Douglas TBD Devastator
Technical Information
Background
Delivered to the US Navy in 1937, the Devastator was
the most advanced torpedo bomber in the world when it was built, but by the start
of the Pacific War, was obsolete compaired to the Japanese Kate and
the fighter
opposition it encountered from A6M2 Zeros.
An infamous loss
happened when all 35 Devastators sent against the Japanese at
the battle of Midway were shot down without hitting their targets. Its replacement,
the TBF Avenger was coming on line at
that time, and soon all Devastators were withdrawn from front-line
service.
Production
A total of 129 Devastators were built.
