Consolidated PB2Y
| Consolidated PB2Y Coronado | |
|---|---|
 PB2Y "Coronado" of the US Navy Reconnaissance Squadron VP-15, 1944 |
|
| Type: | Maritime patrol aircraft |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
December 17, 1937 |
| Commissioning: |
December 1940 |
| Production time: |
1940 to 1944 |
| Number of pieces: |
217 |
The Consolidated PB2Y "Coronado" was a four-engine maritime patrol aircraft made by the US manufacturer Consolidated Aircraft , which was used by the US Navy during World War II .
The "Coronado" was fundamentally different from the successful Consolidated PBY "Catalina". A massive high fuselage carried the large wing with the four twin-wasp motors in shoulder -wing construction , the double vertical stabilizer corresponded to that of the Consolidated B-24 "Liberator", but the horizontal stabilizers were arranged in a slight V-shape. In December 1937 the first prototype flew and in 1941 the service in the troop service began.
The PB2Y was not particularly successful as a maritime patrol aircraft , whereas the transporter version developed at the same time flew numerous missions. With a capacity of 44 passengers or 25 stretchers or 7250 kg of cargo, it was a powerful long-haul aircraft. Ten machines flew on the transatlantic route for the Royal Air Force alone .
development
After a few tests with the XPB2Y-1 prototype with regard to stability, the design of the PB2Y-2 was changed slightly. She received a massive double vertical tail and four Pratt & Whitney R-1830 double radial engines. The propeller blades were adjustable. Smaller retractable floats were mounted on the wing tips.
The successor, the PB2Y-3 , received better armor and self-sealing fuel tanks . She entered service shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor in late 1941 and formed the first fleet of early Coronados.
The XPB2Y-4 was powered by four Wright R-2600 double radial engines and had higher efficiency. Even so, not the entire PB2Y-3 fleet was converted, most of the machines were converted to PB2Y-5 and got new R-1830-92 engines.
The main area of application was transport flights at low altitude in order to avoid enemy contact. Some coronados were used as bombers and to fight submarines . The RAF got a few copies on loan from the US Navy.
Today there is only one "Coronado" left on Naval Air Station Pensacola ( Florida ) in the National Museum of Naval Aviation .
variants
- XPB2Y-1
- Prototype with four 1050 hp Pratt & Whitney XR 1830-72 engines, one built ( BuNo 0453). Originally the machine had a simple vertical tail, later it was equipped with a double tail.
- PB2Y-2
- Version with R-1830-78 engines with two-stage turbochargers and 1020 hp, modified hull and armament reinforced to six 12.7 mm MG, six built (BuNo 1633-1638).
- XPB2Y-3
- Conversion of a PB2Y-2 (BuNo 1638) with 1,200 hp R-1830-88 engines, self-sealing tanks and eight MG.
- PB2Y-3
- Series version of the XPB2Y-3, 210 built (BuNo 7043–7242, 02737–02746).
- PB2Y-3B
- Name for PB2Y-3 given to the Royal Air Force under the Lending and Lease Act .
- PB2Y-3R
- 31 PB2Y-3s converted as unarmed transport aircraft with a large loading door and seats for 31 passengers.
- XPB2Y-4
- Conversion of a PB2Y-2 (BuNo 1636) and equipment with Wright R-2600 engines.
- XPB2Y-5
- Equipping the XP2BY-3 with 1,200 HP R-1830-92 engines, increased fuel supply and jump start kits (RATO = "rocket assisted take-off").
- PB2Y-5
- PB2Y-3 modified analogously to XPB2Y-5.
- PB2Y-5H
- PB2Y-5 converted as hospital aircraft with space for 25 stretchers.
- PB2Y-5R
- PB2Y-5 converted into a transporter.
Technical specifications
| Parameter | Data (PB2Y-5) |
|---|---|
| length | 24.2 m |
| span | 35 m |
| Wing area | 165.4 m² |
| height | 8.4 m |
| drive | 4 × Pratt & Whitney R- 1830-92 double radial engine, 895 kW (1200 hp) each |
| Top speed | 310 km / h at an altitude of 1980 m |
| Range | 1720 km |
| crew | 2 |
| Service ceiling | 6250 m |
| Empty mass | 18,530 kg |
| Takeoff mass | 29,940 kg |
| Armament | eight .50 caliber Browning M2, max. 5443 kg bombs or two Mark 13 torpedoes |
literature
- ER Johnson: American Flying Boats and Amphibious Aircraft , McFarland and Co., 2009, ISBN 978-0-7864-3974-4 , pp. 102-106
Web links
- Naval Aviation News, November 1989 (PDF; 4.59 MB)