View source for Vought O2U Corsair

{{Short description|1926 naval observation aircraft family}}
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{{Infobox aircraft
  |name = O2U Corsair
  |image = File:Vought_O2U.jpg
  |caption = O2U-4 Corsair
  |type = Observation
  |national_origin = [[United States]] 
  |manufacturer = [[Vought]] 
  |designer = 
  |first_flight = 
  |introduction = 1926
  |retired = 
  |status =
  |primary_user = [[United States Navy]]
  |more_users = [[United States Marine Corps]] <br/>[[United States Coast Guard]]
  |produced = 
  |number_built = 580
  |unit cost =  
  |variants =
}}
[[File:Vought O2U Corsair over Cavite in 1930.jpg|thumb|An [[O2U Corsair|O2U]] floatplane flies over the Cavite Navy Yard, circa 1930. The seaplane tender {{USS|Jason|AC-12|2}} is docked at the yard, directly below the plane. Sangley Point is in the background.]]
The '''Vought O2U Corsair''' is a 1920s [[biplane]] scout and observation aircraft. Developed by [[Vought Corporation]], the O2U was ordered by the [[United States Navy]] (USN) in 1927. Powered by a 400&nbsp;hp (298&nbsp;kW) [[Pratt & Whitney R-1340]] engine, it incorporated a steel-tube fuselage structure and a wood wing structure with fabric covering. Many were [[seaplane]]s or amphibians.

The O2U was the first of several Vought planes to bear the name Corsair. The [[Vought SBU Corsair]] of 1933, [[Vought F4U Corsair]] of 1938, and [[A-7 Corsair II]] of 1963 all also bore the name.

==Design and development==
Two prototypes were ordered in 1926 and tested by the Navy Trial Board before the first production batches were  ordered. In 1927, a total of 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  By 1930 they were being superseded by the '''O3U''' which was basically similar to the '''O2U-4''', one variant of which was fitted with the [[Grumman]] [[Float (nautical)|float]], and were manufactured until 1936. A total of 289 were built.<ref name="world">Eden and Moeng 2002</ref>  Many of them had [[cowling|cowled]] engines and some had enclosed [[cockpit]]s.

==Operational history==
The 600-690&nbsp;hp (448-515&nbsp;kW) [[Pratt & Whitney R-1690|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 (their larger engines and heavier weight precluded their use as floatplanes, and USN examples were only used on wheels from either carrier decks or land bases).  A total of 289 SU designated aircraft were built for the USN. No fewer than 141 Corsairs were still serving with the [[United States Navy]] and [[United States Marine Corps]] when the [[United States]] entered [[World War II]] in December 1941.{{citation needed|date=February 2019}}

Export versions included the '''Corsair V-65F''', '''V-66F''' and '''V-80F''' for the Argentine Navy, the '''V-80P''' for the Peruvian Air Force, and the '''V-85G''' for [[Germany]].<ref name="world"/> [[China]] purchased Corsair variants '''V-65C''' and '''V-92C'''. [[Brazil]] purchased 36 aircraft '''V-65B''', some hydroplanes '''V-66B''' and 15 '''V-65F'''.

In March 1929, [[Mexico]] purchased 12 armed aircraft '''O2U-2M''' versions with the {{convert|400|hp|abbr=on}} 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 10  '''V-99M''' equipped with the Pratt & Whitney R-1340-T1H-1 550&nbsp;hp Wasp engine, some of them may have been sent to [[Spain]].<ref>[http://portalaviacion.vuela.com.mx/articulos/corsarios.html "Corsarios Mexicanos" (in Spanish).] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326011117/http://portalaviacion.vuela.com.mx/articulos/corsarios.html |date=2009-03-26 }} ''portalaviacion.vuela.com.'' Retrieved: 18 January 2011.</ref>

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

[[Peru]] purchased two Vought OSUs which were designated UO-1A. Later, in 1929, 12 O2U-1 were acquired. Used first as trainers, they saw action against [[Alianza Popular Revolucionaria Americana|APRA]] rebels in the northern areas of the country, and against Colombian ships and aircraft during the [[Colombia-Peru War]]. None were lost due to enemy fire, but several were destroyed due to accidents. These aircraft were also used for light bombing and casualty evacuation by the U.S. Marine Corps during the [[Nicaraguan Civil War (1926–1927)|U.S. intervention]] in [[Nicaragua]] in the late 1920s.

