North American AJ-2 (A-2B) Savage US Navy first nuclear-powe r. In August 1945, after the first atomic bomb was dropped successfully, the US Navy launched a competition for a carrier-based attack aircraft that would be capable of delivering a atomic bomb. The North American Aviation submitted the NA-16 design which was a largest carrier-based aircraft at the time. It was powered by a pair of large radial engines plus a single turbojet mounted in the rear fuselage. In 1946, the Navy ordered three prototypes, designated AJ-1 Savage. Production aircrafts were ordered in 1947. A total of 55 AJ-1s were built. In 1950, the Navy issued a contract for the conversion of 42 of the original AJ-1s to a new and improved attack version AJ-2. In 1951, an additional 55 new AJ-2s were ordered. Although the AJ Savage had originally been built as an attack aircraft, it was destined not to serve very long in that role. The AJ Savage rapidly became obsolete as the jet powered A3D Skywarrior became available. Instead, many AJ-2 Savages were converted as inflight refuelling tankers. In 1962, surviving AJ-2s were redesignated A-2B under the new unified designation system.
