The United States military naturally saw value in the multi-faceted DC-2 design as both a cargo transport and VIP passenger transport and eventually ordered both of the type in number. The "militarized" prototype form of the civilian model became the "XC-32" and this was a single example fitted with 2 x Wright R-1820-25 series radial piston engines of 750 horsepower each with seating for 14. The production model became the C-33 of which 18 were produced. The C-39 became a 16-seat variant and combined features of the existing DC-2 with the new DC-3. These were powered by a pair of Wright R-1820-55 series radials delivering 975 horsepower each. A single C-39 with 2 x Pratt & Whitney R-1830-21 radial engines became the VIP transport to US General Hap Arnold as the C-41. Another VIP transport existed under the designation of C-42 and completed with Wright R-1820-53 series radials of 1,000 horsepower. The United States Navy and Marine Corps both operated a version of the DC-2 and knew it as the R2D-1. These were delivered with 2 x Wright R-1820 series radials. At least 24 DC-2s in civilian guises were pressed into service at the start of World War 2, becoming the C-32A.
Beyond US and the aforementioned European nations utilizing the DC-2, other civilian operators included Australia, Nazi Germany (Lufthansa), Italy and Mexico among others. Military and official government operators also included Argentina, Australia, Austria, Finland, France, Nazi Germany, Japan, Spain and the United Kingdom (Royal Air Force). All told, some 200 DC-2s were produced with production spanning from 1934 to 1939. The airframe also served as the basis for the military-minded B-18 "Bolo" medium bomber accepted into service by the USAAC prior to World War 2. The more successful DC-3 held origins in the DC-2 and proved to essentially be a much improved version of the latter.
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