The Commonwealth CA-15 Kangaroo (CAC CA-15)

At the outbreak of the Second World War, the weakness of Australia's air force led to fears of Japanese air raids on its territory. The Australian company Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC) is expanding in a very short time the CA-13 Boomerang interceptor, which reinforces the ranks of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) from its allies, which are themselves poorly equipped. 1943. As early as 1942, RAAF also issued Specification No. 2/42 for the development of a long-range escort fighter.

Impressed by the performance of a Fw-190 Würger captured by the allies, CAC proposed in 1943 a similar aircraft called CA-15 Kangaroo and propelled with a 2300 hp Pratt & Whitney R-2800-10 radial engine. With turbocharger. When the American engine manufacturer informed CAC in 1944 that the production of this engine would cease, the R-2800-57 was considered until Pratt & Whitney notified that it could not guarantee the availability of this engine in high demand. CAC then considered various alternatives to finally retain the Rolls Royce Griffon 120 engine. The passage of an air-cooled radial engine to an inline engine however forces CAC to review the design of the CA-15, The construction of the prototype.

During all this time, the Pacific War is clearly in favor of the Americans who are already producing in large numbers the P-51 Mustang. There followed a debate between CAC and the RAAF on the need to further develop the CA-15, while the licensed construction of the P-51 Mustang would be less costly. Greatly impressed by the concept of the CA-15, the British Air Ministry decided to loan two Rolls-Royce Griffon Mk 61 engines to CAC in April 1945 until the Griffon 120 was available. When one of these engines is finally installed on the CA-15 prototype, the war has been over for a few months. The first flight of the Kangaroo took place on 4 March 1946 and the aircraft was delivered to the RAAF in June 1946.

The CA-15 Kangaroo is very much appreciated by the pilots because they are pleasant to fly and without apparent defects. The tests continued until 10 December 1946 when the aircraft was heavily damaged as a result of the failure of the landing gear. Already aligning a number of P-51 Mustangs and planning the arrival of its first Gloster Meteor and DeHavilland Vampire, it was not until June 1947 that the RAAF returned the damaged CA-15 to CAC for repairs. Returning to the RAAF, the Kangaroo set a speed record in May 1948 reaching 803 km / h in a slight dive. Faster and superior in some respects to the P-51 Mustang, the CA-15 is no longer of interest to the RAAF with the advent of jet aircraft. Unfortunately, the only copy of the CA-15 was dismantled in 1950.

Ultimate specimen of the long evolution of propeller hunters, the CA-15 Kangaroo is the last of the Australian designers to take the air.



Specifications :  
Wingspan 10,97 m
Wing area 23.5 m²
Length 11,03 m
Height 4.34 m
Leermasse 3420 kg
Max. Start weight 5597 kg
Max speed 720 km / h
Service ceiling 11.900 m
Rate of Climb 25 m / s
Range 1870 km
Engine Rolls-Royce-Griffon-61 (1719 kW / 2338 hp)

Armament Six 12.7 mm machine guns, up to 907 kg weapon load

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