The Douglas T2D was an American twin-engined torpedo bomber contracted by the military, and required to be usable on wheels or floats, and operating from aircraft carriers. It was the first twin-engined aircraft to be operated from an aircraft carrier.[1]
| T2D | |
|---|---|
 Douglas T2D-1 of VP-1 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Torpedo bomber |
| Manufacturer | Douglas Aircraft Company |
| Primary user | United States Navy |
| Number built | 31 |
| History | |
| Introduction date | 1927 |
| First flight | 27 January 1927 |
| Retired | 1937 |
Development and design
editIn 1925, the United States Navy's Bureau of Aeronautics designed a twin-engined torpedo bomber aircraft, intended to have greater performance than contemporary single-engined aircraft.[1] A single prototype was built by the Naval Aircraft Factory as the XTN-1, which was quickly followed by three identical aircraft built by Douglas, the T2D-1.
The XTN/T2D was a large two bay biplane, capable of easy conversion between floats and wheels, and carrying a crew of four.
Operational history
editThe first three T2D-1's were delivered to the torpedo bomber squadron VT-2 on 25 May 1927,[1] being used for successful trials aboard the aircraft carrier Langley. A further nine T2D-1's were ordered in 1927, these normally being operated as floatplanes, partly owing to criticism from the Army of the Navy operating large land-based bombers,[1] and partly as its large size prevented Langley from embarking a full airwing.[2]
A further 18 aircraft were ordered in June 1930 as patrol floatplanes, being designated P2D-1. These were operated by Patrol Squadron VP-3 in the Panama Canal Zone until they were replaced by Consolidated PBYs in 1937.[1]
Variants
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- XTN-1
- Original prototype built by Naval Aircraft Factory. One built.
- T2D-1
- Production aircraft, convertible torpedo bomber/patrol floatplane, powered by Wright R-1750 Cyclones. 12 built.
- P2D-1
- Dedicated patrol floatplane. Fitted with twin tail for improved engine out performance and powered by two Wright R-1820 Cyclones. 18 built.
Operators
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Specifications (T2D-1 landplane / floatplane)
editData from McDonnell Douglas aircraft since 1920 : Volume I[3]
General characteristics
- Crew: 4
- Length: 42 ft (13 m) (landplane)
- 44 ft 4 in (13.51 m) (floatplane)
- Wingspan: 57 ft (17 m)
- Height: 15 ft 11 in (4.85 m) (landplane)
- 44 ft 4 in (13.51 m) (floatplane)
- Wing area: 886 sq ft (82.3 m2)
- Empty weight: 6,011 lb (2,727 kg) (landplane)
- 6,528 lb (2,961 kg) (floatplane)
- Gross weight: 9,986 lb (4,530 kg) (landplane)
- 10,503 lb (4,764 kg) (floatplane)
- Max takeoff weight: 10,523 lb (4,773 kg) (landplane)
- 11,040 lb (5,010 kg) (floatplane)
- Powerplant: 2 × Wright R-1750 Cyclone 9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines, 525 hp (391 kW) each
- Propellers: 3-bladed fixed-pitch metal propellers
Performance
- Maximum speed: 125 mph (201 km/h, 109 kn) at sea level (landplane)
- 124 mph (108 kn; 200 km/h) at sea level (floatplane)
- Range: 457 mi (735 km, 397 nmi) (landplane)
- 384 mi (334 nmi; 618 km) (floatplane)
- Ferry range: 454 mi (731 km, 395 nmi) (floatplane)
- Service ceiling: 13,830 ft (4,220 m) (landplane)
- 11,400 ft (3,500 m) (floatplane)
- Time to altitude: 5,000 ft (1,500 m) in 5 minutes 54 seconds (landplane)
- 5,000 ft (1,500 m) in 7 minutes 42 seconds (floatplane)
- Wing loading: 11.4 lb/sq ft (56 kg/m2) (landplane)
- 11.9 lb/sq ft (58 kg/m2) (floatplane)
- Power/mass: 0.105 hp/lb (0.173 kW/kg) (landplane)
- 0.1 hp/lb (0.16 kW/kg) (floatplane)
Armament
- Guns: *2 × .30 in (7.62 mm) M1919 Browning machine guns
- Bombs: *1 ×1,618 lb (734 kg) torpedo or equivalent bombload
References
edit- ^ Donald, David (1997). The complete encyclopedia of world aircraft (Reprinted ed.). New York, NY: Barnes & Noble Books. ISBN 9780760705926.
- ^ Francillon, René J. (1988). McDonnell Douglas aircraft since 1920 : Volume I. London: Naval Institute Press. pp. 91–97. ISBN 0870214284.
External links
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