Author Topic: F4U-4 armarment? (Read 466 times)

Booky · « **on:** October 06, 2002, 03:13:17 AM »

Was just reading a web site dedicated to the -4 and it was saying that the F4U-4 was commonly loaded with 3x 1000lbs bombs and 8 rkts. Anyone else want this loadout? I personally think it may help justify the way too high perk it has right now

I want that loadout if it is indeed what was commonly loaded with. And there was a version of the -4 that had 4 m3 hispano 20mm guns, that would also be nice

Didn't say how many rpg.

Ok I just reread it and it was the limited production F4U-4B that had the 4 20mm guns. But the regular F4U-4 supposedly had up to 6k in ordenance.

Here is the link I was at, not sure if it will be clickable.

http://home.att.net/~historyzone/F4U-4.html

Booky

PS: how do I make a link clickable?

Booky · « **Reply #1 on:** October 06, 2002, 03:14:21 AM »

Cool it made itself clickable

Booky

Innominate · « **Reply #2 on:** October 06, 2002, 03:36:20 AM »

I don't think the 20mm f4u4 saw service untill korea...

Anyways, who loads that thing with bombs, talk about suicide.

Booky · « **Reply #3 on:** October 06, 2002, 04:22:35 AM »

Shhhhh. Can't you see im trying to do something here?

Booky

F4UDOA · « **Reply #4 on:** October 07, 2002, 12:59:47 PM »

It is very debatable weather the F4U-4B/C saw service in WW2. They were certainly produced during the war but if they saw combat is another story.

Also the M3 20Mil made the standard M2 Hispano seems wimpy. The wines would be unbelievable.

Booky · « **Reply #5 on:** October 08, 2002, 05:22:13 AM »

I don't mind the whines

whgates3 · « **Reply #6 on:** October 09, 2002, 06:27:32 PM »

the cannon armed F4U-4 (dont know if it was c or b - i'm not sure there was a difference between the two, except the -b was intended to be lend leased to the FAA) was in service with the USMC in WWII @ Okinawa - dont know how the bombs were loaded on at that point, but i've seen pix of Korean War era F4U-4(b/c)s with 6 bombs (2 x 500 + 4 x 250 on hardpoints on the outer wing panel - the points on the stub wing were still available & in one pic loaded w/ 1 DT & 1 bomb, possibly as big as 1000 lbs) and 8 rox loaded on a flight deck.

from http://www.aviation-history.com/vought/f4u.html
"The first 300 of the production F4U-4Cs were assigned to Marine Air Group 31 and were taken into the Battle for Okinawa aboard the escort carriers Sitko Bay and Bereton."

J_A_B · « **Reply #7 on:** October 09, 2002, 11:50:47 PM »

whgates--

That info is wrong. It was F4U-1C's which saw action at Okinawa. The F4U-1C and F4U-4C are often confused.

J_A_B

whgates3 · « **Reply #8 on:** October 10, 2002, 01:56:19 AM »

as the author of that web page mispelled the names of both CVEs, other errors are not too unlikely...havent been able to find any other evidence either way...you got any?

F4UDOA · « **Reply #9 on:** October 10, 2002, 11:59:51 AM »

Actually Gents I was researching this last night.

You are right about the mispelling. It didn't make the job any easier. What I did find out that it was in fact MAG-31 that was deployed with F4U-4's in Okinawa of the Carriers mentioned. What I could not find is any specific mention of the armament.

But if you check the VMF-223 Homepage they did deploy in MAG-31 with F4U-4's

Here is some notes on MAG-31

MAG-31

On 10 November 1944, the 4th Marine Bases Defense Air Wing, FMF, was redesignated to the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, FMF. On 11 March 1945, MAG-31, 4th MAW, FMF was redesignated MAG-31, 2d MAW, FMF. Headquarters Squadron 31 and other MAG-31 elements began moving from Roi-Namur Island, sailing for the most active front at that time-the Ryukyu's Campaign. Ground personnel of MAG-31 went ashore on Okinawa on 3 April to prepare to support MAG-31, which landed form the USS SITKOH BAY and began operations four days later. Enroute from the carrier to shore, two MAG-31 pilots shot down a Japanese bomber making a suicide run on their CVE, and gave MAG-31 the distinction of having the first land based aircraft to make a kill in the Okinawa campaign.

