Evolved in parallel with the P-35, the 2PA was a two-seat fighter and fighter-bomber with a fundamentally similar airframe and offered with either a similar undercarriage to that of the single-seater as the 2PA-L (Land) or with an amphibious float undercarriage as the 2PA-A (Amphibian). Dubbed “Convoy Fighter” by the manufacturer, the 2PA was powered by a Wright R-1820-G2 or G3 Cyclone nine-cylinder radial engine, the former rated at 1,000hp for take-off and the latter at 875hp.
One 2PA in 1937 first flew on 8 July 1937 piloted by Frank Sinclair. Powered with an 875hp Wright R-1820-G3 Cyclone engine, it was registered NX/NR189M c/n 6 (1938 registration conflict with SEV-X-BT; possibly a transfer). Demonstrated in South America, it was reportedly abandoned in Brazil after engine failure.
Armament comprised two wing-mounted 7.62mm or 12.7mm Browning guns, one 7.62mm Browning on a flexible mount in the rear cockpit, plus two forward-firing fuselage-mounted 7.62mm or 12.7mm Browning guns. Provision was made for a bomb load of up to 227kg on internal wing racks.
Two 2PA-BX, NX2586 c/n 146 and NX2587, were used as European demonstrators, which brought a substantial order from Sweden. First flown on 23 October 1938 piloted by Frank Sinclair, early in 1939, Major Seversky embarked upon a European sales tour in a 2PA-202 or 2PA-BX which was fitted with a 1,100hp Pratt & Whitney R-1830-S3C Twin Wasp. This aircraft was tested at the A&AEE Martlesham Heath, in March 1939, at the instigation of the Air Ministry.
Fifty-two 2PA-BXs were ordered by Sweden as dive-bombers (the Seversky company having meanwhile become the Republic Aviation Corporation), but only two of these were delivered to Sweden, the remainder being taken over by the USAAC as AT-12 Guardsman advanced trainers.
The one amphibian 2PA-A, NX1307, and one 2PA-L were procured by the Soviet Union in March 1938, together with a manufacturing licence, which, in the event, was not to be utilised. The 1937 2PA-L was built from SEV-X-BT components as a potential military export and first flown on 2 November 1937, by C H Miller. Refitted with 850hp R-1820-G2 engine, it was unregistered and ended up in the Spanish Civil War.
Twenty R-1820-G2-powered examples were ordered clandestinely by the Japanese Imperial Navy for use over China as long-range escort fighters. Designated 2PA-B3, these received an armament of two fuselage-mounted 7.62mm machine guns and a similar weapon in the rear cockpit. Assigned the Japanese designation A8V1, the 2PAs were found to possess unacceptable levels of manoeuvrability and climb rate for the escort fighter role and were therefore relegated to reconnaissance missions in Central China, two later being passed to the Asahi Shimbun newspaper group. The c/ns were 122 to 141. Found US regs were NX1321=J-BAAN c/n 126, NX1391 c/n 64-1, NX1388 c/n 64-2 and c/n 64-3, which flew to the West Coast for overseas shipment and left no tracks. The “64-” c/ns seen in some reports likely were Japanese registations.
It was incorrectly thought the type was later produced in Japan as a Kawasaki or Mitsubishi Type 98 and given the allied code ‘Disk’ on that basis.
2PA
Engine: 875hp Wright R-1820-G3 Cyclone
Seats: 2
SEV-2PA
Engine: 1,100hp Pratt & Whitney R-1830-S3C Twin Wasp
Max take-off weight: 3474 kg / 7659 lb
Empty weight: 2078 kg / 4581 lb
Wingspan: 10.97 m / 36 ft 0 in
Length: 8.20 m / 27 ft 11 in
Height: 2.99 m / 10 ft 10 in
Wing area: 20.44 sq.m / 220.01 sq ft
Max. speed: 508 km/h / 316 mph
Range: 3138 km / 1950 miles
Seats: 2
2PA-A
Engine: 1000hp Wright R-1820-G5 Cyclone
Seats: 2
2PA-B / 2PA-BX / 2PA-202 / SEV-1-68
Engine: 1200hp P&W P-1830-S1C Wasp
Seats: 2
2PA-L
Engine: 1000hp Wright R-1820-G7
Wingspan: 41’0″
Length: 30’5″
Speed: 250 mph
Seats: 2
All Aero 