R-2800 Timetable

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Zipper730

Chief Master Sergeant
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Nov 9, 2015
I'm curious when R-2800-18W was first available for operational use? I know the F4U-4 was available in late 1944 but I'm not sure if the engine was ready at that time or earlier.
 
Doesn't answer your question, but might help.
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R-2800 Pratt & Whitney's Dependable Masterpiece, Graham White, 2001, p196
 
Official munitions production of the United States by Months, July 1 1940 to August 31 1945, (War Production Board Report)
World War II Operational Documents

Civil Aeronautics Administration, US Military Aircraft Acceptances 1940-1945, Aircraft, Engine and Propeller Production, US National Archives Record Group 249 Box C2581

Problems of Accelerating Aircraft Production During World War II by Lilley et. El. Division of Research Graduate School of Business Administration, Harvard University, January 1946. Using Company Data and Aircraft Resources Control Office, Report 15.

Acceptances, Engine versions are for all production to end 1945.

Pratt & Whitney, East Hartford, Connecticut, R-2800 Double Wasp, 2-stage C, For FG-4 and F4U-4, C 2-stage versions are -18, -18W, -29, -55
Dec-43 1
Jan-44 0
Feb-44 1
Mar-44 2
Apr-44 0
May-44 1
Jun-44 1
Jul-44 3
Aug-44 3
Sep-44 22
Oct-44 50
Nov-44 86
Dec-44 198
The engine delivery report adds 1 engine each in May-42, Jul-42, Feb-43 and Aug-43. The factory also built nine 1 Stage C engines, first in Aug-42 then 8 from Aug-43 to Feb-44, versions are -22, -37, -57, -61

Pratt & Whitney, Kansas City, Double Wasp, R-2800 1-stage C, For PBM-5, P-47, P-61, F7F-1, F8F, TBY, C-82, C 1-stage versions are -14, -22, -22W, -28, -34, -34W, -57, -81

Dec-43 1
Jan-44 9
Feb-44 28
Mar-44 30
Apr-44 80
May-44 154
Jun-44 301
Jul-44 301
Aug-44 229
Sep-44 260
Oct-44 427
Nov-44 450
Dec-44 469

Monthly delivery figures largely agree with acceptances, for deliveries in general engines counted when invoiced, in a few instances engines included in figures were kept in plant for experimental purposes.
 
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"released to production" seems to mean that the drawings/dimensions were released to "production" for the construction of tooling and gauges. Means that the dimensions were "fixed"/not subject to change (unless really, really needed). Actual production engines could be weeks or months away.

From an earlier time line in the same book cited above for the "A" series engine.
July 1st 1939, completed military type tests: engine No 1 at Wright Field, Engine No 2 at P & W Aircraft
November 23 1939 Production release (tools only)
Feb 12, 1940 Bill of materials released to production.
March 25th 1940 completed model test of first contract model.

Granted this was early development and in peace time.

Mr Sinclair has the production schedule. And please note that the 22 engines built in Sept 1944 had to be shipped to the aircraft factory/s.
granted the distance from P&W to Chance Vought was small and road transport was feasible.
 
From "Vought F4U Corsair", Martin W. Bowman, 2002, p115-116
The F4U-4 was brought out in the spring of 1943, and was the result of a complete redesign of the Corsair (V-354). The new model, often referred to as the 'Ultimate Corsair', benefited from fifteen major modifications brought about by the lessons learned on previous models, and proved so successful that no fewer than 2,045 -4s were built.​
The F4U-4 redesign was brought about by a Navy requirement to mate the Corsair with the new water-injected R-2800-18W and a new Hamilton Standard four-blade propeller. The -18W and the new propeller - at 13ft 1in (4m) in diameter, 2in (5cm) shorter than those used on the F4U-ls - combined to seriously improve on the earlier Corsair performance. The R-2800-18W was capable of producing 2,100hp on rake-off, and it gave the F4U-4 a top speed of 451mph (726kmph), as well as a faster rate of climb and a shorter rake-off roll than on previous models.​
Beginning on 20 May 1943, two F4U-ls (Bu Nos 49763 and 50301) were converted to F4U-4X (sometimes referred to as F4U-4XA and -4XB respectively) configuration by the installation of the R-2800-18W engine and a four-bladed propeller.​
The first F4U-4X (Bu No. 49763) was flown by test pilot Boone Guyton on 19 May 1944. Though the new engine installation required many changes to the airframe, including a large increase in the intercooler area, there were no major problems with the R-2800-18W power-plant, and on 25 January 1944 Vought received a contract for 1.414 F4U-4 production models. Five of the new aircraft (F4U-I airframes Bu Nos 80759 80763) were designated XF4U-4- Fitted with an R-2800-1 8W engine, the first of these production prototypes flew on 20 September 1944, and the Navy accepted this on 31 October. F4U-4s began reaching units in the Pacific before the end of the war.​


Still doesn't provide an answer , but I trust it adds more details to the question.

Rearranged on chronological order:
20 May 1943 - work on F4U-4 commenced
Dec 1943 - First R2800-18W made
25 Jan 1944 - Navy order 1,414 F4U-4's
19 May 1944 - First F4U-4X flown [Only 4 -18W's were made prior to May 1944 / I have assumed all East Hartford C series production up to this point is the -18W]
20 Sept 1944 - First "production prototype" flown. (I assume they mean production.)
31 Oct 1944 - Navy accept first F4U-4

Looking at it this way, it appears that the-18W production was holding up F4U-4 production rather badly. Only 12 -18Ws were made prior to Sept 1944.
 
XF4U-4, Bureau Numbers and dates
49763 accepted in Feb-44 ex F4U-1A
50301 accepted in Apr-44 ex F4U-1D
The above dates are consistent with the Bureau numbers around them, that is in 1944.

80759, 80760, 80761 accepted on 31 October 44, delivered in Dec-44
80762, 80763 accepted in Dec-44, delivered the same month
These 5 off contract NOa(s)-2720 dated 25 January 1944 for 1,419 F4U-4, in an amendment dated 22 September 1944. F4U-4 production began with 3 in Dec-44 starting with BuNo 80764, accepted and delivered in Dec-44. Means the Bureau Number block 80759 to 82177 were accepted as 5 XF4U-4 and 1,414 F4U-4. USN comment on F4U-4, similar to F4U-1 except engine and improved cockpit arrangement.

Monthly production F4U-4 \ R-2800 2 Stage C at Pratt & Whitney, East Hartford, Connecticut
Dec-44 \ 3 \ 198
Jan-45 \ 44 \ 229
Feb-45 \ 150 \ 251
Mar-45 \ 268 \ 356
Apr-45 \ 279 \ 408
May-45 \ 302 \ 425
Jun-45 \ 300 \ 450

All up 7 XF4U-4 and 2,051 F4U-4
 

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