] American carrier-based fighters (continued)
Fighter "Chance Vout" F4U "Corsair" was considered the best American carrier-based aircraft in its class. Development of a fighter to replace the F2A Buffalo and F4F Wildcat began in 1938. The Corsair made its first flight in May 1940.
Fighter "Chance-Vout" "Corsair" MK. I (F4U-1) (Fig. Site wardrawings.be)
The single-seat single-engine all-metal fighter received a low wing with a characteristic “reverse gull” kink, which had better aerodynamics and made it possible to reduce the length of the main landing gear, in addition, it made it easier for pilots to make an emergency landing on the water (performed the functions of a redan).
Fighter "Chance-Vout" F4U-4 "Corsair" with a characteristic kink at the air show, July 2006 (Photo by www.jetphotos.net)
Serial production of the first Corsair model, the F4U-1, began in June 1942, but it did not make it onto the decks of aircraft carriers. Poor visibility from the cockpit, the tendency to roll onto the wing and stall into a spin, as well as the hard shock absorption of the landing gear made it impossible for an ordinary pilot to safely land on the deck of an aircraft carrier. The F4U-1 entered service with only the Coastal Marine Squadrons.
Fighter "Chance-Vout" F4U-1A "Corsair" (Fig. Site wardrawings.be)
In October 1943, the first deck modification of the Corsair F4U-1A was put into production. After a number of improvements, the main disadvantages of the previous model were eliminated: the view from the cockpit was improved by installing a convex cockpit canopy and raising the pilot's seat, the stiffness of the chassis shock absorbers was reduced, while their travel was increased.
Fighter "Chance-Vout" F4U-1D "Corsair" (Fig. Site wardrawings.be)
In addition to the F4U-1A, the main and mass deck modifications of the Corsair were F4U-D (in series since December 1943) and F4U-4 (production began at the end of 1944 and finished only in 1947).
Fighter "Chance-Vout" "Corsair" MKII (F4U-1A) (Fig. Site wardrawings.be)
Deck "Corsairs" F4U-1A, supplied to Great Britain, were named "Corsair" Mk. II, Mk. III (for F3A-1) and Mk. IV (F4U-1D / FG-1D). To meet the ever-increasing demand for a new fighter, its production was additionally deployed at the Brewster (F3A) and Goodyear (FG) firms.
Fighter "Chance-Vout" "Corsair" MK. IV (F4U-1D) (Fig. Site wardrawings.be)
"Corsairs" F4U-1A were originally equipped with 2,000 horsepower engines, then more powerful 2,250 horsepower. The maximum speed of the fighter with the second engine reached 671 km per hour with a climb rate of 885 meters per minute. The slightly heavier F4U-D with the same engine power developed a maximum speed of 645 km per hour at an altitude of 6070 meters and had a climb rate of 1026 meters per minute. The fastest car was the F4U-4 modification, which was equipped with a new four-blade propeller with a larger diameter (401 cm), a 2450-horsepower engine and reached a maximum speed of 716 km per hour at an altitude of 7625 meters with a climb rate of 1180 meters per minute.
Fighter "Chance-Vout" F4U-4 "Corsair" (Fig. Site wardrawings.be)
The practical ceiling for the three main models of the Corsair was 11255, 11277 and 12650 meters, respectively. The practical flight range for the main modifications (without PTB) varied from 1633 km for the F4U-1A to 1617 km for the F4U-4.
The F4U-4 "Corsair" fighter enters the aircraft carrier deck from the left bend (for better visibility) (Fig. Site gallery.ykt.ru)
The main armament of the F4U Corsair fighters were six 12.7-mm machine guns located in the wing. On the F4U-1C and F4U-4B models produced in small batches, instead of machine guns, four 20 mm cannons were installed, which had a much lower rate of fire.
Taking off from the aircraft carrier F4U-4В "Corsair" with cannon armament. (Fig. Site www.asisbiz.com)
The first deck modification of the F4U-1A fighter could carry one or two 454-kg bombs or a 644-liter external fuel tank on the ventral assembly. The F4U-1D "Corsair" fighter-bomber was additionally equipped under the wings with suspension assemblies for two 454-kg bombs and eight 127-mm unguided HVAR missiles. The total bomb load (one 908-kg bomb under the fuselage and two 454-kg under the wings) reached 1800 kg. Instead of bombs under the wings, it was possible to hang two PTBs of 583 liters each.
