Initially designed as a seaplane, the UO-1 was soon classified as a convertible, using interchangeable single-main float or wheeled-landing gear, these UO-1’s was designated UO-1C.
First flown in the fall of 1922, the UO-1’s entered service with the U.S.S. Richmond in 1923.
As their superiority over potential competing types became evident, they became the only observation type in use on the fleet’s catapult-equipped combat ships.
The 15 first-class battleships were each equipped with one or more UO-1’s.
Two or more UO-1’s was used aboard each of the new scout cruisers comprising the Navy’s scouting fleet.
In 1922, the first UO, with the Aeromarine U-873 engine, was modified for air racing.
It had a brief undistinguished career.
Subsequently reconfigured as a two-seater and equipped with a Wright Hisso E-3 engine, it was re-designated as the sole UO-2 and used for general utility purposes.
With the advent of carriers, other UO-1’s was equipped for carrier operations.
The Vought UO-1 was the first airplane to be catapulted from a battleship at night.
On November 26, 1924, Lt. Dixie Kiefer flew the plane off the USS. California in San Diego harbor.
The only illumination came from the ship’s searchlights trained 1,000 yards ahead.
In 1924, Vought rang up its first foreign sale, twelve aircraft to Cuba.
These airplanes were designated QO-1.
Also, in that same year, Peru purchased two airplanes which were designated UO-1A
The Coast Guard procured two UO’s as UO-4’s in 1926, which were among the first aircraft bought for that service.
These incorporated the new wings of the FU’s, plus the J-5 engines, and were used for chasing rumrunners off the coast during prohibition.
At one time in its lighter-than-air program, the Navy considered basing several fighters in internal hangars of dirigibles.
These fighters would provide protection for the dirigibles against aerial attack.
The Vought UO-1 was the first airplane to be picked up on a hook in mid-air from the Navy dirigible U.S.S. Los Angeles in 1929.
While O2U Corsairs were replacing the UO’s in the fleet, NAF was modifying the remaining UO-1’s and UO-1C’s and re-designating them as UO-5’s.
This modification consisted of replacing the Lawrence J-1 engine with the Wright J-4 engine and increasing the wingspan, and fuselage length and height.
This rounded out their service in fleet support and training duty.
By 1933, the Navy UO’s were retired.
Variants
FU-1 & FU-2
Pleased with the company’s VE-7, in 1926 the Navy gave Vought a $459,709 contract for 20 convertible land/sea fighters.
Vought already had a two-seat observation plane, the UO-1, basically a VE with additional fuselage streamlining and a Wright J-3 radial engine.
This was made into a fighter simply by covering over the front cockpit of the observation plane, mounting machine guns in that area, and upgrading to a 220 hp (160 kW) Wright R-790 Whirlwind with a supercharger.
With the help of the supercharger, the newly designated FU-1 was able to reach a speed of 147 mph (237 km/h) at 13,000 ft (4,000 m).
The FU-1s were delivered to VF-2B based in San Diego, California.
With their float gear mounted, one was assigned to each of the battleships of the Pacific Fleet, where these observation seaplanes were launched from catapults.
They spent eight months in this role, but as the squadron went to aircraft carrier operations, the further-aft cockpit proved to have a visibility problem when manoeuvring around a carrier deck.
In response, the forward cockpit was re-opened, the resulting aircraft being designated FU-2.
XO5U-1
The Vought XO5U-1 was a 1930s prototype American observation floatplane to meet a United States Navy requirement for a catapult launched scouting aircraft.
The contract was won by Curtiss who went on to produce the SOC Seagull; only one O5U was built.
Specifications
UO-1
Crew
One
Length
28 ft 4.5 in (8.65 m)
Wingspan
34 ft 4 in (10.47 m)
Height
10 ft 2 in (3.10 m)
Wing area
270 sq ft (25.1 m2)
Airfoil
Navy N-9
Empty weight
2,074 lb (943 kg)
Gross weight
2,774 lb (1,260 kg)
Powerplant
1 × Wright J-5 Whirlwind 9 cylinder air cooled radial engine, 220 hp (164 kW)
