The Vought O2U Corsair was a 1920s biplane scout and observation aircraft. Developed by Vought Corporation, the O2U was ordered by the United States Navy (USN) in 1927. Powered by a 400 hp (298 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-1340 engine, it incorporated a steel-tube fuselage structure and a wood wing structure with fabric covering. Many were seaplanes or amphibians.
An O2U floatplane flies over the Cavite Navy Yard, circa 1930. The seaplane tender Jason is docked at the yard, directly below the plane. Sangley Point is in the background.
Two prototypes were ordered in 1926 and tested by the Navy Trial Board before the first production batches were ordered. In 1927, a total of 291 O2Us were produced. The O2U-2, -3 and -4 were ordered in 1928 with minor changes. By 1930 they were being superseded by the O3U which was basically similar to the O2U-4, one variant of which was fitted with the Grummanfloat, and were manufactured until 1936. A total of 289 were built.[1] Many of them had cowled engines and some had enclosed cockpits.
Operational historyedit
The 600-690 hp (448-515 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-1690-42 Hornet engine was used to power Corsairs designated SU-1 to SU-4. The change in designation reflected their role as scouts (their larger engines and heavier weight precluded their use as floatplanes, and USN examples were only used on wheels from either carrier decks or land bases). A total of 289 SU designated aircraft were built for the USN. No fewer than 141 Corsairs were still serving with the US Navy and Marines when the US entered World War II.[citation needed]
Export versions included the Corsair V-65F, V-66F and V-80F for the Argentine Navy, the V-80P for the Peruvian Air Force, and the V-85G for Germany.[1]China purchased Corsair variants V-65C and V-92C. Brazil purchased 36 aircraft V-65B, some hydroplanes V-66B and 15 V-65F.
In March 1929, Mexico purchased 12 armed aircraft O2U-2M versions with the 400 hp (300 kW) Wasp engine to quell a military coup; Mexico then built 31 more units under licence, and called them Corsarios AzcárateO2U-4A. In 1937, Mexico purchased 10 V-99M equipped with the Pratt & Whitney R-1340-T1H-1 550 hp Wasp engine, some of them may have been sent to Spain.[2]
China purchased the 42 export versions of O2U-1 from 1929 to 1933, and 21 export versions of O3U between 1933 and 1934 and they saw extensive bombing actions. The O2U-1 versions participated in the Central Plains War and in the January 28 Incident against Japanese targets, while the O3U versions first participated in the Battle of Pingxingguan to support the Chinese ground forces, and later against the Japanese targets in Shanghai.
Peru purchased two Vought OSUs which were designated UO-1A. Later, in 1929, 12 O2U-1 were acquired. Used first as trainers, they saw action against APRA rebels in the northern areas of the country, and against Colombian ships and aircraft during the Colombia-Peru War. None were lost due to enemy fire, but several were destroyed due to accidents. These aircraft were also used for light bombing and casualty evacuation by the US Marine Corps during the intervention in Nicaragua in the late 1920s.
The name "Corsair" was used several times by Vought's planes; the O2U, Vought SBU Corsair in 1933, F4U in 1938, and the A-7 Corsair II in 1963.
Variantsedit
XO-28
Single example taken on charge by the U.S. Army Air Corps for evaluation with serial 29-323, Wright Field Project Number P-547,[4] powered by a 450 h.p. R-1340-C engine. Destroyed in hangar fire at Wright Field, Ohio, 18 March 1930.[5]
O2U-1
two prototypes followed by 130 production aircraft for USN with interchangeable wheel/float landing gear and 28 aircraft for other customers. 450 hp (336 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-1340-88 Wasp engine
O2U-2
37 built, increased span and larger rudder
O2U-3
110 built (30 for export), revised wing rigging, redesigned tail surfaces and Pratt & Whitney R-1340-C engine
O2U-4
43 built (1 for export. Also seven civilian O2U were built), similar to O2U-3 but with equipment changes
^Andrade, John M. U.S. Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909. Earl Shilton, Leicester: Midland Counties Publications, 1979. ISBN0-904597-22-9, page 138.
