OS2U Kingfisher

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USS Missouri recovers a Vought OS2U Kingfisher during her 1944 shakedown cruise. Note the catapult below the plane, which was used to launch the planes off the battleship.
USS Missouri recovers a Vought OS2U Kingfisher during her 1944 shakedown cruise. Note the catapult below the plane, which was used to launch the planes off the battleship.

The Vought OS2U Kingfisher was a catapult-launched, observation floatplane. The OS2U was a compact mid-wing monoplane, with a big central float and small stabilising floats. Performance was modest, because of its light engine. The OS2U could also operate on fixed, wheeled, taildragger landing gear.

The OS2U was the main shipboard observation aircraft used by the United States Navy during World War II and 1,519 of the aircraft were built. The OS2U served on the battleships and cruisers of the USN, as well as with the US Coast Guard, the Royal Navy and the Soviet Navy. The Royal Australian Air Force also operated a small number of Kingfishers from shore bases.

The Naval Aircraft Factory OS2N was the designation of the OS2U-3 aircraft built by the Naval Aircraft Factory in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

[edit] Operators

[edit] Specifications (OS2U-3)

Two Australian Kingfisher aircraft in 1942
Two Australian Kingfisher aircraft in 1942

General characteristics

  • Crew: Two, pilot and observer
  • Length: 33 ft 0 in (10.08 m)
  • Wingspan: 35 ft 0 in (10.69 m)
  • Height: 15 ft 1 in (4.60 m)
  • Wing area: 262 ft² (24 m²)
  • Empty weight: 4,123 lb (1,870 kg)
  • Loaded weight: lb (kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 6,000 lb (2,721 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1× Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN-2 radial engine, 443 hp (330 kW)

Performance

Armament

  • 2x .30 machine guns
  • 650 lb (295 kg) of bombs

[edit] Related content

Comparable aircraft

Arado Ar 196

Designation sequence

OSU - OS2U

v • d • e
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