The basis of the new fighter was a variant of the proven Hawk P-6E, just delivered to the US Army Air Force. It took over most of the fuselage structure, a very similar cantilever landing gear, but with longer legs and wheel hoods open from the side, and wings with a wooden skeleton. But the new engine was the Wright SR-1820F Cyclone radial nine-cylinder engine, covered by a narrow Townend type ring and a front cowling equipped with slots.

Essentially a modified XF11C-2, the Hawk II was fitted with a Wright R-1820F-3 Cyclone rated at 710 hp. Only the Hawk II was exported in quantity with Turkey, the first customer taking delivery of 1932. Colombia placed an order at the end of October 1932, receiving an initial batch of four twin float-equipped Hawk IIs, the first of a total of 26 float fighters delivered by the end of July 1934. The Colombian Air Force used Hawk II and F11C-2 based in floats in the Colombia-Peru War in 1932-1933. Nine Hawk IIs were supplied to Bolivia, of which three had interchangeable wheel/float undercarriages; four were delivered to Chile, four to Cuba, two to Germany, one to Norway and 12 to Thailand. The Chinese Nationalist Air Force received 52 F11Cs as Hawk IIs and fought against the Japanese during the Second Sino-Japanese War.

Decal variants

• Curtiss Hawk II, Ernst Udet test Aircraft, Germany 1936
• Curtiss Hawk II, of the 8th Fighter Squadron, Chinese Air Force, Nanking 1937
• Curtiss Hawk II, Turkey Air Force, 1938
• Curtiss Hawk II, Turkey Air Force, 1942