^"New Navy Planes Land On Water Or Deck." Popular Science, February 1933.
^"Eyes of the Fleet as seen during Maneuvers." Popular Mechanics, March 1933.
^ abcd"Vought". Aerofiles. Retrieved: 18 January 2011.
Eden, Paul; Moeng, Soph (2002). The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. London, England: Amber Books Ltd. ISBN0-7607-3432-1.
Hagedorn, Daniel P. (1993). Central American and Caribbean Air Forces. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN0-85130-210-6.
Lezon, Ricardo Martin & Stitt, Robert M. (January–February 2004). "Eyes of the Fleet: Seaplanes in Argentine Navy Service, Part 2". Air Enthusiast (109): 46–59. ISSN 0143-5450.
Young, Edward M. (1984). "France's Forgotten Air War". Air Enthusiast. No. 25. pp. 22–33. ISSN 0143-5450.
Further readingedit
Núñez Padin, Jorge Felix (2009). Núñez Padin, Jorge Felix (ed.). O2U-1A & V65F / V66F Corsair. Serie Aeronaval (in Spanish). Vol. 19. Bahía Blanca, Argentina: Fuerzas Aeronavales. Retrieved 2014-08-21.
External linksedit
Media related to Vought O2U Corsair at Wikimedia Commons
December 20, 2023
vought, corsair, 1920s, biplane, scout, observation, aircraft, developed, vought, corporation, ordered, united, states, navy, 1927, powered, pratt, whitney, 1340, engine, incorporated, steel, tube, fuselage, structure, wood, wing, structure, with, fabric, cove. The Vought O2U Corsair was a 1920s biplane scout and observation aircraft Developed by Vought Corporation the O2U was ordered by the United States Navy USN in 1927 Powered by a 400 hp 298 kW Pratt amp Whitney R 1340 engine it incorporated a steel tube fuselage structure and a wood wing structure with fabric covering Many were seaplanes or amphibians O2U CorsairO2U 4 CorsairRole ObservationNational origin United StatesManufacturer VoughtIntroduction 1926Primary users United States NavyUnited States Marine Corps United States Coast GuardNumber built 580An O2U floatplane flies over the Cavite Navy Yard circa 1930 The seaplane tender Jason is docked at the yard directly below the plane Sangley Point is in the background Contents 1 Design and development 2 Operational history 3 Variants 4 Operators 5 Specifications SU 4 Corsair 6 References 6 1 Citations 6 2 Sources 7 Further reading 8 External linksDesign and development editTwo prototypes were ordered in 1926 and tested by the Navy Trial Board before the first production batches were ordered In 1927 a total of 291 O2Us were produced The O2U 2 3 and 4 were ordered in 1928 with minor changes By 1930 they were being superseded by the O3U which was basically similar to the O2U 4 one variant of which was fitted with the Grumman float and were manufactured until 1936 A total of 289 were built 1 Many of them had cowled engines and some had enclosed cockpits Operational history editThe 600 690 hp 448 515 kW Pratt amp Whitney R 1690 42 Hornet engine was used to power Corsairs designated SU 1 to SU 4 The change in designation reflected their role as scouts their larger engines and heavier weight precluded their use as floatplanes and USN examples were only used on wheels from either carrier decks or land bases A total of 289 SU designated aircraft were built for the USN No fewer than 141 Corsairs were still serving with the US Navy and Marines when the US entered World War II citation needed Export versions included the Corsair V 65F V 66F and V 80F for the Argentine Navy the V 80P for the Peruvian Air Force and the V 85G for Germany 1 China purchased Corsair variants V 65C and V 92C Brazil purchased 36 aircraft V 65B some hydroplanes V 66B and 15 V 65F In March 1929 Mexico purchased 12 armed aircraft O2U 2M versions with the 400 hp 