Between 7 April and 15 August 1945, Headquarters Squadron 31 personnel supported the Tactical aircrews of MAG-31 as they flew 38,187 hours and shot down 191 enemy planes in multiple missions, not only in the Okinawa skies, but over part of southern Kyushu, the China coast, and more than a dozen enemy-held islands between Formosa and Kyushu. When the war ended, MAG-31 units had moved from Yontan to Chimu on Okinawa.

And here is the VMF-223 activities

VMF-223 Home Page

Preparations for another move started in May 1945. The advance echelon embarked on board an LST and sailed for the squadron’s new home in Okinawa where it joined MAG-14, 2d MAW. Meanwhile, the remaining pilots flew familiarization hops in the new F4U-4s which the squadron had received during May. The new Corsair had changes little in appearance, but it did have a larger engine giving the plane a maximum speed of 446 miles per hour, or 41 miles per hour faster than the F4U-1. The advance echelon reached the island of Okinawa on the morning of 29 May and began unloading equipment. On 11 June, 30 VMF-223 planes landed at Kadena Airfield, Okinawa, and operations began two days later.

So I don't think the author confused and F4U-1C with an F4U-4B because it was absolutely a -4. The only question is weather it was a -4 or -4B.

They other part of the statement is that there were 300 F4U-4B's delivered to the MAG. There were only 200 F4U-1C even built. So 300 is clearly not speaking of the C-Hog.

J_A_B · « **Reply #10 on:** October 10, 2002, 01:32:55 PM »

I remember this discussion several years ago when WB's had the 4-cannon F4U-4. To the best anyone could determine it didn't fight in WW2.

The F4U-1C did, and the normal, MG-armed F4U-4 did.

Of course, for AH that's irrevelant and if people want it there's nothing wrong with asking for it

J_A_B

whgates3 · « **Reply #11 on:** October 11, 2002, 01:24:37 AM »

came across this while looking at mag-31/F4U links
from http://www.nasm.edu/nasm/aero/aircraft/voughtf4.htm
"In May and June 1944, Charles A. Lindbergh flew Corsair missions with Marine pilots at Green Island and Emirau. On September 3, 1944, Lindbergh demonstrated the F4U's bomb hauling capacity by flying a Corsair from Marine Air Group 31 carrying three bombs each weighing 450 kg (1,000 lb). He dropped this load on enemy positions at Wotje Atoll. On the September 8, Lindbergh dropped the first 900-kg (2,000 lb) bomb during an attack on the atoll. For the finale five days later, the Atlantic flyer delivered a 900-kg (2,000 lb) bomb and two 450-kg (1,000 lb) bombs. Lindbergh went ahead and flew these missions after the commander of MAG-31 informed him that if he was forced down and captured, the Japanese would almost certainly execute him."

also, on the topic of late war USN cannon armend fighters, Col. R. Bruce Porter, in his autobiography "Ace!", recounts tales of flying F6F-5Ns armed 2 x 20mm + 4 x 0.50cal w/ VMF(N)-542 in the pacific during WWII. similarly armed F6F-5s flew w/ dayfighter squadrons. including this option for virtual Hellcat drivers in AH might increase the F6F's popularity. certainly it is a deserving bird as compared to the F4U. with ~10% more wing area than the corsair, and the same engine, the Hellcat gets off the deck much easier with a heavy load, and it 'T&B's much, much better.

J_A_B · « **Reply #12 on:** October 11, 2002, 03:14:24 AM »

I recall a discussion on the AH BBS before the F6F was added as to whether it would have an option for 20mm guns. Like you, I'd love to see it in AH and I was a supporter of it at the time.

Despite the fact that it was pointed out that some F6F's flew with that loadout in dayfighter configuration, HTC decided to add the F6F with MG's only.

J_A_B

Innominate · « **Reply #13 on:** October 11, 2002, 05:04:37 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by J_A_B

Despite the fact that it was pointed out that some F6F's flew with that loadout in dayfighter configuration, HTC decided to add the F6F with MG's only.

Judging from the chog, it was probably a good decision.