Hall PH

In December 1927, the U.S. Navy placed a contract with the Hall Aluminum Aircraft Corporation of Bristol, Pennsylvania for a developed version of the Naval Aircraft Factory PN-11,Swanborough and Bowers 1976, p. 254 which itself could trace a development history back to the Felixstowe F.5 flying boat of World War I.Donald 1995, p. 186 The resultant prototype, the XPH-1, first flew in December 1929.Green 1962, p. 175

The XPH-1 had identical wings and a similar metal hull to that of the PN-11, but was fitted with a large single fin and rudder. It was powered by two Wright Cyclone radial engines and accommodated its two pilots side by side in an open cockpit, with cockpits for gunners in the nose and behind the wings.

In 1930 the Navy ordered nine aircraft, designated the PH-1, which were fitted with more powerful engines and a partly enclosed cockpit for the pilots.Roberts 2000, p. 677 The Coast Guard later ordered seven PH-2 aircraft, similar to the PH-1 but with armament removed, and seven PH-3 units with armament reinstated and a fully enclosed cockpit for the pilots.

Delivery of the PH-1 commenced in October 1931, equipping VP-8 from 1932, operating from the seaplane tender {{USS|Wright|AV-1|2}} and from bases at Pearl Harbor, Midway Atoll, and the Panama Canal Zone. It was replaced by the Consolidated PBY-1 Catalina in 1937.Roberts 2000, p. 116

Production of the PH recommenced in June 1936 to meet an order for seven PH-2s for the Coast Guard. These entered service from 1938, being the largest aircraft operated by the Coast Guard at that time.{{Cite web |last=Price |first=Scott T. |title=A/C Type |url=http://www.uscg.mil/history/WEBAIRCRAFT/AC_Hall_PH2.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20080501233621/http://www.uscg.mil:80/history/WEBAIRCRAFT/AC_Hall_PH2.html |archive-date=2008-05-01 |access-date=2025-01-09 |website=www.uscg.mil}} In 1939 the Coast Guard ordered an additional seven PH-3 aircraft; they entered service in 1941.

The Hall flying boats were used by the Coast Guard for search and rescue duties and were fitted with specialized equipment for this role. Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the United States entry into World War II, the remaining PHs were painted in U.S Navy Sea Grey to replace the previous silver paint, armed, and used for anti-submarine patrols (particularly during the Operation Drumbeat U-boat attacks off the East coast of the United States in 1942) as well as continuing search and rescue operations. The Coast Guard continued operating the PH-2 and -3 until 1944.

File:Hall XPH-1 1.jpg

;XPH-1

:Prototype. Two {{cvt|540|hp}} Wright R-1750 engines. One built.

;PH-1

:Production version for U.S. Navy. Partly enclosed cockpit for pilots. Two {{cvt|620|hp}} Wright R-1820-86 engines in short-chord Townend ring cowlings. Nine built.

;PH-2

:Version for U.S Coast Guard. Two {{cvt|750|hp}} Wright R-1820F-51 engines. Armament omitted. Seven built.

;PH-3

:Improved version for Coast Guard. Long Chord NACA cowlings. Revised enclosed canopy. Seven built.

;{{flag|United States|1912}}

• United States Coast Guard
• United States Navy

{{Aircraft specs

|prime units? = kts

|ref= United States Navy Aircraft since 1911 Swanborough & Bowers 1976, p. 255

|crew=six

|length ft= 51

|length in= 0

|length m= 15.54

|span ft= 72

|span in= 10

|span m= 22.20

|height ft= 19

|height in= 10

|height m= 6.05

|wing area sqft= 1,710

|wing area sqm= 158.9

|empty weight lb= 9,614

|empty weight kg= 4,370

|gross weight lb= 16,152

|gross weight kg= 7,342

|eng1 name=Wright R-1820F-51 Cyclone

|eng1 type=9 cylinder air cooled radial engine

|eng1 number=2

|eng1 hp= 750

|eng1 kw= 560

|max speed kts= 138

|max speed mph= 159

|max speed kmh= 256

|cruise speed kts= 118

|cruise speed mph= 136

|cruise speed kmh= 219

|range nmi= 1,687

|range miles= 1,937{{Cite news |date=December 26, 1940 |title=Nazi-Russian Clash Near |url=https://archive.org/details/hope-star-1940-12-26/mode/2up?q=%22Hall+PH-2%22&view=theater |access-date=January 9, 2025 |work=Hope Star |publisher=Associated Press |location=Hope, Arkansas |at=Bottom of 3rd column from left |volume=42 |issue=62}}

|range km= 3,119

|ceiling ft= 21,350

|ceiling m= 9,700

|wing loading lb/sqft= 9.45

|wing loading kg/m2= 46.2

|power/mass=0.093 hp/lb (0.15 kW/kg)

|armament=

• Four flexibly mounted .303 (7.7 mm) in Lewis guns
• Up to 1,000 lb (454 kg) depth bombs Donald 1995, p. 187

}}

{{aircontent

|related=*Felixstowe F5L

• Naval Aircraft Factory PN
• Hall XP2H

|similar aircraft=

• Hiro H1H
• Consolidated P2Y
• Hiro H2H
• Saro London
• Supermarine Scapa
• Supermarine Stranraer

|lists=

• List of aircraft of World War II
• List of United States Navy aircraft designations (pre-1962)
• List of seaplanes and flying boats

|see also=

}}

;Notes

{{Reflist}}

;Bibliography

{{refbegin}}

• Donald, David (ed.).American Warplanes of World War II. London: Aerospace, 1995. {{ISBN|1-874023-72-7}}
• Green, William. War Planes of the Second World War: Volume Five: Flying Boats. London: Macdonald, 1962. {{ISBN|0 356 01449 5}}
• Roberts, Michael D. [https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/naval-aviation-history/dictionary-of-american-naval-aviation-squadrons-volume-2.html Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons: Volume 2: The History of VP, VPB, VP(HL) and VP(AM) Squadrons]. Washington DC: Naval Historical Center, 2000
• Swanborough, Gordon and Bowers, Peter M. United States Navy Aircraft since 1911. London: Putnam, Second edition 1976. {{ISBN|0-370-10054-9}}

{{refend}}

{{commons category|Hall PH}}

• [http://aerofiles.com/_h.html Aerofiles]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070510092200/http://aeroweb.brooklyn.cuny.edu/specs/hall/ph-3.htm Hall PH-3] – Aviation Enthusiast Corner

{{Hall-Aluminum aircraft}}

{{USN patrol aircraft}}

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Category:Aircraft first flown in 1929

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