TheDouglas T2D was an American twin-enginedtorpedo bomber contracted by the military, and required to be usable on wheels or floats, and operating fromaircraft carriers . It was the first twin-engined aircraft to be operated from an aircraft carrier.[ 1]
Development and design [ edit ] In 1925, theUnited States Navy 'sBureau of Aeronautics designed a twin-enginedtorpedo bomber aircraft, intended to have greater performance than contemporary single-engined aircraft.[ 1] Naval Aircraft Factory as theXTN-1 , which was quickly followed by three identical aircraft built byDouglas , theT2D-1 .
The XTN/T2D was a large two baybiplane , capable of easy conversion between floats and wheels, and carrying a crew of four.
Operational history [ edit ] The first three T2D-1's were delivered to the torpedo bomber squadronVT-2 on 25 May 1927,[ 1] Langley Army of the Navy operating large land-based bombers,[ 1] Langley from embarking a full airwing.[ 2]
A further 18 aircraft were ordered in June 1930 as patrolfloatplanes , being designatedP2D-1 . These were operated by Patrol SquadronVP-3 in thePanama Canal Zone until they were replaced byConsolidated PBYs in 1937.[ 1]
XTN-1 Prototype XTN-1 Original prototype built by Naval Aircraft Factory. One built. T2D-1 Production aircraft, convertible torpedo bomber/patrol floatplane, powered byWright R-1750 Cyclones . 12 built. P2D-1 Dedicated patrol floatplane. Fitted with twin tail for improved engine out performance and powered by twoWright R-1820 Cyclones . 18 built. United States [ edit ] Data from McDonnell Douglas aircraft since 1920 : Volume I[ 3]
General characteristics
Crew: 4Length: 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) eachPropellers: 3-bladed fixed-pitch metal propellersPerformance
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) 0.1 hp/lb (0.16 kW/kg) (floatplane) Armament
^a b c d e Swanborough, Gordon; Bowers, Peter M. (1976).United States Navy Aircraft since 1911 (Second ed.). London: Putnam. pp. 161– 162.ISBN 0-370-10054-9 ^ 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
Fighters Ground attack Bombers Observation Patrol Reconnaissance Transports Gliders Training aircraft Experimental
USN /
USMC patrol aircraft designations 1923–1962
Patrol
Patrol Bomber
Patrol Torpedo Bomber
1 Not assigned ·2 Designation reused
USN /
USMC torpedo aircraft designations pre-1962
Torpedo
Torpedo Bomber
Torpedo Scout
Patrol Torpedo Bomber
