Curtiss F6C-3 HAWK USAF naval fighter

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The F6C-3 (Model 34E) reflected the Navy's concern for heavier armament for its fighters. Like earlier Army Hawk, F6C-3s were given the provision for replacing the starboard 0,30 caliber machine gun with a browning 0,50 caliber gun as an alternative installation. This optional armament installation was to remain standard to the end of Navy biplane fighter production. The F6C-3 could also carry bombs on a rack installed on the under fuselage fuel tank fittings. During their service careers, F6C-3s underwent a number of tail skid changes and provision was made for the installation of twin floats in place of the wheel landing gear.