Help ID this Military Float Plane 20-T-1

captainsimos

These two planes are marked 20 T-1 and 20 T-2. The photograph is from the 1920's and the ship was probably with the Asiatic Fleet. I think the ship was carrying the planes as cargo since it appears the floats are not attached. Any help with the planes would be appreciated.

DougRobertson

The floatplanes facing aft certainly look like Douglas DT-2 torpedo bombers with rudder removed for sea transport without wind damage, and lower radiator cowling removed, also. The US Navy ordered two DT-2s in 1921. More were ordered for an eventual total of 38 aircraft, with deliveries between 1922 and 1924. Later versions DT-4 used different Wright T-2 engine or the DT-6 with Wright P-1 radial engine, the prototype of the famous Wright Cyclone radial.

The Naval Aircraft Factory in Philadelphia built six further DT-2s. L.W.F. Engineering Company, Inc. of College Point, Long Island, New York built 20 of them. The DT-2s went out of Naval service in 1926.

DT-2s had a "chunky" fuselage powered by a 400 Hp Liberty V-12 engine, water-cooled. The USS Langley tested them on floats for experimental launching tests and torpedo drops using an early catapult in 1925. They were two place tandem seating pilot and observer. The unusual vertical stabilizer shape seems affirmative.

The later Douglas T2D and P2D torpedo bombers of the US Navy had a similar-shape vertical stabilizer, but were twin engine biplane floatplanes, with radials mounted on the lower wing, (putting the props pretty close to the floats and water!).

stantonite

There is another photo - off Shanghai in 1924 at

http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/49/094901510.jpg

captainsimos

That is amazing, thank you for the help

simos

DougRobertson

Certainly appears to be the same USS Ajax ship photographed.

Some data on the DT-2 Seaplane

Dimensions:

Wingspan: 50'

Length: 37'7.5"

Height: 15'1"

Wing area: 707 Sq. Ft.

Weights:

Empty: 4,528 lbs.

Gross: 7,293 lbs.

Performance:

Max speed: 99 mph at sea level

Initial climb: 10 minutes to 3,850 ft.

Service ceiling: 7,400 ft.

Wing loading: 10.3 lbs./sq. ft.

Power loading: 18.2 lbs/Hp

Armament:

One 1,835 lb torpedo

stantonite

Joe Baugher's execellent site does list several of the Douglas DT types - but not with registrations in the format shown in the photo

Serial A6031 Douglas DT-1

c/n 101. Military variant of Cloudster. Later converted to DT-2 prototype.

In accident Mar 8, 1922 in San Francisco Bay, CA

A6032/6033 Douglas DT-2

c/n 102/103 6032 in accident at NAS Anacostia Jul 19, 1922

A6085/6095 Dayton-Wright DT-2

DW-built version of Douglas DT-2

A6405/6422 Douglas DT-2 c/n 106/123

A6423/6428 Naval Aircraft Factory DT-2

NAF-built version of Douglas DT-2

A6423,6424,6427,6428 modified as DT-4.

A6427 and 6428 later modified as DT-5

A6426 loaned to Army for parachute tests as McCook project number P-323

A6563/6582 Douglas DT-2

c/n 124/143

A6577 loaned to Army for parachute tests as McCook Field project number P-351

A6581 modified as DT-6

A6583/6602 Lowe-Willard-Fowler DT-2

LWF-built version of Douglas DT-2

6593,6596, and 6597 modified as SDW-1

This link may also be of interest - regarding photos of the prototype

http://www.arizonawrecks.com/wrecksfrombradgray/Frame-118-douglasdt1a6031page118.html?refresh=1314936017421

Terry Fletcher