Curtiss Hawk 75

Two years after staring development of their P-36 Hawk, Curtiss turned to developing an export version which would be designated the Hawk 75. Despite having a less powerful Wright radial engine fitted the Hawk 75 was very similar to its P-36 relation.

The Chinese government would be one of the first countries to buy the new aircraft. Buying not only the demonstration aircraft, but placing an order for 112 during 1938. These aircraft would be known as Hawk 75Ms and would have a top speed of 280 mph, fixed undercarriage with armament comprising of one machine-gun in each wing and two in the nose. These aircraft would see service during the Sino-Japanese war.

The following year, 1939, saw twenty five Hawk 75Ns supplied to the Thai Air Force. These differed a little to the Hawk 75M and featured an additional two 0.30-in machine-guns and could hold upto 300lb of bombs. This aircraft would see action in the invasion of French Indo-China during January 1941 and then at the end of the year in December when Japan invaded Thailand.

The French Armeede L'Air also became a customer with a total of 1,130 ordered, known as 75As, although only 341 would be received before the fall of France with a further 251 which had been produced being sent to the British Royal Air Force and re-named Mohawk. The French version featured re-tractable undercarriage helping the plane achieve a top speed of 322 mph and armament consisted of two 0.50-in machine-guns and four 0.30-in machine-guns. Whilst in service with the French Armee de l'Air the Hawk 75A came up against the Messerschmitt Bf 109 and despite being slower proved a formidable foe.

The final production version was the Hawk 75O which was for use by Argentina with a total of fifty produced, 20 by Curtiss, including a sole 75H demonstration aircraft, with a further thirty produced under license in Argentina.

Also see: Curtiss P-36 Hawk