300 kW Wasp engine to quell a military coup Mexico then built 31 more units under licence and called them Corsarios Azcarate O2U 4A In 1937 Mexico purchased 10 V 99M equipped with the Pratt amp Whitney R 1340 T1H 1 550 hp Wasp engine some of them may have been sent to Spain 2 China purchased the 42 export versions of O2U 1 from 1929 to 1933 and 21 export versions of O3U between 1933 and 1934 and they saw extensive bombing actions The O2U 1 versions participated in the Central Plains War and in the January 28 Incident against Japanese targets while the O3U versions first participated in the Battle of Pingxingguan to support the Chinese ground forces and later against the Japanese targets in Shanghai Peru purchased two Vought OSUs which were designated UO 1A Later in 1929 12 O2U 1 were acquired Used first as trainers they saw action against APRA rebels in the northern areas of the country and against Colombian ships and aircraft during the Colombia Peru War None were lost due to enemy fire but several were destroyed due to accidents These aircraft were also used for light bombing and casualty evacuation by the US Marine Corps during the intervention in Nicaragua in the late 1920s Thailand used their Corsairs in the Franco Thai War and in the Battle of Ko Chang against the French Navy 3 The most famous combat operation of this aircraft was shooting the original King Kong off of the Empire State Building citation needed The name Corsair was used several times by Vought s planes the O2U Vought SBU Corsair in 1933 F4U in 1938 and the A 7 Corsair II in 1963 Variants editXO 28 Single example taken on charge by the U S Army Air Corps for evaluation with serial 29 323 Wright Field Project Number P 547 4 powered by a 450 h p R 1340 C engine Destroyed in hangar fire at Wright Field Ohio 18 March 1930 5 O2U 1 two prototypes followed by 130 production aircraft for USN with interchangeable wheel float landing gear and 28 aircraft for other customers 450 hp 336 kW Pratt amp Whitney R 1340 88 Wasp engine O2U 2 37 built increased span and larger rudder O2U 3 110 built 30 for export revised wing rigging redesigned tail surfaces and Pratt amp Whitney R 1340 C engine O2U 4 43 built 1 for export Also seven civilian O2U were built similar to O2U 3 but with equipment changes O3U 1 87 built as observation seaplanes incorporating Grumman amphibious float 6 7 O3U 2 29 built strengthened airframe Pratt amp Whitney R 1690 Hornet engine O3U 3 76 built 550 hp 410 kW Pratt amp Whitney R 1340 12 Wasp engine O3U 4 65 built Pratt amp Whitney R 1690 42 Hornet engine XO3U 5 test aircraft with Pratt amp Whitney R 1535 engine XO3U 6 test aircraft converted from O3U 3 with NACA cowling and enclosed cockpits O3U 6 32 built 16 with Pratt amp Whitney R 1340 12 Wasp and 16 with Pratt amp Whitney R 1340 18 Wasp engines SU 1 Scout version of the O3U based on the O3U 2 28 built 8 SU 2 Scout version of the O3U based on the O3U 4 53 built 8 SU 3 Variant of the SU 2 with low pressure tires 20 built 8 XSU 4 SU 2 converted as a prototype SU 4 variant with a 600 hp R 1690 42 engine later became an SU 4 SU 4 SU 4 re engined with a 600 hp R 1690 2 engine 41 built 8 One United States Navy O2U 3 evaluated by the United States Army Air Corps Vought V 65B Export version for Brazil 36 Vought V 65C Export version for Nationalist China Vought V 65F Export version for Argentine Navy Vought V 66B Export version for Brazil Vought V 66E Export version one evaluated by the Royal Air Force Vought V 66F Export version for Brazil 15 and Argentine Navy Vought V 80F Export version for Argentine Navy Vought V 80P Export version for Peruvian Air Force Vought V 85G