O2U Corsair
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "O2U_Corsair".

O2U Corsair
O2U-4 Corsair
Role	Observation
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Vought
Introduced	1926
Primary users	United States Navy United States Marine Corps United States Coast Guard
Number built	580

The Vought O2U Corsair was a1920s biplane scout and observation aircraft. Made by Vought Corporation, the O2U was ordered by the United States Navy (USN) in 1927. Powered by a 400 hp (298 kW) Pratt & Whitney Wasp engine, it incorporated a steel-tube fuselage structure. and wood wing structure with fabric covering. Many were seaplanes or amphibians.

Design and development

In 1927, 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 By 1930 they were being superseded by the O3U which was basically similar to the O2U-4, one of which was fitted with the Grumman float, and were manufactured until 1936. 289 were built¹. Many of them had cowled engines and some had enclosed cockpits.

Operational history

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. A total of 289 SU designated aircraft were built for the USN.

Export versions included the Corsair V-65F, V-66F and V-80Fp for the Argentine Navy, the V-80P for the Peruvian Air Force, and the V-85G for Germany¹. Japan purchased Corsair variants V-65C and V-92C. Brasil purchased thirty six units V-65B, some hydroplanes V-66B and fifteen V-65F.

In March 1929, Mexico purchased twelve armed aircraft version O2U-2M with the 400hp Wasp engine to quell a military coup; Mexico then built 31 more units under licence, and called them Corsarios Azcárate O2U-4A. In 1937, Mexico purchased ten V-99M equipped with the Pratt & Whitney R-1340-T1H-1 550hp Wasp engine, some of them may have been sent to Spain.²

China purchased the 42 export versions of O2U-1 from 1929-1933, and 21 export versions of O3U between 1933-1934 and they saw extensive bombing actions. The O2U-1 versions participated in the Central Plains War and in the January 28 Incident against the 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.

In 1924 Peru purchased two Vought airplanes 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 1932-33 war. None were lost due to enemy fire, but several did due to accidents.

Vought would use the Corsair name again for the F4U fighter in 1938, and the A-7 Corsair II attack bomber in 1963.

Variants

O2U

two prototypes followed by 130 production aircraft with interchangeable wheel/float landing gear. 450 hp (336 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-1340-88 Wasp engine

O2U-2

increased span and larger rudder

O2U-3

80 built, revised wing rigging, redesigned tail surfaces and Pratt & Whitney R-1340-C engine

O2U-4

42 built, similar to O2U-3 but with equipment changes

O3U-1

87 built, incorporating Grumman amphibious float

O3U-2

29 built, strengthend airframe, Pratt & Whitney R-1690 Hornet engine

O3U-3

76 built, 550 hp (410 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-1340-12 Wasp engine, redesignated SU-1

O3U-4

65 built, Pratt & Whitney R-1690-42 Hornet engine, redesignated SU-2 (45 built), and SU-3 (20 built) with low pressure tires

SU-4

20 built, new production version of SU-2

XO3U-5

test aircraft with Pratt & Whitney R-1535 engine

XO3U-6

test aircraft converted from O3U-3 with NACA cowel and enclosed cockpits

O3U-6

32 built, 16 with Pratt & Whitney R-1340-12 Wasp and 16 with Pratt & Whitney R-1340-18 Wasp engines

Operators

•  Argentina
•  Brazil
•  China
•  Germany
•  Japan
•  Mexico
•  Peru
•  United States: 141 Corsairs were still serving with the US Navy and Marines when the US entered World War II.
•  Thailand: 70 planes operational at the time of the French-Thai War.

Specifications (SU-4 Corsair)

Data from "The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft" Editors: Paul Eden & Soph Moeng, (ISBN 0-7607-3432-1), 2002, 1152 pp.

General characteristics

• Crew: Two
• Length: 27 ft 5.5 in (8.37 m)
• Wingspan: 36 ft (10.97 m)
• Height: 11 ft 4 in (3.45 m)
• Wing area: 337 ft² (31.31 m²)
• Empty weight: 3,312 lb (1,502 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 4,765 lb (2,161 kg)
• Powerplant: 1× Pratt & Whitney R-1690-42 Hornet radial, 600 hp (447 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 167 mph at sea level (269 km/h)
• Range: 680 miles (1,094 km)
• Service ceiling 18,600 ft (5,670 m)

Armament

• 3 .30 cal (7.62 mm) Browning machine guns, one forward firing and two on a trainable mount in rear cockpit

References