Author Topic: Bomb load on the F4U-4 (Read 791 times)

00stang · « **on:** December 23, 2005, 02:33:27 PM »

here is part of an article that i have read up on the F4u-4 and was wondering if maybe the model makers could consider it.

Chance Vought's F4U-4 came about as a development of the F4U-4XA, which was first flown in early April 1944. It was fitted with an up-rated Pratt & Whitney R2800-18W or -42W engine. This powerplant developed 2,450 bhp with water injection. It was also fitted with a four blade hydromatic propeller which provided the necessary efficiency to utilize the greater power. The carburetor inlet was moved from the wing root leading edge to a duct located under the engine. The exhaust stacks had to be re-routed as a result. Armament remained the same as the F4U-1, with six .50 caliber Browning MGs. The limited production F4U-4B was armed with four M3 20mm cannon. Under-wing load capability was substantial. Up to three 1,000 lb. bombs along with eight 5 inch rockets could be carried. Reportedly, it was not unusual to rig the F4U-4 with as much as 6,000 lbs of ordnance. Apparently the robust structure of the Corsair could bear these loads without undue wear and tear on the airframe. Almost certainly, such overloaded Corsairs did not operate from carrier decks, but exclusively from shore bases.

Armament: Equipped with either six .50 caliber machine guns or four 20mm cannons, the -4 had more than adequate firepower to destroy any aircraft. It was the premier load carrying single engine fighter of the war. It could get airborne with bomb loads exceeding that of some twin engine medium bombers.

let me know what u guys and girls think.

justin_g · « **Reply #1 on:** December 23, 2005, 03:51:28 PM »

Huh??

Saxman · « **Reply #2 on:** December 23, 2005, 03:52:27 PM »

Pretty sweet.

00stang · « **Reply #3 on:** December 23, 2005, 04:34:25 PM »

yeah a fighter that can carry that much ord would be great lol.

Squire · « **Reply #4 on:** December 23, 2005, 06:18:07 PM »

It has a respectable ord load as it is, I think some of the refs in your article there are reffering to a Korean War era loadout. You can roll a F4U-4 with 2 x1000 lbers and rockets now, thats nothing to sneeze at. Same with the F4U-1B with 4 x 20mm, thats not a WW2 a/c.

I agree, it would be a sweet ride though.

Saxman · « **Reply #5 on:** December 23, 2005, 07:12:26 PM »

F4U-1B was the Royal Navy version of the F4U-1A.

The F4U-4B had 4x 20mm cannon

Squire · « **Reply #6 on:** December 23, 2005, 07:34:00 PM »

Typo, meant F4U-4B.

The Royal Navy's version of the F4U-1A was the Corsair Mk.II. Clipped tips, otherwise identical.

ShortyDoowap · « **Reply #7 on:** December 23, 2005, 08:56:49 PM »

The largest loadout an F4U-4 could carry would be:

2 x 1,000 lb bombs on the inner wing pylons.
4 x 250 lbs bombs on each set of outer wing pylons.

That's 4,000 lbs.

The F4U-4 did not have a centerline pylon. The two inner wing pylons were rated for up to 1,000lb bombs or Tiny Tim rockets. The outer wing rocket stubs could take adapters to carry 100 or 250 lbs bombs.

The F4U-5 had the above, but added a centerline pylon rated for up to a 2,000 lb bomb. Total 6,000 lbs.

The AU-1's inner wing pylons were rated to up to 1,000lbs each, the centerline pylon was rated for 2,000 lbs, and it had 5 pylons on each outer wing rated for up to 250lbs bombs, however, if just the inner, middle and outer pylons were used, 500 lb bombs could be hung. That's 7,000 lbs of bombs.

These are maximum loadouts and hardly ever, if ever, used in combat. The usual loadout for the F4U-4 in Korea was a couple of 500 lbers, and 8 HVARs or 2-4 100 or 250 lbers. The AU-1 was a dump-truck and did fly with heavy, but not maximum, loadouts.

00stang · « **Reply #8 on:** December 23, 2005, 09:49:18 PM »

well that an article i read on the f4u-4 not any of the 1A or 1b varients. I know the 2x1000lb is a nice bomb load but in all honesty i woul dhave to say the heavier bomb loadout would also be more than welcome. hell if ah2 is going to perk the plane then why not give the f4u-4 the capability to carry what is has had in the past. I was not talking bout the -5 version either. Even if th eplane were say retro fitted in combat then AH2 should still model that if used enough. now if 1 plane out of 2000 wa retrofittied then i could see no need to but hell according to this article it was more than just a rare event.

Saxman · « **Reply #9 on:** December 24, 2005, 12:29:16 AM »

Yes, the Brit designation was Corsair Mk.II, but 1B was what the exports were called by the US.

Krusty · « **Reply #10 on:** December 24, 2005, 12:35:47 AM »

F4U4B was NOT the RN version of the corsair. They did not operate F4u4s. F4u4b is post war variant (Korea and the like) and has no place in AH.

ShortyDoowap · « **Reply #11 on:** December 24, 2005, 12:58:24 AM »

The confusion about the F4U-4B being either the British plane or the cannon armed plane comes from the fact that the "B" designation was indeed intended to designate British planes, and "C" was intended to designate US cannon armed planes. Apparently the British ordered, but never took delivery of, the F4U-4B, which was cannon armed. Those planes went instead to the US. It was identical to the US F4U-4C. So the US had F4U-4Bs which had been intended for the British, and F4U-4Cs. In reality, they were the same planes and the designations are used interchangably.

Saxman · « **Reply #12 on:** December 24, 2005, 10:27:47 AM »

I NEVER said the 4B, Krusty. I said the 1B was the American designation for exported Royal Navy F4U-1A Corsairs. AFAIK, the 1A is the ONLY exported Corsair to be given a different designation by the US. Exported C/D/4-Hogs were still called 1C/1D/4 by the US military.

Squire · « **Reply #13 on:** December 24, 2005, 04:28:21 PM »

The RN ordered the F4U-4, but received none before wars end.

Krusty · « **Reply #14 on:** December 24, 2005, 09:41:17 PM »

Never mind, saxman, I misread your post it seems.