Inter-Wars

Vought V-156 / SB2U Vindicator / Chesapeake

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V-156

The Vought V-156 / SB2U was designed to meet a US Navy requirement for a carrier­ aircraft based scout‑bomber and first flew in 1936. At the time it represented a major leap forward, being the first low wing monoplane to have both foldable wings and retractable undercarriage in US Navy service. Such were Navy concerns at the time, that Vought was asked to develop a competing biplane scout‑bomber ‑ the XSB3U‑1 ‑ as ‘insurance’.

Vought V-156

Powered by a 825hp (615kW) Pratt & Whitney R 1535 Twin Wasp Junior, the SB2U was ordered into production as the Vindicator, with 169 being built in three versions.

The V-156 SB2U was the USN’s first monoplane scout-dive bomber. Exports to the British Navy were as V-156 Chesapeake.

The 1936 XSB2U-1 prototype 9725 first flew on 4 January 1936 but crashed during testing on 20 August 1936.

Vought XSB2U-1 9725

The SB2U-1 was the first production model and the first flew on 21 May 1937. Fifty-four were built, 0726-0779, the last of which became XSB2U-3.

Vought SB2U-1

The first flying on 11 August 1938, fifty-eight SB2U-2 were built, 1326-1383.

Vought SB2U-2 1372
Vought SB2U-2 Instrument panel

One SB2U-1, 0779, was converted to the XSB2U-3 in 1939, powered by a 825hp R-1535-102, and fitted with extra fuel tanks.

Vought XSB2U-3 0779

XSB2U-3 0779 was experimentally fitted with twin EDO pontoons. Results were not impressive and the ship was returned to wheels.

Vought XSB2U-3 0779

The SB2U-3 Vindicator first flew on 10 January 1941. Fifty-seven were built, 2044 to 2100.

Vought SB2U-3

Vindicators saw action during the Battle of Midway in 1942, but after this were retired to second line duties.
Orders for a version for the French Air Force the V 156B were partially met before the fall of France. Fifty V 156B 1s were ordered by the British Fleet Air Arm and entered service as the Chesapeake I advanced trainers.

Some SB2U types made it into civilian dress, including SB2U-1 NC30447, which was WW2 surplus.

Gallery

XSB2U-1
Engine: 750hp P&W R-1535-78
Wingspan: 42’0″
Length: 33’2″
Max speed: 230 mph
Cruise: 222 mph
Stall: 66 mph
Range: 532 mi
Ceiling: 26,600′
Seats: 2

SB2U-1
Engine: 825hp R-1535-96
Wingspan: 42’0″
Length: 34’0″
Max speed: 250 mph
Cruise: 143 mph
Stall: 66 mph
Range: 635 mi
Ceiling: 27,400′
Seats: 2

SB2U-2
Engine: 825hp R-1535-96
Wingspan: 42’0″
Length: 34’0″
Max speed: 250 mph
Cruise: 150 mph
Stall: 66 mph
Range: 630 mi
Ceiling: 27,500′
Seats: 2

XSB2U-3
Engine: 825hp R-1535-102

SB2U-3 Vindicator
Max speed: 243 mph
Cruise: 152 mph
Stall: 71 mph
Range: 1120 mi
Ceiling: 23,600′

Vought OS2 Kingfisher

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Vought XOS2U-1 0951

Built in 1938, the first of two Vought XOS2U-1 (0951 and 1440), the first converted from an O3U-6, were prototypes of the two-place OS2 Kingfisher scouting aircraft. The first to fly was on 1 March 1938, powered by a 450hp P&W R-985-4 engine.

Fifty-four OS2U-1 were built in 1940; 1681-1734, powered by a 450hp P&W R-985-48 engine.

Vought OS2U-1

The OS2U-2 of 1941 had armour and self-sealing fuel tanks One hundred and fifty-eight were built, 2189-2288 and 3073-3130, of which 45 were floatplanes. They were powered by P&W R-985-50 engines.

Vought OS2U-2

In 1941 1006 OS2U-3 were built for the USN and USCG, 5284-5989 and 09393/09692, with 300 additional production by Naval Aircraft Factory as OS2N.

Vought OS2U-3

Despite its role in scouting and rescue missions, OS2U did have its moments. Two of them dive-bombed Japanese troops in the Aleutians and helped sink an enemy submarine there on 15 July 1942, and one was credited with shooting down an attacking Zero over Iwo Jima.

Uruguayan Naval Air Service OS2U-3

One OS2U-2, 3074, was converted to an XOS2U-4 with wings of narrow chord and high aspect ratio.

The Vought designation for export models was VS-310.

Gallery

OS2U Kingfisher
Wingspan: 35’11”
Length: 33’7″
single-float or wheels

XOS2U-1
Engine: 450hp P&W R-985-4

OS2U-1
Engine: 450hp P&W R-985-48
Wingspan: 35’10”
Length: 33’10”
Speed: 184 mph

OS2U-2
Engine: P&W R-985-50

OS2U-3
Engine: P&W R-985-AN-2
Wingspan: 35 ft 10.75 in
Length: 33 ft 7.5 in
Height: 14 ft 8 in
Wing area: 261.9 sq.ft
Empty weight: 3335 lb
Loaded weight: 4980 lb
Useful load: 1890 lb
Max speed: 171 mph at 5000 ft
Cruise: 152 mph
Service ceiling: 18,200 ft
Range: 908 mi

Vought OS2U-2

Vought V-141 / V-143 / V-150

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Vought V-143

The Vought V 141 NR56V was a 1936 fighter based on the purchased design of the Northrop 3A, designed by Rex Beisel and others. It first flew on 29 March 1936. It did not fare well in Army pursuit tests and was modified with a 825hp R-1535-SB engine, extensive fuselage and tail redesign, and re-designated V-143;

The prototype Vought V 141 was bought by the Japanese in 1937. Only one V-141 / V-143 was built. Design ideas are noted in F3U and F4U and A6M Zero.

