Beechcraft XA-38 Grizzly

I'd say it looked more like a Model 18 on steroids yet extremely lethal looking at the same time. In combat, it would most likely been an easy score for any enemy plane attacking it though.

Don you are spot on with the way the Grizzly started out. Pages 83 and 84 of the 1968 edition of American Combat Planes say that the prototype started out as a Bomber Destroyer, then was moved in the heavy attack role when the B-D concept was abandoned. Then, of course, completely overshadowed by the A-26 Invader and cancelled after only two prototypes were built.

Boy, that was a new one to me.

Mike

Well, I cannot read the explanation, but I take it the plane was designed as a "bomber destroyer", a class of aircraft the US abandoned prior to WW2.  I suspect that plane was never built because it looks to be just at the end of the era of bomber destroyers.

The bomber destroyer was to be a heavily armed and armoured aircraft to intercept bombers, but not fight with their escorts (actually, the idea of escorting bombers was a later idea).  Maneuverability was secondary, heavy guns the big thing, plus long range to intercept bombers way out there.