Vought OS2U Kingfisher – Foton &; Video

Den Vought OS2U Kingfisher 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.

The Vought OS2U Kingfisher 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.
The Kingfisher had a single Pratt & Whitney R-985 radial engine that produced 450 horsepower, giving it a maximum speed of 264 km/h and a range of 1,300 km. It had a crew of two: a pilot and an observer/gunner. The pilot had a fixed forward-firing machine gun, while the observer had one or two flexible machine guns on a ring mount. The Kingfisher could also carry bombs or depth charges for anti-submarine missions.
The Kingfisher was catapult-launched from battleships and cruisers, and could be recovered by crane or by landing alongside the ship. It performed various roles, such as scouting, directing naval gunfire, rescuing downed airmen, and anti-submarine patrols. It was also used by the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Marine Corps, and several foreign air forces, including the Royal Navy, the Royal Australian Air Force, and the Soviet Navy.
The 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.