[[Thailand]] used its Corsairs in the [[Franco-Thai War]] and in the [[Battle of Ko Chang]] against the [[French Navy]].<ref>Royal Thai Air Force, Bangkok, 1976: The History of the Air Force in the Conflict with French Indochina.</ref>

The most famous "combat" operation of the O2U was its use in the 1933 film ''[[King Kong (1933 film)|King Kong]]'', in which O2Us shoot the giant ape [[King Kong]] off of the [[Empire State Building]] in [[New York City]].{{citation needed|date=February 2019}}

==Variants==
;XO-28: Single example taken on charge by the [[U.S. Army Air Corps]] for evaluation with serial ''29-323'', [[Wright Field]] Project Number P-547,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1922.html|title=1922-1929 USAAS-USAAC Serial Numbers}}</ref> powered by a 450 h.p. R-1340-C engine. Destroyed in hangar fire at Wright Field, Ohio, 18 March 1930.<ref>Andrade, John M. ''U.S. Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909''. Earl Shilton, Leicester: Midland Counties Publications, 1979. {{ISBN|0-904597-22-9}}, page 138.</ref> 
;O2U-1: two prototypes followed by 130 production aircraft for USN with interchangeable wheel/float landing gear and 28 aircraft for other customers. 450&nbsp;hp (336&nbsp;kW) [[Pratt & Whitney R-1340|Pratt & Whitney R-1340-88 Wasp]] engine
;O2U-2: 37 built, increased span and larger rudder
;O2U-3: 110 built (30 for export), revised wing rigging, redesigned tail surfaces and [[Pratt & Whitney R-1340|Pratt & Whitney R-1340-C]] engine
;O2U-4: 43 built (1 for export. Also seven civilian O2U were built), similar to '''O2U-3''' but with equipment changes
;O3U-1: 87 built as [[observation seaplane]]s incorporating Grumman amphibious float<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=pigDAAAAMBAJ&dq=Popular+Science+1931+plane&pg=PA45 "New Navy Planes Land On Water Or Deck."] ''Popular Science,'' February 1933.</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=qvEDAAAAMBAJ&dq=Popular+Science+1933+plane+%22Popular+Mechanics%22&pg=PA422 "Eyes of the Fleet as seen during Maneuvers."] ''Popular Mechanics'', March 1933.</ref>
;O3U-2: 29 built, strengthened airframe, [[Pratt & Whitney R-1690|Pratt & Whitney R-1690 Hornet]] engine
;O3U-3: 76 built, 550&nbsp;hp (410&nbsp;kW) [[Pratt & Whitney R-1340|Pratt & Whitney R-1340-12 Wasp]] engine.
;O3U-4: 65 built, [[Pratt & Whitney R-1690|Pratt & Whitney R-1690-42 Hornet]] engine.
;XO3U-5: test aircraft with [[Pratt & Whitney R-1535]] engine
;XO3U-6: test aircraft converted from '''O3U-3''' with NACA cowling and enclosed cockpits
;O3U-6: 32 built, 16 with [[Pratt & Whitney R-1340|Pratt & Whitney R-1340-12 Wasp]] and 16 with [[Pratt & Whitney R-1340|Pratt & Whitney R-1340-18 Wasp]] engines
;SU-1: Scout version of the O3U based on the O3U-2, 28 built<ref name="vought">[http://aerofiles.com/_vot.html "Vought".] ''Aerofiles.'' Retrieved: 18 January 2011.</ref>
;SU-2: Scout version of the O3U based on the O3U-4, 53 built<ref name="vought"/>
;SU-3: Variant of the SU-2 with low-pressure tires, 20 built<ref name="vought"/>
;XSU-4: SU-2 converted as a prototype SU-4 variant with a 600&nbsp;hp R-1690-42 engine, later became an SU-4.
;SU-4: SU-4 re-engined with a 600&nbsp;hp R-1690-2 engine, 41 built<ref name="vought"/>
:One United States Navy O2U-3 evaluated by the United States Army Air Corps.
;Vought V-65B: Export version for Brazil - 36
;Vought V-65C: Export version for Nationalist China
;Vought V-65F: Export version for Argentine Navy
;Vought V-66B: Export version for Brazil
;Vought V-66E: Export version for United Kingdom, powered by {{convert|500|hp|kW|abbr=on}} Pratt & Whitney Wasp D.1 engine, one brought for evaluation by the [[Royal Air Force]], delivered 1933 and discarded 1936.<ref>Jarrett 1997, pp. 28–33</ref>
;Vought V-66F: Export version for Brazil - 15, and Argentine Navy
;Vought V-80F: Export version for Argentine Navy
;Vought V-80P: Export version for Peruvian Air Force
;Vought V-85G: Export version for Germany
;Vought V-92C: Export version for Nationalist China
;Vought V-93S: Export version of the O3U-6 for Thailand.  Locally designated '''B.F.5''' ({{langx|th|บ.ฝ.๕}}) as a trainer and '''B.J.1''' ({{langx|th|บ.จ.๑}}) as an attack aircraft.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Thai Military Aircraft Designations |url=https://designation-systems.net/non-us/thailand.html |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=designation-systems.net}}</ref>
;Vought V-99M: Export version for Mexico
;TNCA Corsario Azcárate: 31 O2U-4A aircraft built under license in Mexico.
;Vought AXV1: A single O2U supplied to the [[Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service]] for evaluation in 1929.
;O1V: [[Brazilian Navy]] designation of the O2U-2A.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Brazilian Military Aircraft Designations |url=https://designation-systems.net/non-us/brazil.html |access-date=2025-03-16 |website=designation-systems.net}}</ref>
;O2V: Brazilian Navy designation of the V-66B.<ref name=":0" />

