United States' Brewster F2A Buffalo fighter

Photos

Brewster F2A Buffalo fighter:	Brewster F2A Buffalo fighter:	Brewster F2A Buffalo fighter:
Brewster F2A-3 Buffalo fighter: Aeronautics Aircraft Spotters' Handbook	Brewster F2A-3 Buffalo fighter: Aeronautics Aircraft Spotters' Handbook

Design

The Brewster F2A Buffalo was the first monoplane fighter to be used by the United States Navy.¹

The design of the XF2A-1 started in early 1936.³

Prototype

The XF2A-1 prototype first flew in December 1937.^1,2,3 In June 1938 a contract was signed to build 54 F2A Buffalo.³

Production

• Brewster XF2A-1: 1²
• Brewster F2A-1: 11^1,2
• Brewster F2A-2: 43^1,2
• Brewster F2A-3: 108^1,2
• Brewster B-239: 44²
• Brewster B-339: 282²
• Brewster B-439: 20²
• Total: 507³, 509²
  • Manufacturer: Brewster Aeronautical Corporation³
  • Production: 1938 - March 1942³

Variants

• Brewster XF2A-1: Prototype.¹
• Brewster F2A-1: Production.¹ Powered by Wright R-1820-34 radials (940 HP).¹ First entered service in June 1939.²
• Brewster F2A-2: Had new vertical tail surfaces.^1,2 Better engine.³
• Brewster F2A-3: Longer nose and additional armor protection.^1,2,3
• Brewster B-239: Land based export version to Finland.¹
• Brewster B-339: Had Wright GR-1820 Cyclone engines (1,100 HP).² There were larger fuel tanks and increased armor.²
• Brewster B-339B: Land based export version of the F2A-1 to Belgium.^1,2
• Brewster B-339D: Land based export version to F2A-1 Netherlands.^1,2
• Brewster B-339E / Brewster Buffalo Mk I: Land based export version to the United Kingdom.^1,2
• Brewster B-439: Export version of the F2A-3.^1,2,4

Usage

The countries that used the F2A were Australia², Belgium (40)³, Britain (170³)², Finland^2,3, Netherlands East Indies (72³)², New Zealand², and United States².

The VF-3 received the first eleven F2A Buffalos in June 1940 on the USS Saratoga.¹

Withdrawn

After being operational for a few months the Buffalo was withdrawn from service and replaced by F4F Wildcats.³

Midway

The United States Marine Corps used F2As in the VMF-221 at Midway in 1942.^1,3 13 of the 19 available were shot down.²

Finland

Finland ordered 44 B-239s.¹

They were used with success against the Soviets from 1941 to 1944.²

Belgium

Belgium ordered 40 B-339Bs.^1,2,3 38 of these were diverted to the United Kingdom.^1,2,3

Netherlands

The Dutch ordered 72 B-339Ds.^1,2

The Dutch East Indies was to receive 20 B-439s but these were delivered to the United States Air Corp.^1,2 17 of these were sent to Australia.^1,2

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom received 38 of the B-339Bs that were intended for the Belgians.¹ They also received 170 B-339Es that were designated the Buffalo Mk I.^1,2 Most of the Buffalos served with the Royal Air Force (RAF) and only a few served with the Royal Navy.²

Specifications

	Brewster F2A Buffalo	Brewster F2A-2 Buffalo	Brewster F2A-3 Buffalo
Type	Naval fighter2 Land fighter2	Naval fighter2 Land fighter2	Carrier fighter1, Fighter3,4
Crew	12	12	11,3
Engine (Type)		Wright R-1820-401,2	1: Wright Cyclone4 1: Wright R-1820-40 piston1,2,3
Cylinders		Radial 92	Radial1,4, Radial 92,3
Cooling			Air3
HP		1,2002	1,2001,2,3,4
Propeller blades		32	32
Dimensions
Span	35'2 10.67 m2		35'1,3,4 10.67m1
Length	26' 4"2 8.03 m2		26' 2"4, 26' 4"1,3 8.02 m1
Height	12' 1"2 3.68 m2		12'3,4, 12' 1"1 3.68 m1
Wing area			208.9 ft2 1 19.41 m2 1
Weight
Empty			4,732 lb1,2 2,146 kg1,2
Normal load			6,321 lb2, 6,440 lb4 2,867 kg2
Maximum load			7,159 lb1,2,3 3,247 kg1,2
Performance
Speed			350 mph4
Speed @ 16,500' 5,030 m			321 mph1,2,3 516 kph1,2
Climb			2,290'/minute1,2 698 m/minute1,2
Service ceiling			32,300'1, 33,200'2,3 10,119 m2, 10,120 m1
Range			965 miles,1,2,3, 1,200 miles4 1,553 km2, 1,650 km1
Armament			4: MG3,4
Wings	2: 0.5" MG2		2: 12.7 mm Browning MG1
Nose	2: 0.5" MG2		2: 12.7 mm Browning MG1
Bombs			2: 100 lb4