aircraft with forward-firing guns and the observer equipped with a hand-held machine gun. However, when they arrived and were tested, the Japanese were disappointed with their performance, climb rate and agility in the air. There does not seem to be any record of them being used in the long-range bomber escort role for which they were intended, but instead they were relegated to a reconnaissance role over central China with the 12th Kōkūtai, operating from bases around Nanking. Possibly the successful development of the Zero-sen as a long-range fighter was also a factor in their demise. Unfortunately, little has been documented about their operational use over China. Expecting to encounter these aircraft still in service, they were given the Allied reporting name "Dick", but by that time they had long been withdrawn from service. Two of the aircraft were passed on to the Asahi Shimbun Newspaper company to become Shiokaze-go (汐風号, "Tide Wind", aircraft registration:J-BAAN) and Umikaze-go (海風号, "Sea Wind", aircraft registration:J-BAAQ), and a third was given to the Tokyo Nichi Nichi Shimbun Newspaper company. Their planes used for interview and air transportation of manuscripts and photographs. J-BAAN was registered in October 1938 and J-BAAQ in March 1941, but a registration for the Tokyo Nichinichi Newspaper aircraft cannot be confirmed. Variants 2PA Two-seat version of Seversky P-35 with rear gunner. 2PA-202 - European demonstrator (1) 2PA-A - for USSR (1) 2PA-B - European demonstrator (1) 2PA-BX - European demonstrator (1) 2PA-B3 - 20 production aircraft for Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service as Seversky A8V1. 2PA-L - for USSR (1) A8V1 "Dick" Japanese designation for 2PA-B3 (and U.S. codename). B 6 Swedish designation of the 2PA (only 2 delivered, see below). AT-12 Guardsman Two-seat advanced trainer for the USAAF (50 2PA ordered by Sweden, but impounded). Operators Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service Swedish Air Force United States Army Air Corps Specifications (A8V1) See also References Notes Bibliography Davis Larry. P-35: Mini in Action (Mini Number 1). Carrollton, Texas: Squadron/Signal Publications, 1994. . Fitzsimmons, Bernard. The Illustrated International Aircraft Guide Fighters of WWII, Part IX. London: MacDonald Phoebus Ltd., 1981. Green, William. War Planes of the Second World War, Volume Four: Fighters. London: Macdonald & Co. (Publishers) Ltd., 1961 (Sixth impression 1969). . Hucker, Robert. "Seversky: Innovator and Prophet." Air Classics, 20th Anniversary Special Edition 1964-1984, 1984. United States Air Force Museum Guidebook. Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio: Air Force Museum Foundation, 1975. External