==Operators==
[[File:Ray Wagner Collection Photo (15903336487).jpg|thumb|right|Argentine Navy O2U Corsair]]
[[File:V93CorsairRTAFMuseum.jpg|thumb|The only survivor of V-93S/SA Corsair fleet, displayed at the [[Royal Thai Air Force Museum]]]]

;{{ARG}}
*[[Argentine Navy]]
** [[Argentine Naval Aviation]]
;{{BRA}}
*[[Brazilian Air Force]]
;{{Flagcountry|Nationalist government}}
*[[Chinese Nationalist Air Force]] 
*[[Chinese Red Army]] - One V-65-C1 was obtained from a defection during the [[Long March]] and named "Lenin". 
;{{CUB}}
*[[Cuban Air Force]] - received at least 14 O2U-1A and O2U-3As from 1929.<ref name="hagp10">Hagedorn 1993, p. 10.</ref>
;{{flag|Dominican Republic}}
*[[Dominican Air Force]] - received one O2U-1 and two O2U-3SDs.<ref name="hagp96">Hagedorn 1993, p. 96.</ref>
;{{flag|Germany}} - commercial variant (V-85G) used to deliver mail from the ocean liners [[SS Bremen (1928)|SS Bremen]] and [[SS Europa (1928)|SS Europa]] 
;{{JPN}}
*[[Imperial Japanese Army Air Force]]
;{{MEX}}
*[[Mexican Air Force]]
;{{PER}}
*[[Peruvian Air Force]]
;{{UK}}
*[[Royal Air Force]], one V.66E for evaluation
;{{flag|United States|1912}}
*[[United States Army Air Corps]] one for evaluation
*[[United States Navy]]
*[[United States Marine Corps]]
*[[United States Coast Guard]]
;{{THA}}
*[[Royal Thai Air Force]] had 70 operational aircraft at the time of the [[French-Thai War]].

