Douglas DT

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DT
Douglas DT-2 launched from U.S.S. Langley, San Diego, California
Type	Torpedo bomber
Manufacturer	Douglas Aircraft Company
Maiden flight	November 1921
Primary user	United States Navy
Produced	1921-1929
Number built	90
Variants	Douglas World Cruiser

The Douglas DT bomber was the company's first military contract, forging a link between the Douglas Aircraft Company and the Navy. Navy Contract No. 53305 of April 1, 1921, required only 18 pages to set out the specifications that resulted in the purchase of three DT (D for Douglas, T for torpedo) folding-wing aircraft.

The DT used a welded-steel fuselage with aluminum covering the forward and center sections and fabric covering the rear section. Douglas built 46 DT-1 and DT-2 torpedo bombers for the U.S. Navy, Norwegian Navy, and Peruvian Navy. 20 DT-2 aircraft were built under license by Lowe-Willard-Fowler Engineering Company, 6 by the Naval Aircraft Factory, and 11 by Dayton Wright Company. Another 7 were built for Norway under license by Marinens Flyvebåtfabrik. Although still in service when the German invaded Norway the Norwegian DTs did not see action in the Norwegian campaign. The DT could be fitted either with pontoons or wheeled landing gear and could carry a 1,800-pound torpedo.

First flight was in November 1921 and production continued until 1929. The DT operated off the U.S. Navy's first aircraft carrier, USS Langley, from land bases, and from seaplane tenders. Several were flown by the U.S. Marine Corps.

Variations of the DT-2 aircraft were designated DT-4, DT-5, DT-6, DTB, and SDW-1. The type became the basis for the Douglas World Cruiser.

Contents 1 Operators 2 Specifications (DT-2) 3 References 4 Related content

[edit] Operators

•  Norway
  • Royal Norwegian Navy
•  Peru
  • Peruvian Navy
•  United States
  • US Marine Corps
  • US Navy

[edit] Specifications (DT-2)

General characteristics

• Crew: two, pilot and gunner
• Length: 37 ft 8 in (11.5 m)
• Wingspan: 50 ft 0 in (15.8 m)
• Height: 15 ft 1 in (4.6 m)
• Wing area: 707 ft² (65.7 m²)
• Empty weight: 4,528 lb (2,054 kg)
• Loaded weight: 7,293 lb (3,308 kg)
• Powerplant: 1× Liberty , 450 hp (336 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 99.5 mph (160 km/h)
• Range: 274 miles (441 km)
• Service ceiling: 7,400 ft (2,255 m)
• Rate of climb: 14.5 min to 5,000 ft (1,524 m)
• Wing loading: 10.3 lb/ft² (50.4 kg/m²)
• Power/mass: 16.2 lb/hp (9.92 kg/kW)

Armament

• 1 × .30-calibre (7.62 mm) Browning machine gun
• 1 × 1,835 lb (834 kg) aerial torpedo

[edit] References

• René Francillon, "McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Since 1920: Volume I", ISBN 0-87021-428-4

[edit] Related content

Related development

Douglas World Cruiser