Brewster Buffalo

Brewster F2A Buffalo
Brewster Buffalo
Description
Role	Single seat carrier-based fighter
Crew	One pilot
First Flight	January 1938
Entered Service	April 1939
Manufacturer	Brewster Aeronautical Corporation
Dimensions
Length	ft in	m
Wingspan	ft in	m
Height	ft in	m
Wing area	ft²	m²
Weights
Empty	lb	kg
Loaded	lb	kg
Maximum takeoff	lb	kg
Capacity
Powerplant
Engines
Power	hp	kW
Thrust	lb	kN
Performance
Maximum speed	mph	km/h
Combat range	miles	km
Ferry range	miles	km
Service ceiling	ft	m
Rate of climb	ft/min	m/min
Wing loading	lb/ft²	kg/m²
Thrust/Weight
Power/Mass	hp/lb	kW/kg
Avionics
Avionics
Armament
Guns
Bombs
Missiles
Rockets
Other

The Brewster Buffalo, or Brewster F2A fighter aircraft was the first monoplane to equip a United States Navy squadron.

It originated with a Navy request of 1936 for a new generation of aircraft carrier-based fighters. The requirements included a monoplane configuration, wing flaps, arresting gear, retractable landing gear and an enclosed cockpit. The Brewster Aeronautical Corporation made a proposal, along with Grumman for the F4F Wildcat, and Seversky.

Brewster's XF2A-1 prototype first flew in December 1937. Service testing of the prototype began a month later, and in June the Navy ordered 54 of the F2A-1 production model. Of the first deliveries, beginning in June 1939, nine went to Squadron VF-3 on the USS Saratoga (CV-3). The balance of 44 were declared surplus and supplied to Finland, where they were successfully employed into 1944.

An improved version F2A-2, of which 43 were ordered, included a more powerful engine, a better propellor, and integral flotation gear, and was followed by the F2A-3.

Although it was becoming clear that the F2A was already becoming inadequate against the latest German and Japanese fighters, the United Kingdom, Belgium, and the Netherlands purchased several hundred of land-based versions. The RAF, liking alliterative names and no doubt being struck by the stocky appearance, dubbed it the Brewster Buffalo. However, the Buffalo was clearly not going to survive against Messerschmitts, so they were sent to the Far East, equipping RAF, RAAF, and RNZAF squadrons in Singapore and Malaya, where they proved equally incapable of surviving against the Japanese Zero. In Finland, the Buffalo was used with great effect against Soviet forces during the Winter War and the Continuation War.