Export version for Germany Vought V 92C Export version for Nationalist China Vought V 93S Export version of the O3U 6 for Thailand Vought V 99M Export version for Mexico TNCA Corsario Azcarate 31 O2U 4A aircraft built under license in Mexico Vought AXV1 A single O2U supplied to the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service for evaluation in 1929 Operators edit nbsp Argentine Navy O2U Corsair nbsp The only survivor of V 93S SA Corsair fleet displayed at the Royal Thai Air Force Museum nbsp ArgentinaArgentine Navy Argentine Naval Aviation nbsp BrazilBrazilian Air Force nbsp ChinaChinese Nationalist Air Force nbsp CubaCuban Air Force received at least 14 O2U 1A and O2U 3As from 1929 9 nbsp Dominican RepublicDominican Air Force received one O2U 1 and two O2U 3SDs 10 nbsp GermanyLuftwaffe nbsp JapanImperial Japanese Army Air Force nbsp MexicoMexican Air Force nbsp PeruPeruvian Air Force nbsp United KingdomRoyal Air Force one V 66E for evaluation nbsp United StatesUnited States Army Air Corps one for evaluation United States Navy United States Marine Corps United States Coast Guard nbsp ThailandRoyal Thai Air Force had 70 operational aircraft at the time of the French Thai War Specifications SU 4 Corsair edit nbsp Vought O2U 2 3 view drawing from Aero Digest November 1928Data from The Complete Encyclopedia of World AircraftGeneral characteristicsCrew Two Capacity 500 lb 227 kg Length 27 ft 5 5 in 8 37 m Wingspan 36 ft 0 in 10 97 m Height 11 ft 4 in 3 45 m Wing area 337 sq ft 31 31 m2 Empty weight 3 312 lb 1 502 kg Max takeoff weight 4 765 lb 2 161 kg Powerplant 1 Pratt amp Whitney R 1690 42 Hornet radial 600 hp 447 kW Performance Maximum speed 167 mph 269 km h 145 kn at sea level Range 680 mi 1 094 km 591 nmi Service ceiling 18 600 ft 5 670 m Power mass 0 13lb hp 0 21 kW kg Armament Guns 3x 30 cal 7 62 mm Browning machine guns two forward firing in upper wing and one on a trainable mount in rear cockpit Bombs 4x 116 lb 53 kg or 10 30 lb 14 kg bombs under lower wingsReferences editCitations edit a b Eden and Moeng 2002 Corsarios Mexicanos in Spanish Archived 2009 03 26 at the Wayback Machine portalaviacion vuela com Retrieved 18 January 2011 Royal Thai Air Force Bangkok 1976 The History of the Air Force in the Conflict with French Indochina 1922 1929 USAAS USAAC Serial Numbers Andrade John M U S Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909 Earl Shilton Leicester Midland Counties Publications 1979 ISBN 0 904597 22 9 page 138 New Navy Planes Land On Water Or Deck Popular Science February 1933 Eyes of the Fleet as seen during Maneuvers Popular Mechanics March 1933 a b c d Vought Aerofiles Retrieved 18 January 2011 Hagedorn 1993 p 10 Hagedorn 1993 p 96 Sources edit Eden Paul Moeng Soph 2002 The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft London England Amber Books Ltd ISBN 0 7607 3432 1 Hagedorn Daniel P 1993 Central American and Caribbean Air Forces Tonbridge Kent UK Air Britain Historians Ltd ISBN 0 85130 210 6 Lezon Ricardo Martin amp Stitt Robert M January February 2004 Eyes of the Fleet Seaplanes in Argentine Navy Service Part 2 Air Enthusiast 109 46 59 ISSN 0143 5450 Young Edward M 1984 France s Forgotten Air War Air Enthusiast No 25 pp 22 33 ISSN 0143 5450 Further reading editNunez Padin Jorge Felix 2009 Nunez Padin Jorge Felix ed O2U 1A amp V65F V66F Corsair Serie Aeronaval in Spanish Vol 19 Bahia Blanca Argentina Fuerzas Aeronavales Retrieved 2014 08 21 External links edit nbsp Media related to Vought O2U Corsair at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Vought O2U Corsair amp oldid 1188161295, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