F4U-4 "Corsair" approaching landing demonstrates a set of weapons on external sling, September 2011 (Photo from www.jetphotos.net)
The same F4U-4 "Corsair" parked in Wisconsin, USA, July 24, 2011 (Photo by www.airliners.net)
The suspended armament of the F4U-4 usually consisted of two 454-kg bombs and eight 127-mm unguided rockets on the underwing nodes. The later F4U-4 series received the possibility of suspension under the fuselage of one 298-mm unguided Tiny Tim missile.
Night fighter F4U-2N "Corsair" with radar on the right console. (Fig. Site wardrawings.be)
The night version of the F4U-2 "Corsair" fighter (a total of 34 vehicles were built based on the F4U-1 / 1A) was equipped with an AN / APS-6 radar located on the right wing console. The detection range of the bombers was no more than 8 kilometers. The number of 12.7 mm machine guns was reduced to five.
In flight, the F4U-5NL "Corsair" night fighter of the post-war production at an air show in our time. (Photo by getbg.net)
British carrier-based fighters "Corsair" Mk. II (III, IV), unlike their American counterparts, had wing consoles shortened by 36 cm to be able to accommodate them in the lower hangars of British aircraft carriers.
Fighter "Vout" ("Goodyear") "Corsair" MK. IV (FG-1D) at an air show in Canada (Ontario), July 16, 2012 (Photo site www.airliners.net)
The Corsair's pilot was protected by an armored seat back, an armored pallet and triplex glass of the cockpit canopy.
F4U-1D "Corsair" after landing with a damaged left wing console, February 1945 (Photo by ww2db.com)
With the beginning of 1944, the deployment of the F4U-1C / D Corsair carrier-based fighter-bombers squadrons on the decks of American aircraft carriers began.
F4U-1D fighter-bomber "Corsair" on the deck of the aircraft carrier "Essex" after a combat mission, July 1945 (Photo of the website 3.bp.blogspot.com)
For the British, the first combat squadrons of "Corsairs" were formed in the fall of 1943. Since April 1944, they took an active part in the operation to destroy the German battleship Tirpitz in Norwegian Arctic waters as escort fighters and attack aircraft.
"Corsair" MKII on the deck of the aircraft carrier "Illastries" after another attack by the German battleship "Tirpitz", April 1944 (Photo by ww2today.com)
On August 24, 1944, one of the "Corsairs" MKII from the aircraft carrier "Formidable" managed to achieve one hit on the battleship with a 454-kg bomb, which did not cause any harm to the armored monster. The British Lancaster heavy bombers with 12,000-pound bombs put an end to the Tirpitz story only at the end of October.
F4U-1D "Corsair" fighter in an air duel with A6M5 "Zero" (Fig. Site goodfon.ru)
Possessing high speed characteristics, the Corsair, skillfully using the tactics of inflicting lightning strikes and quick escape, proved itself to be an excellent fighter in air battles. The ratio of losses and downed enemy aircraft at the "Corsair" was one of the highest and amounted to 1 / 11.3.
F4U-1A "Corsair" provide the landing of the Marine Corps, 1945 (www.oldmodelkits.com)
In April 1945, during the fighting in Okinawa, the F4U-1C / D Corsairs were actively used to provide direct fire support to the amphibious assault forces to capture the island. For their high efficiency, the "Corsairs" were named "Angels of Okinawa".
F4U-4 Corsair fighters strike a ground target with 127-mm HVAR missiles. (Photo site anywalls.com)
More than three dozen Corsair fighters have survived to this day in an airworthy condition and regularly participate in all kinds of air shows.
F4U-4 "Corsair" at the air show in Florida, USA, March 11, 2016 (Photo site www.airliners.net)
Fighter "Vout" ("Goodyear") FG-1D "Corsair" at an air show in California, USA, July 2002 (Photo from www.airliners.net)
Fighter "Vout" ("Goodyear") "Corsair" Mk. IV (FG-1D) at an air show in England, June 30, 2012 (Photo site www.airliners.net)
]
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