Grumman
TBF Avenger (General Motors TMB Avenger)
Technical Information
Background
The TBF Avenger replaced the TBD Devastator as the torpedo plane used by the U.S. Navy. Standard Navy torpedo
bomber of the war. It was a large, slow, plane with demanding
pilot controls. But, it could take an enormous amount of damage,
had a low stall speed and was easy to fly. It could be armed with with either a single aerial torpedo or
bombs inside an internal bomb bay. Famous for their role during the Battle
of Midway, where
only one of six Avengers survived an attack on the Japanese fleet.
General Motors TBM Avenger
Many Avengers were manufactured by General Motors / Eastern Aircraft
Division under the designation TBM Avenger.
Production
A total of 9,836 were built
2,290 TBF Avengers built by Grumman
7,546 TMB Avengers built by General Motors
Technical Details
Crew Three (pilot, gunner, radio)
Engine 1
x Wright R-2600-20 14-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 1,700 hp (1,300 kW) driving three bladed propeller
Wingspan 54'
2" / 16.51m
Length 40'
11" / 12.195m
Height 16'
5" / 5m
Maximum Speed 276
mph
Range 905 miles at cruising speed
Armament (wings) 2 x .50 caliber machine guns (turret) 1 x .50 caliber machine guns (ventral)
1 x .30 caliber machine guns
Bombload up to 2000 lbs of
weapons (bombs or aerial torpedo)
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