Japanese Chance Vought F4U-1D

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Japanese Chance Vought F4U-1D
In 1945, Japan definitely captured two Chance Vought F4U-1D aircraft in good technical condition (F4U-1D number ‘61’ belonging to the 123rd Marine Fighter Squadron from the aircraft carrier USS Bennington, captured on February 16, 1945, and an F4U-1D from 83rd Fighter-Bomber serving on the USS Essex, captured on March 18, 1945). Both planes were in good technical shape (mostly damage from emergency belly landings) and were tested by Japan before the end of World War II.
History
There’s not much information about the first F4U-1D plane captured by Japan. It’s known that the plane belonged to the 123rd Marine Fighter Squadron, which operated on February 16 from the aircraft carrier USS Bennington. This plane, with the side number ‘61,’ was piloted by Lieutenant Robert M. Sheeth and was operating over the Kanto region in Japan. Most likely, it was on a mission to destroy Japanese planes on the ground, so it was exposed to ground fire. Lieutenant Sheeth’s plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire, and the pilot was forced to make an emergency landing in Ibaraki Prefecture, near the Kasumigaura Navy Base. After the emergency landing, the plane was probably quickly seized by Japanese soldiers, preventing the pilot from destroying it. Unfortunately, the further fate of Lieutenant Robert M. Sheeth is unknown. Knowing they had a huge prize in front of them, the Japanese quickly secured the plane. For easier transport, the wings of the F4U-1D were dismounted, and the fuselage was covered with a tarp. The Japanese were surprised that the plane was covered in fabric, probably because they expected very modern solutions from the USA, not these simpler ones. The further fate of the F4U-1D number ‘61’ is unknown, but it likely underwent repairs (fixing damage from ground fire and damage from an emergency landing) and was tested in the air.
The second F4U-1D captured by the Japanese previously belonged to the 83rd Fighter-Bomber Squadron from the aircraft carrier USS Essex. At 6:00 AM on March 18, 1945, the first wave of planes was launched from the USS Essex, consisting of a group of 16 F4U-1Ds to attack Japanese air bases in the southern part of Kyushu. (Overall, on that day, the Americans carried out massive raids on Japan using 15 aircraft carriers and 940 planes). Due to bad weather, VBF-83 was sent to the Tomitaka airbase in Miyazaki Prefecture. At that time, the area was being patrolled by the Japanese 312th Fighter Squadron of the 203rd Naval Air Group, consisting of four fighters led by Ikuzo Asai. When the fight between VBF-83 and the 312th Fighter Squadron began, suddenly 32 fighters from the 303rd Fighter Squadron under Major Kiyokuma Okajima and fighters from the 322nd Fighter Squadron under Lieutenant Yoshihiro Hayashi joined the battle. Another 25 American fighters also joined the fight. The Japanese shot down 12 planes in this battle, while suffering heavy losses themselves (11 planes lost and 4 badly damaged). Two F4U-1Ds from VBF-83 did not return; one, piloted by Lieutenant William F. Garber, had to make an emergency landing at sea, and the other, piloted by Warren O. Sigman, made an emergency landing near the Kasanohara airbase in Kagoshima Prefecture. The further fate of both pilots is unknown. It’s certain that Sigman’s F4U-1D was quickly intercepted by the Japanese and taken to an airfield. Unfortunately, the later fate of the plane is unknown, but it was probably repaired and flight-tested.

Chance Vought F4U-1D "61"

Chance Vought F4U-1D from VBF-83

Hypothetical painting of the Japanese F4U-1D

Construction description
The Japanese Chance Vought F4U-1D is identical to the American Chance Vought F4U-1D that’s already in the game.

Technical sketches

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 10,16 m
• Wingspan: 12,5 m
• Height: 4,09 m
• Wing area: 29,17 m2
• Empty weight: 4,050 kg
• Gross weight: 5,476 kg
• Maximum Take-off Weight: 6,356 kg
• Powerplant: 1 × R-2800-8W Double Wasp, 18-cylinder, double-row, air-cooled radial engine with water injection, with a takeoff power of 2000 hp (1495 kW)
• Propellers: Three-bladed fixed-speed propeller with a diameter of 4,060 mm

Performance

• Maximum speed: 658 km/h
• Cruise speed: ?
• Range: 1633 km
• Maximum Range: 2567 km
• Service ceiling: 11582 m
• Climb Rate: 14,5 m/s
• Time to altitude: 8,4 min to 6096 m

Armament

1. Guns:

• 6 x M2 Browning machine guns caliber 12.7mm (2400 rounds)

2. Bombs:

• 2 x 454 kg (1000lb) bomb (under fuselage)

3. Rocket

• 8 x HVAR rockets (under the wings)
• 2 x Tiny Tim rockets (under fuselage) (?)

4. Fuel dump tanks

• 1 x 674 l dump tanks under fuselage
• 2 x 659 l dump tanks under fuselage

Armour

• The same as the F4U-1D in the game

Summary
The Chance Vought F4U-1D is a very interesting plane for Japan in War Thunder. This fighter has powerful ground attack weapons compared to Japanese planes at this level (around BR 3.0). However, adding this plane should serve a more important purpose, specifically removing the historically inaccurate Japanese Chance Vought F4U-1A, which is a plane that never existed. I couldn’t find any sources or, for that matter, photos of a Japanese F4U-1A. Japan only captured and managed to repair F4U-1D planes. Additionally, adding this plane could end the discrimination against Japanese captured and purchased planes. The Japanese P-51, Bf 109 E-7, Fw 190 A-5, and the non-existent F4U-1A lack extra armament, which makes them less versatile than their counterparts in other tech trees. This plane is a perfect premium add-on that should serve to replace the non-existent Japanese F4U-1A. I encourage you to discuss in the comments and to share your own knowledge on this subject.
Finally, I apologize for the linguistic and logical errors because unfortunately English is not my main language and I had to use google translator.

Internet sources

F4U (航空機) - Wikipedia
Vought F4U Corsair - Wikipedia
WildEagles: “Nihongun Rokakuki” #4 - Vought F4U Corsair
Warplanes of Japan: Captured Allied aircraft in Japanese service - SilverHawkAuthor Website Military History Materials
Japanese F4U Corsair | Aircraft of World War II - WW2Aircraft.net Forums
Уголок неба ¦ Chance Vought F4U Corsair
Vought F4U-1D Corsair : Vought / LTV

Book sources

• 日本軍鹵獲機秘録 (Secret records of captured aircraft of the Japan army) page 137-139, 141

Thank you for reading the suggestion, see you in the next one. Good luck pilots

[CharAznable3]

I’m fine with it as it just making something more historical sort of like the German P-47. Question being Japan never captured the bombs or rockets or any evidence they bolted there own to it. Unless there is evidence of this especially concerning the Japanese Bf 109 and Fw 190.

+1 for knowing your enemy!