title: Douglas T2D
text: # Douglas T2D
  
  The Douglas T2D was an American twin-engined torpedo bomber contracted by the military, and required to be usable on wheels or floats, and operating from aircraft carriers. It was the first twin-engined aircraft to be operated from an aircraft carrier.
  
  ## Development and design
  
  In 1925, the United States Navy's Bureau of Aeronautics designed a twin-engined torpedo bomber aircraft, intended to have greater performance than contemporary single-engined aircraft. A single prototype was built by the Naval Aircraft Factory as the XTN-1, which was quickly followed by three identical aircraft built by Douglas, the T2D-1.
  
  The XTN/T2D was a large two bay biplane, capable of easy conversion between floats and wheels, and carrying a crew of four.
  
  ## Operational history
  
  The first three T2D-1's were delivered to the torpedo bomber squadron VT-2 on 25 May 1927, being used for successful trials aboard the aircraft carrier Langley. A further nine T2D-1's were ordered in 1927, these normally being operated as floatplanes, partly owing to criticism from the Army of the Navy operating large land-based bombers, and partly as its large size prevented Langley from embarking a full airwing.
  
  A further 18 aircraft were ordered in June 1930 as patrol floatplanes, being designated P2D-1. These were operated by Patrol Squadron VP-3 in the Panama Canal Zone until they were replaced by Consolidated PBYs in 1937.
  
  ## Variants
  
  ### XTN-1
  
      Original prototype built by Naval Aircraft Factory. One built.
  
  ### T2D-1
  
      Production aircraft, convertible torpedo bomber/patrol floatplane, powered by Wright R-1750 Cyclones. 12 built.
  
  ### P2D-1
  
      Dedicated patrol floatplane. Fitted with twin tail for improved engine out performance and powered by two Wright R-1820 Cyclones. 18 built.
  
  ## Operators
  
  ### United States
  
  * United States Navy
  
  ## Specifications (T2D-1 landplane / floatplane)
  
  Data from McDonnell Douglas aircraft since 1920 : Volume I
  
  General characteristics
  
  * Crew: 4
  * Length: 42 ft (13 m) (landplane)
  
            44 ft 4 in (13.51 m) (floatplane)
  * Wingspan: 57 ft (17 m)
  * Height: 15 ft 11 in (4.85 m) (landplane)
  
            44 ft 4 in (13.51 m) (floatplane)
  * Wing area: 886 sq ft (82.3 $m^2)$
  * Empty weight: 6,011 lb (2,727 kg) (landplane)
  
            6,528 lb (2,961 kg) (floatplane)
  * Gross weight: 9,986 lb (4,530 kg) (landplane)
  
            10,503 lb (4,764 kg) (floatplane)
  * Max takeoff weight: 10,523 lb (4,773 kg) (landplane)
  
            11,040 lb (5,010 kg) (floatplane)
  * Powerplant: 2 × Wright R-1750 Cyclone 9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines, 525 hp (391 kW) each
  * Propellers: 3-bladed fixed-pitch metal propellers
  
  Performance
  
  * Maximum speed: 125 mph (201 km/h, 109 kn) at sea level (landplane)
  
            124 mph (108 kn; 200 km/h) at sea level (floatplane)
  * Range: 457 mi (735 km, 397 nmi) (landplane)
  
            384 mi (334 nmi; 618 km) (floatplane)
  * Ferry range: 454 mi (731 km, 395 nmi) (floatplane)
  * Service ceiling: 13,830 ft (4,220 m) (landplane)
  
            11,400 ft (3,500 m) (floatplane)
  * Time to altitude: 5,000 ft (1,500 m) in 5 minutes 54 seconds (landplane)
  
            5,000 ft (1,500 m) in 7 minutes 42 seconds (floatplane)
  * Wing loading: 11.4 lb/sq ft (56 $kg/m^2)$ (landplane)
  
            11.9 lb/sq ft (58 $kg/m^2)$ (floatplane)
  * Power/mass: 0.105 hp/lb (0.173 kW/kg) (landplane)
  
            0.1 hp/lb (0.16 kW/kg) (floatplane)
  
  Armament
  
  * Guns: *2 × .30 in (7.62 mm) M1919 Browning machine guns
  * Bombs: *1 ×1,618 lb (734 kg) torpedo or equivalent bombload
  