==Specifications (SU-4 Corsair)==
[[File:Vought_O2U-2_3-view_Aero_Digest_November_1928.jpg|thumb|Vought O2U-2 3-view drawing from Aero Digest November 1928]]
{{Aircraft specs
|prime units?=imp
|ref=''The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft''
|crew= Two
|capacity = 500 lb (227 kg)
|length ft= 27
|length in= 5.5
|length m= 8.37 
|span ft= 36  
|span m= 10.97 
|height ft= 11
|height in= 4
|height m= 3.45 
|wing area sqft= 337 
|wing area sqm= 31.31 
|empty weight lb= 3,312 
|empty weight kg= 1,502 
|max takeoff weight lb= 4,765 
|max takeoff weight kg= 2,161 
|eng1 name= [[Pratt & Whitney R-1690|Pratt & Whitney R-1690-42 Hornet]]
|eng1 type= radial
|eng1 number= 1
|eng1 hp= 600 
|eng1 kw= 447 
|max speed mph= 167 
|max speed kts= 145 
|max speed kmh= 269 
|max speed note= at sea level
|range miles= 680
|range nmi= 591
|range km= 1,094 
|ceiling ft= 18,600 
|ceiling m= 5,670 
|power/mass=0.13lb/hp (0.21 kW/kg)
|guns= 3x .30 cal (7.62 mm) [[Browning machine gun]]s, two forward firing in upper wing and one on a trainable mount in rear cockpit
|bombs=4x 116 lb (53 kg) or 10 30 lb (14 kg) bombs under lower wings 
}}

==References==
===Citations===
{{Reflist}}

===Sources===
* {{cite book |last1 = Eden |first1 = Paul |last2 = Moeng |first2 = Soph |title = The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft |location = London, England |publisher = Amber Books Ltd. |year = 2002 |isbn = 0-7607-3432-1 }}
* {{cite book |last=Hagedorn |first=Daniel P. |title=Central American and Caribbean Air Forces |year=1993 |location=Tonbridge, Kent, UK |publisher=Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd |isbn=0-85130-210-6}}
* {{cite magazine |last=Jarrett |first=Philip |author-link=Philip Jarrett |title=Limited Editions: Vought V-66E Corsair |magazine=[[Aeroplane Monthly]] |date=December 1997 |volume=25 |issue=12 |pages=28–38 |issn=0143-7240}}
*{{cite magazine |last1=Lezon|first1=Ricardo Martin|last2=Stitt|first2=Robert M.|name-list-style=amp |title=Eyes of the Fleet: Seaplanes in Argentine Navy Service, Part 2|magazine=Air Enthusiast |date=January–February 2004 |issue=109 |pages=46–59 |issn=0143-5450}}
*{{cite magazine|last=Young|first=Edward M.|title=France's Forgotten Air War|magazine=[[Air Enthusiast]]|date=1984|issue=25 |pages=22–33 |issn=0143-5450}}

==Further reading==
{{Commons category}}
* {{cite book |last = Núñez Padin |first = Jorge Felix |title= O2U-1A & V65F / V66F Corsair |year = 2009 |editor-first = Jorge Felix |editor-last = Núñez Padin |publisher = Fuerzas Aeronavales |series = Serie Aeronaval |volume = 19 |language = es |location = Bahía Blanca, Argentina |url = http://www.fuerzasaeronavales.com/?p=24 |access-date = 2014-08-21 }}

{{-}}
{{Vought aircraft}}
{{TNCA aircraft}}
{{AircraftDesignationNavboxShell
  |1={{USAAF observation aircraft}}
  |2={{USN observation aircraft}}
  |3={{USN scout aircraft}}
  |4={{Wright Field project numbers}}
  |5={{Thai trainer designations}}
  |6={{Thai attack aircraft designations}}
  |7={{AvN aircraft designations}}
}}

[[Category:Vought aircraft|O02U]]
[[Category:1920s United States military reconnaissance aircraft]]
[[Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft]]
[[Category:Biplanes]]
[[Category:Carrier-based aircraft]]
[[Category:Floatplanes]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1926]]
[[Category:Aircraft with fixed conventional landing gear]]