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United States' Vought F4U-1 Corsair fighter1,2,3
Vought F4U-1D Corsair |
Variants
- F4U-1: Had the cockpit moved to the rear 3' compared to the prototype.3
- F4U-1A: Raised the cockpit and canopy had a clear view.3
- F4U-1B: Developed for Britain.3
- F4U-1C: Had four 20 mm cannons.2,3
- F4U-1D: Fighter bomber.3
- F4U-1P: Photo reconnaissance.3
- F3A-1:
- F3A-1D:
- FG-1:
- FG-1D:
- F4U-2: Night fighter.3 Starboard wing mounted pod radar.3 32 converted from F4U-1s.3
Usage
The F4U-1 Corsair was used by Britain, New Zealand, and the United States.3
New Zealand
New Zealand used the 364 F4U-1As and F4U-1Ds primarily for close support.3
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom flew the Corsair from their carriers for the first time in 1943.1
The No. 1834 Squadron first used the Corsair in combat in a mission against the Tirpitz on April 3, 1944.2,3
How many received by Lend Lease:
- Corsair Mk I (F4U-1): 953
- Corsair Mk II (F4U-1A): 5103
- Corsair Mk III (F3A-1): 4303
- Corsair Mk IV (FG-1): 9773
| Vought F4U-1 Corsair2,3 | Vought F4U-1A Corsair1 | Vought F4U-1D Corsair3 F3A-1D Corsair3 FG-1D Corsair3 |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Carrier fighter2, Carrier fighter bomber3 | Fighter1 Carrier fighter1 Fighter bomber1 |
Fighter bomber3 |
| Crew | 12,3 | 11 | 13 |
| Engine (Type) | Pratt & Whitney R-2800-8 Double Wasp piston2,3 | Pratt & Whitney R-2800-8 Double Wasp piston1 | Pratt & Whitney R-2800-8W water injected2 |
| OR | Pratt & Whitney R-2800-8W Double Wasp, water injected3 | ||
| Cylinders | Radial2, Radial 183 | Radial 181 | |
| Cooling | |||
| HP | -8: 2,0002,3 -8W: 2,2503 |
2,0001 | |
| Propeller blades | 33 | 31 | |
| Fuel quantity - nose | 237 gallons1 896 liters1 |
||
| Dimensions | |||
| Span | 40' 11.75"3, 41'2 12.49 m3, 12.5 m2 |
41'1 12.49 m1 |
|
| Length | 33' 4"3, 33' 4.5"2 10.16 m3, 10.17 m2 |
33' 5"1 10.16 m1 |
|
| Height | 15' 0.25"3, 16' 1"2 4.58 m3, 4.9 m2 |
15' 1"1 4.9 m1 |
|
| Wing area | 314 ft2 2 29.17 m2 2 |
314 ft2 1 29.17 m2 1 |
|
| Weight | |||
| Empty | 8,982 lb2 4,074 kg2 |
9,000 lb1 4,074 kg1 |
8,873 lb3 4,025 kg3 |
| Loaded | 14,000 lb2 6,350 kg2 |
14,000 lb1 6,350 kg1 |
14,000 lb3 6,350 kg3 |
| Performance | |||
| Speed @ 19,900' / 6,065 m |
417 mph3 671 kph3 |
||
| Speed @ 19,900' / 6,066 m |
417 mph2 671 kph2 |
||
| Speed @ 20,000' / 6,605 m |
417 mph1 671 kph1 |
||
| Cruising speed | 182 mph3 293 kph3 |
||
| Climb | 2,890'/minute2, 3,120'/minute3 881 m/minute2, 950 m/minute3 |
||
| Service ceiling | 36,900'2,3 11,245 m2, 11,250 m3 |
37,000'1 11,247 m1 |
|
| Range | 1,015 miles2,3 1,633 km2,3 |
1,010 miles1 1,650 km1 |
|
| Armament | |||
| Wings | 6: 12.7 mm MG2 | 6: 12.7 mm Browning M2 MG1 outboard - 400 rounds per gun inboard - 375 rounds per gun |
6: 0.5" MG3 |
| Bombs or Rockets |
4,000 lb1 1,800 kg1 |
||
| Bombs | 2: 1,000 lb2,3 2: 454 kg2,3 |
||
| OR | |||
| Rockets | 83 8: 5"2 8: 127 mm2 |
Sources:
- Aircraft of WWII, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
- Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Editor: Karen Leverington, 1995
- Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
