The Model 48 was designed in 1938 by a team headed by Richard Palmer. The first of two prototypes made its maiden flight in September 1940 under the designation 48C. Sweden ordered 144 airframes with the Flygvapnet (Swedish AF) designation J 10 (J standing for Jakt = Fighter). The US sales embargo of 1940 prevented any delivery to Sweden, and they were put on strength of the USAAF, s/ns 42-6832 to 42-6975.
The RAF became interested and s/ns for 100 were allocated, this being BW208 to BW307. Only three, BW208 to BW210, were ever flown in British markings; the type was not accepted into RAF Service. Still in production, it was decided that 15 would go to USAAF training units, the remainder would go to the Chinese Nationalist Forces of Chiang Kai-Shek.
The airframes for China were shipped by sea to Karachi, Pakistan in the second half of 1943, wearing US markings. There they were re-assembled and ferried on to Chengtu, China, finally receiving their Chinese nonsequential registration in the P-13002 to P-26886 range. However, of the destined 129 only 79 actually arrived at Chengtu, some crashed while flight-tested at Karachi, some were lost en route. The Vanguard served only briefly with the Chinese forces, being far from a success.
initial design
initial production for RAF, diverted to Chinese Nationalist Forces
initial production for RAF, 15 diverted to USAAF
Specifications
Type:
Engine:
Span:
Length:
Height:
Wing area:
Empty Wt:
Max T/O weight:
Max speed:
Max climb:
Ceiling:
Range:
Light interceptor fighter
One 1,200 hp Pratt & Whitney R-1830-33 Twin Wasp fourteen-cylinder two-row radial
36 ft 0 in (10.97 m)
28 ft 5 in (8.66 m)
9 ft 5 in (2.87 m)
197 sq.ft (18.30 sq.m)
5,237 lb (2,376 kg)
7,384 lb (3,349 kg)
340 mph (547 km/h)
2,520 ft (768 m)/min
28,200 ft (8,595 m)
850 mls (1,368 km)