Vought OS2U Kingfisher – Foto e Video

Le Martin pescatore Vought OS2U was an American catapult-launched observation floatplane. It was a compact mid-wing monoplane, with a large central float and small stabilizing 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. It served on battleships and cruisers of the US Navy, with the United States Marine Corps in Marine Scouting Squadron Three (VMS-3), with the United States Coast Guard at coastal air stations, at sea with the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy, and with the Soviet Navy. The Royal Australian Air Force also operated a few Kingfishers from shore bases.

Le Martin pescatore Vought OS2U was a versatile and reliable observation floatplane that served the U.S. Navy and its allies during World War II. It was designed by Rex Beisel, who also created the famous Vought F4U Corsair fighter. The Kingfisher was a compact mid-wing monoplane with a large central float and two smaller wing-mounted floats. It could also operate from land with a conventional wheeled landing gear.
Il Kingfisher aveva un singolo motore radiale Pratt & Whitney R-985 che produceva 450 cavalli, dandogli una velocità massima di 264 km / h e un'autonomia di 1.300 km. Aveva un equipaggio di due persone: un pilota e un osservatore/mitragliere. Il pilota aveva una mitragliatrice fissa a fuoco anteriore, mentre l'osservatore aveva una o due mitragliatrici flessibili su un supporto ad anello. Il Kingfisher poteva anche trasportare bombe o cariche di profondità per missioni antisommergibile.
Il Kingfisher era lanciato con catapulta da navi da battaglia e incrociatori e poteva essere recuperato con una gru o atterrando accanto alla nave. Ha svolto vari ruoli, come esplorazione, direzione del fuoco navale, salvataggio di aviatori abbattuti e pattuglie antisommergibile. È stato utilizzato anche dalla Guardia Costiera degli Stati Uniti, dal Corpo dei Marines degli Stati Uniti e da diverse forze aeree straniere, tra cui la Royal Navy, la Royal Australian Air Force e la Marina sovietica.
Le Kingfisher was produced from 1940 to 1945, with a total of 1,519 units built. It was retired from service in 1959 by Cuba, the last operator. It is considered one of the most successful observation floatplanes of all time.