In 1937 the sole model V-150 was built. It was a V-143 with a 525hp P&W Wasp Junior engine.

V-141
Engine: 750hp P&W R-1535
Length: 22’2″
Wingspan: 33’6″
Speed: 300 mph
Seats: 1

V-143
Engine: 825hp R-1535-SB
Wingspan: 33’6″
Length: 22’2″
Seats: 1

V-150
Engine: 525hp P&W Wasp Junior
Wingspan: 33’6″
Length: 22’2″

Vought V-93 Corsair

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V-93S

On 30 March 1933, twelve observation-attack Vought V-93S Corsairs were purchased and shipped to Siam (later Thailand, hence the ‘S’ in the designation) in 1934 where they were designated ‘Attacker Type 1’. Later the RTAF Directorate of Aeronautical Engineering was able to produce 150 Corsairs in 1936, 39 and 40. They were to become the first air combat fleet to serve in the Indochina conflict during October 1940-May 1941.

V-93S
Engine: Pratt & Whitney S5E-SD, 725 hp
Seats: 2

Vought UO Aztec

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UO-1

In 1922 the USN received eighteen UF-1 two-place scout-observation aircraft, A6482-6499, all re-designated to UO-1. One hundred and forty Vought UO-1 Aztec two seat biplane, were built from 1922, powered by 200hp Lawrance J-1 engines, as landplanes and seaplanes: A6482-6499 (converted from UF-1), A6546-6551, A6603-6615, A6706-6729, A6858-6877, A6984-7023, A7031-7050, of which one was converted by NAF to racer UO-2, and 13 to UO-5.

Vought UO-1 A-6493 hoisting aboard USS Richmond

The UO-1 model was used in trials as hook-on scout/fighters with airships.

Vought UO-1 ‘Skyhook’ A-6615

The two 1928 UO-1C (A7007 and one other) were a wheeled trainer version for USN Reserve. Possibly other conversions as the designation was also used for planes modified for catapult launching, regardless of floats or wheels.

Vought UO-1 A-7047
Vought UO-1 Cockpit

In 1922 NAF modified, wheeled UO-1 A6546 for 1922 Curtiss Marine Trophy competition. It was damaged in ground handling and did not race.

The UO-3 was re-designated as FU-1.

Two UO-4 were built in 1935 for the USCG with a single float; 404=V104, 405=V105.

Vought UO-4

The UO-5 were modification of UO-1 with 220hp Wright R-790 engines. Thirteen were built; A6729, A6860, A6866, A6988, A6997, A6999, A7005, A7010-7012, A7016, A7035, and A7038.

UF-1
Engine: 220hp Lawrance J-1
Wingspan: 26’0″
Length: 20’1″
Speed: 132 mph
Ceiling: 21,700′
Seats: 2

UO-1
Engine: 200hp Lawrance J-1
Wingspan: 34’1″ length: (landplane) 22’1″ (seaplane) 28’6″
Speed: 122 mph
Ceiling: (landplane) 18,200′ (seaplane) 16,550′

UO-5
Engine: 220hp Wright R-790.

Vought O2U Corsair / XO-28 / O24-2 / Talleres Nacionales De Construcciones Aeronauticas Corsarios Azcarate O2U­-2M

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Vought O2U-1 A-7536

A carrier-borne reconnaissance seaplane of circa 1930. The O2U Corsair USN scout was on a single-float or wheels.

Vought O2U-1 Corsair Article

One-hundred and thirty-two of the 1927 O2U-1 were built (A7221-7222, A7567-7586, A7796-7831, and A7900-7940).

The 1927 O2U-2 was priced at $12,890 and thirty-seven were built (A8091-8127) of which six went to the USMC.

Vought O2U-2

Eighty of the 1929 O2U-3 were built (A8193-8272), including one to the Army as XO-28.

Vought O2U-3

Forty-two of the 1930 O2U-4 were built (A8315-8356) priced at $17,203-18,065.

Vought O2U-4 A-8338

Corsarios Azcarate were Mexican licence built Vought O2U¬-2M.

One USN O2U was used for evaluation by the Army in 1929, 29-323, as the O-28 Corsair.

Vought XO-28 29-232

The O24-2 was a civil version of the O2U-1 Corsair. In 1928 one was civil licensed for F B Rentschler, pres of Pratt & Whitney Corp, NX7014. Some other ex-military noted were N61E, N111N, N367H, and N833H.

Gallery

O2U Corsair
Engine: 450hp P&W R-1340B
Wing span: 34’6″ Length: 24’6″
Speed: (float) 147 (wheels) 150
Ceiling: (float) 17,750′ (wheels) 18,700′
Seats: 2

O24-2
Engine: 450hp P&W Wasp
Wingspan: 36’0″
Length: 29’8″
Speed: 137 mph
Seats: 2