Consolidated PBY Catalina
(OA-10, PB2B, PBV, A-10, PBN, PBV, PB3Y)
Technical Information
Background
The Navy's
famous and versatile flying boat. It served in a variety of roles
from torpedo bomber, patrol and air/sea rescue. Also, the type flew with many other Allied nations.
While it was slow by contemporary standards, the PBY
more than made up for it's lack of speed with its reliability
and great range, as well as the fact that as a flying boat it
could land on the water for rescue missions. It's long range made
it an excellent reconnaissance aircraft over the world's oceans.
It could be used as a bomber when other aircraft were unavailable,
and Catalinas attacked targets at sea with bombs, depth charges,
and even torpedoes.
OA-10 Catalina
PBY-5A/-6A amphibians for use
in by the USAAF for search and rescue duties. This series was
redesignated A-10 in 1948.
PB2B Catalina VI
Licence built PBY-5 Catalina built by Boeing of Canada for the RAF and RAAF known as Catalina VI
PBV Canso
Built by Vickers in
Canada
Other designations
A-10, PBN, PBV, PB3Y, P3Y
Technical Details
Crew Seven
Engine 2 x Pratt and Whitney R-2800 Radial Engines
Span 104'
Length 63' 10.5"
Height 20' 2"
Maximum Speed 179 mph
Range 2,545 miles
Armament 2 x .50 cal Machine Guns (waist blisters) 3 x .30 cal Machine Guns (nose and flexible)
Bombload up to 4,000 lbs of bombs or depth
charges
