DT-2

The Naval Aircraft Factory DT‑2 was a two‑seat torpedo‑bomber and patrol plane developed in the early 1920s for the United States Navy. Evolving from the DT‑1 prototype, the DT‑2 first flew in March 1922 and entered limited service the following year. Built at the Navy’s Philadelphia facility, it embodied the post‑World War I effort to produce reliable aircraft without dependence on private manufacturers.

The DT‑2 featured a conventional biplane layout with wooden wings and a fabric‑covered fuselage. Powered by a 440 hp Wright R‑1820 radial engine, it reached 105 mph and could carry a single 1,800‑lb torpedo or up to 400 lb of bombs. Its open cockpits housed a pilot and an observer/gunner equipped with a flexible .30‑caliber machine gun on a ring mount. The sturdy undercarriage and ability to operate from both land and seaplane bases gave it versatility for fleet reconnaissance and anti‑shipping missions.

Only 30 DT‑2s were produced before being replaced by more advanced patrol aircraft, but the type proved the Navy’s capability for in‑house design and production. Serving during a transitional era from wooden biplanes to all‑metal monoplanes, the DT‑2 marked an important step in the evolution of U.S. naval aviation.

Naval Aircraft Factory

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