft exceeded the initial USAAC performance requirements, by 1941 it was clearly obsolete, lacking maneuverability, [[Vehicle armour#Aircraft|armor]], or [[self-sealing fuel tank]]s. The USAAC felt the basic P-35/P-43 design had exhausted its reserves for further improvement in performance and shifted its interest to the promising [[Republic P-47 Thunderbolt]].<ref>Baugher, Joe. [http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_fighters/p43.html "Republic P-43 Lancer."] ''joebaugher.com'', 26 June 1999. Retrieved: 18 May 2010.</ref>

===Production===
Production aircraft, identical to the YP-43 prototypes, were designated "Lancer" and were delivered between 16 May and 28 August 1941. Ongoing delays in the P-47 program resulted in USAAC ordering an additional 80 '''P-43A''', with [[Pratt & Whitney R-2180-A Twin Hornet|Pratt & Whitney R-2180-1 Twin Hornet]] engine rated at {{convert|1400|hp|kW|abbr=on}}. The engine promised better high-altitude performance, and armament was upgraded with 0.50&nbsp;in machine guns replacing the 0.30&nbsp;in in the wings. The USAAC was sufficiently interested to assign the AP-4J variant an official designation '''P-44 Rocket'''. Combat reports from Europe indicated that the new type was already obsolete, consequently, the entire order was canceled on 13 September 1940, with no prototypes built.

Alexander Kartveli and his team focused their efforts on the advanced '''AP-10'''/'''XP-47''' which eventually became the P-47 Thunderbolt.<ref name="Green p. 167"/> When the [[Pratt & Whitney R-2800]] engine intended for the new P-47 was not yet available, it was decided to order 54 P-43s to keep the Republic production lines operating. An additional 125 P-43A-1s were ordered for China through the [[Lend-Lease]] program, originally intended to equip the Third [[American Volunteer Group]] (AVG). These initially differed in the Air Materiel Command specification from earlier P-43s in being armed with two 0.50&nbsp;in machine guns in each wing and no fuselage guns, and having rudimentary armor and fuel tank protection.<ref name="Green p. 168"/> This would have required a series of serious engineering changes. Reality intervened: actually, as delivered, the P-43A-1 had the same armament layout as the P-43As: four .50&nbsp;in machine guns, two in the cowl and two in the wings. Externally, they were identical, and only the serial numbers distinguishes a P-43A from a P-43A-1. Many of these aircraft were fitted with cockpit armor before shipment westward from California in crates; evidence is murky whether this additional armor came from Republic or was cobbled together after delivery.<ref name="Green pp. 167–168">Green 1969, pp. 167–168.</ref>

By 1942, a total of 272 P-43s were built, including all its variants, a remarkable number considering the original intention was to build none.<ref name="Green p. 168">Green 1969, p. 168.</ref>

==Operational history==
[[File:P-43 China.jpg|thumb|Maintenance on a P-43A in China, ''circa'' 1943.]]

The Lend-Lease aircraft were delivered to China through [[Claire Chennault]]'s American Volunteer Group, the Flying Tigers. Pilots involved in the ferrying flights commended the P-43 for its good high-altitude performance compared to the [[Curtiss P-40 Warhawk|Curtiss P-40]], good roll rate, and a radial engine without a vulnerable liquid cooling system. Apparently, several AVG pilots asked Chennault to keep some P-43s, but the request was denied due to the aircraft's lack of armor or self-sealing fuel tanks. In addition, the turbo-supercharger proved unreliable and the "wet wing" fuel tanks leaked constantly.<ref>{{cite web |first=Corey C. |last=Jordan |url=http://www.planesandpilotsofww2.webs.com/Seversky-Republic2.html |title=Seversky Aircraft and Republic Aviation Part 2 |date=1998–1999 |work=Planes and Pilots Of World War Two |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325044153/http://www.planesandpilotsofww2.webs.com/Seversky-Republic2.html |archive-date=2012-03-25 }}</ref> In April 1942, [[Robert Lee Scott Jr.]] — a USAAF pilot with the AVG<ref>Scott, Robert L., Col. ''God is my CoPilot'' <!--Ballentine Special edition 1976-->, pp.67-74.</ref> —photographed the peaks of Mt. Everest from {{convert|44000|ft|m|abbr=on}}, attesting to the strengths of this aircraft. On the other hand, in April 1942, veteran [[Republic of China Air Force|CAF]] fighter pilot Maj. [[Zheng Shaoyu]], a survivor of many air battles including the "''[[Mitsubishi A6M Zero|Zero-scourge]]''" in the war against the [[Second Sino-Japanese War|Imperial Japanese invasion of China]], was ferrying a P-43 back into China for renewed combat operations against the Japanese, when it suddenly caught fire causing his death in the ensuing crash.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.warbirdforum.com/richdunn.htm |title = Republic P-43 Lancer fighter plane in Chinese service (Richard Dunn)}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/japans-world-war-ii-zero-fighter-terrified-allies-56647 |title = The National Interest: Blog {{!}} The National Interest}}</ref>
 
