Luchtvardienst (1934-38)

The Northrop N-3PB Nomad was an American-built, single-engine patrol bomber floatplane developed in 1940 specifically to meet an export order for the Royal Norwegian Navy Air Service. Reaching a top speed of 257 mph (414 km/h), it was claimed to be the fastest military seaplane in the world at the time of its debut.🔎 Service History and Exiled OperationsThe Norwegian Order: Norway ordered 24 units in 1940. However, the country was invaded and occupied by Nazi Germany before any aircraft could be delivered."Little Norway" Training: Six production models were sent to Canada in early 1941. Exiled forces utilized them as advanced trainers at the "Little Norway" training camp in Toronto and Vancouver Island.Combat in Iceland: The remaining 18 Nomads equipped No. 330 (Norwegian) Squadron RAF based in Reykjavík and Akureyri, Iceland. From May 1941 to early 1943, they flew anti-submarine patrols and convoy escorts across the harsh North Atlantic.No Combat Losses: Despite operating in brutal Arctic weather and maintaining the aircraft entirely in the open, not a single N-3PB was lost to enemy action, though several were destroyed in severe landing accidents. The type became obsolete and was retired in 1943.📊 Technical SpecificationsParameterSpecificationCrew3 (Pilot, Navigator/Bombardier, Wireless Operator/Rear Gunner)Powerplant1 × Wright GR-1820-G205A Cyclone 9-cylinder radial engine (1,200 hp)DimensionsLength: 11 m | Wingspan: 14.91 m | Height: 3.7 mEmpty / Gross Weight2,808 kg (6,190 lbs) / 3,856 kg (8,500 lbs)Maximum Range994 miles (1,600 km)Fixed Armament4 × forward-firing 0.50 in (12.7 mm) machine guns in wingsDefensive Armament2 × 0.30 in (7.62 mm) machine guns (1 dorsal, 1 ventral position)Payload Capacity1 × 2,000 lb (910 kg) torpedo OR equivalent weight in bombs/depth charges💡 Only One SurvivorToday, only one complete Northrop N-3PB survives. In 1943, aircraft No. 320 crashed in a snowstorm into an Icelandic river. It was located and salvaged in 1979, fully restored by Northrop, and is now prominently displayed at the Norwegian Armed Forces Aircraft Collection in Gardermoen, Norway.

Development

Design specifics

General conception

Engine

Armament

⚙ PLANE specifications
Gross Weight
Max Takeoff weight
Lenght
Wingspan
Height
Wing Area
Engine
Top Speed, sea level
Cruise Speed
Range
Climb Rate
Ceiling
Armament
Crew