Cox-Klemin XS

The Cox-Klemin XS was a 1920s American experimental scout biplane, the first aircraft to be both launched and recovered from a submarine.

XS
XS-1
General information
Type	Submarine-operated scout biplane
Manufacturer	Cox-Klemin Aircraft Corporation
Designer	U.S. Navy Bureau of Aeronautics
Status	Out of service/scrapped
Primary user	United States Navy
Number built	6
History
Introduction date	1923
First flight	1922
Retired	1926

Development

In 1921, representatives from the U.S. Navy Bureau of Aeronautics observed tests of the small M-1 Messenger for the United States Army Air Service and became interested in the use of small scouting aircraft aboard submarines. The Bureau consequently designed a tiny single seat scout airplane that could be disassembled and reassembled quickly. An innovative step was replacing the traditional wire bracing of the biplane wing with solid struts, thus avoiding tedious and time consuming rigging work during reassembly. After surfacing, this plane would be rolled out of a watertight hangar cylinder and quickly assembled. It was planned to launch the seaplane by ballasting the submarine until the deck was awash. Instead of building the aircraft itself at the Naval Aircraft Factory the Bureau let two contracts to build the aircraft to two slightly different designs. One contract went to The Martin Company for the MS-1, constructed with an aluminum frame and floats but with a fabric covered fuselage. The U.S. Navy also contracted the Cox-Klemin Aircraft Corporation to build six aircraft (Bureau Nos. A6515-A6520) designated XS-1. The aircraft were of wood frame and fabric construction and were powered by a 60-horsepower (45 kW) Lawrance L-4 radial engine. One aircraft (Bureau No. A6519) was re-engined in 1923 with a Kinner engine and re-designated XS-2.^[1]

Operational history

The submarine USS S-1 became the experimental platform for this project late in 1923. The XS-1, XS-2 and the Martin MS-1 were used for the trials mounted in a horizontal cylindrical hangar behind the conning tower fairwater. After surfacing the aircraft could be rolled out and assembled, it was then launched ballasting the sub until the aft deck was awash. The first full cycle of surfacing, assembly, launching, retrieving, disassembly, and submergence took place on 28 July 1926, on the Thames River at New London, Connecticut, using the XS-2.

Testing showed that it took an inordinate amount of time to conduct a launching cycle (making the submarine vulnerable to enemy attack), and the cycle could only be safely conducted in very calm seas. The limited range and capability of the aircraft itself, due to its small size, greatly restricted the tactical utility of the concept.^[2] After further trials during 1926 all the experimental aircraft were scrapped.

Variants

XS-1

Lawrance L-4 powered scout biplane, six built

XS-2

One XS-1 modified with a Kinner B-5 engine.

Martin MS-1

Six similar aircraft built by The Martin Company.

Operators

 United States

• United States Navy

Specifications (XS-2)

Data from ^[3]

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 18 ft 2 in (5.54 m)
• Wingspan: 18 ft 0 in (5.49 m)
• Height: 8 ft 0 in (2.44 m)
• Gross weight: 1,050 lb (476 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Kinner B-5 5-cyl. air-cooled radial piston engine, 85 hp (63 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 115 mph (185 km/h, 100 kn)
• Service ceiling: 11,300 ft (3,400 m)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• Caspar U.1
• Parnall Peto
• Martin MS

Related lists

• List of United States Navy aircraft designations (pre-1962)