The Japanese noted that the P-43's fuel tanks were easily punctured, making them easier to shoot down than P-40s.<ref>[https://www.warbirdforum.com/richdunn.htm Republic P-43 Lancer and China's Air War]</ref> The type was replaced by other aircraft in early 1944. Rudimentary protection added on the P-43A-1 was insufficient.{{citation needed|date=January 2019}} In addition, the R-1830 engines were in high demand for the [[Douglas C-47]] transport, effectively grounding the surviving aircraft.

The USAAC considered the P-43 and its variants obsolete from the start and used them only for training purposes. In fall 1942, all surviving USAAF (transitioned from USAAC in June 1941) P-43s were redesignated '''RP-43''', indicating a permanent change in role. Most of the aircraft that were not sent to China were modified for [[Aerial reconnaissance|photo-reconnaissance]] duties and used for training. Eight P-43s (four P-43A-1s and four P-43Ds) were loaned to the [[Royal Australian Air Force]] in 1942 and served with [[No. 87 Squadron RAAF|No.&nbsp;1 Photo Reconnaissance Unit]]. The RAAF flew many long range, high-altitude photo reconnaissance missions before the six survivors were returned to the USAAF in 1943.<ref>[http://www.pilotfriend.com/photo_albums/timeline/ww2/2/Republic%20P%2043%20Lancer.htm "Republic P 43 Lancer".] ''pilotfriend.com''. Retrieved: 6 December 2010.</ref>

==Variants==
[[File:The P44 Rocket's early sketch.jpg|thumb|Sketches of the proposed P-44.]]
;YP-43
:Pre-production prototypes; 13 built.
;P-43
:First production version, identical to YP-43; 54 built.
;P-43A
:Version powered by R-1830-49 engine and armed with 0.50&nbsp;in (12.7&nbsp;mm) machine guns in the wings replacing the P-43's original 0.30&nbsp;in (7.62&nbsp;mm); 80 built.
;P-43A-1
:Version for China, rudimentary armor and wing fuel tank protection, armed with four 0.50&nbsp;in machine guns, centerline hardpoint for a [[drop tank]]{{clarify|date=January 2019|reason=how much fuel?}} or up to {{convert|200|lb|kg|abbr=on}} of bombs; 125 built.
;P-43B-RE
:Conversion of P-43A to photo-reconnaissance version with cameras in rear fuselage. Fourteen aircraft converted.<ref name="amftp389"/><ref name="davp47">Davis 1994, p. 47</ref>
;P-43C
:Conversion of P-43A to photo-reconnaissance version with different photographic equipment than P-43B. Two converted.<ref name="amftp389"/><ref name="davp47"/>
;P-43D
:Conversion of P-43A to photo-reconnaissance version with revised equipment. Six converted.<ref name="amftp389"/><ref name="davp47"/>
;P-43E
:Proposed photo-reconnaissance version. Unbuilt.<ref name="amftp389"/>
;RP-43
:Re-designation of USAAF P-43s as "restricted from combat" in October 1942.<ref name="amftp389"/>
;RP-43A
:Re-designation of USAAF P-43As as "restricted from combat" in October 1942.<ref name="amftp389"/>
;P-44 Rocket (AP-4J)
:Proposed version with {{convert|1,400|hp|abbr=on}} [[Pratt & Whitney R-2180-A Twin Hornet|Pratt & Whitney R-2180-1]] engine; none built.

==Operators==
; {{AUS}}
* [[Royal Australian Air Force]]
; {{ROC}}
* [[Republic of China Air Force]]
; {{flagicon|United States|1912}} [[United States]]
* [[United States Army Air Forces]]

==Specifications (P-43A)==
{{Aircraft specs
|prime units?=imp
|ref=The American Fighter<ref name="amftp389">Angelucci & Bowers 1987, p. 389</ref>
|crew=1
|length ft=28
|length in=6
|length m= 
|span ft=36
|span in=0
|span m= 
|height ft=14
|height in=0
|height m= 
|wing area sqft=223 
|wing area sqm= 
|empty weight lb=5,996 
|empty weight kg= 
|gross weight lb=7,435 
|gross weight kg= 
|max takeoff weight lb=8,480 
|max takeoff weight kg= 
|eng1 name=[[Pratt & Whitney R-1830]]-49
|eng1 type=14-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 hp=1,200 
|eng1 kw= 
|max speed mph=356 
|max speed note=at {{convert|20000|ft|m|abbr=on}} 
|cruise speed mph=280
|range miles=650 
|range km= 
|ceiling ft=36,000 
|ceiling m=
|time to altitude=6 minutes to {{convert|15000|ft|m|abbr=on}}

|guns=4 × 0.50 in (12.7 mm) [[M2 Browning machine gun]]s
}}

==See also==
{{aircontent|
|related=
*[[Seversky SEV-3]]
*[[Seversky P-35]]
*[[Republic P-47 Thunderbolt]]
|similar aircraft=
*[[Grumman F4F Wildcat]]
*[[Brewster F2A Buffalo]]
*[[CAC Boomerang]]
*[[Curtiss P-36 Hawk]]
*[[North American P-64]]
*[[PZL.50 Jastrząb]]
*[[Polikarpov I-180]]
*[[Vultee P-66 Vanguard]]
*[[Weiss Manfréd WM-23 Ezüst Nyíl]]
|lists=
*[[List of aircraft of World War II]]
*[[List of fighter aircraft]]
*[[List of military aircraft of the United States]]
|see also=
}}

==References==

===Notes===
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
* Angelucci, Enzo and Peter Bowers. ''The American Fighter: The Definite Guide to American Fighter Aircraft from 1917 to the Present''. New York: Orion Books, 1987. {{ISBN|0-517-56588-9}}.
* Davis Larry. ''P-35: Mini in Action''. Mini Number 1. Carrollton, Texas: Squadron/Signal, 1994. {{ISBN|0-89747-321-3}}.
* Green, William. ''Warplanes of the Second World War, Volume Four: Fighters''. London: Macdonald & Co.(Publishers) Ltd., 1961 (6th impression 1969). {{ISBN|0-356-01448-7}}.
* Jones, Lloyd S.''U.S. Fighters: Army Air-Force 1925 to 1980s''. Fallbrook, California: Aero Publishers, Inc., 1975. {{ISBN|0-8168-9201-6}}.
*Scott, Col. Robert L., Jr. ''God Is My Co-Pilot''. Ballantine Books, 1963 (14th paperback printing), p.&nbsp;72.
* Swanborough, Gordon and Peter M. Bowers. ''United States Military Aircraft Since 1909''. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian, 1989. {{ISBN|0-87474-880-1}}.

==External links==
{{Commons category|Republic P-43 Lancer}}
*[http://www.warbirdforum.com/richdunn.htm Republic P-43 Lancer in Chinese service]
*[http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_fighters/p43.html Republic P-43 Lancer]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Zig_1Q6Ios The Republic P-43 Lancer – A Giant’s Stepping Stone]

{{Republic aircraft}}
{{USAF fighters}}
{{ADF aircraft designations}}

[[Category:1940s United States fighter aircraft|Republic P-43]]
[[Category:Republic aircraft|P-043]]
[[Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft]]
[[Category:Low-wing aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1940]]
[[Category:Aircraft with retractable conventional landing gear]]
[[Category:Single-engined piston aircraft]]