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Grumman TBF Avenger

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 213.40.251.196 (talk) at 12:01, 6 December 2009 (→Operational history: Bolded 'Tarpon' name). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

For other uses, see TBF.
TBF/TBM Avenger
Role Torpedo bomber
Manufacturer Grumman
General Motors
Designer Leroy Grumman
First flight 7 August 1941
Introduction 1942
Retired 1960s
Status Retired
Primary users United States Navy
Royal Navy
Royal Canadian Navy
Royal New Zealand Air Force
Number built 9,837

The Grumman TBF Avenger (designated TBM for aircraft manufactured by General Motors) was a torpedo bomber developed initially for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, and eventually used by several air or naval arms around the world. It entered U.S. service in 1942, and first saw action during the Battle of Midway.

Design and development

Douglas' TBD Devastator, the U.S. Navy's main torpedo bomber introduced in 1935 was obsolete by 1939. Bids were accepted from several companies but Grumman's TBF design was selected as the TBD's replacement. Designed by Leroy Grumman, its first prototype was called the XTBF-1. Although one of the first two prototypes crashed near Brentwood, New York, rapid production continued.

TBF-1 Avenger early in 1942. Note the red spot centered in the US national insignia, which was removed just before the Battle of Midway
TBF Avenger in mid-1942

Grumman's first torpedo bomber was the heaviest single-engine aircraft of World War II, and it was the first design to feature a new wing-folding mechanism created by Grumman, intended to maximize storage space on an aircraft carrier; the F4F-4 and later models of Wildcat received a similar folding wing and the F6F Hellcat (both designed by Grumman) employed this mechanism as well. The engine used was the Wright R-2600-20 (which produced 1,900 hp/1,417 kW). There were three crew members: pilot, turret gunner and radioman/bombardier/ventral gunner. One .30 caliber machine gun was mounted in the nose, a .50 caliber (12.7 mm) gun was mounted right next to the turret gunner's head in a rear-facing electrically powered turret, and a single .30 caliber hand-fired machine gun mounted ventrally (under the tail), which was used to defend against enemy fighters attacking from below and to the rear. This gun was fired by the radioman/bombardier while standing up and bending over in the belly of the tail section, though he usually sat on a folding bench facing forward to operate the radio and to sight in bombing runs. Later models of the TBF/TBM dispensed with the nose-mounted gun for one .50 caliber gun in each wing per pilots' requests for better forward firepower and increased strafing ability. There was only one set of controls on the aircraft, and no access to the pilot's position from the rest of the aircraft. The radio equipment was massive, especially by today's standards, and filled the whole glass canopy to the rear of the pilot. The radios were accessible for repair through a "tunnel" along the right hand side. Any Avengers that are still flying today usually have an additional rear-mounted seat in place of the radios, which increases crew to four.

During the Battle of Midway, all of the three aircraft carriers' torpedo groups (from the USS Hornet (CV-8), USS Enterprise (CV-6), and USS Yorktown (CV-5)) had taken horrendous casualties; one group had a single survivor (Ensign George Gay). This was partly due to the slow speed of the Devastator (less than 200 mph/320 km/h) during glide-bombing) and its weak defensive armament. Ironically, the first shipment of TBFs had arrived only a few hours after the three carriers quickly departed from Pearl Harbor (although six eventually participated, operating from Midway Island, with five being shot down and the other returning heavily damaged, with one of its two gunners killed).

The Avenger had a large bomb bay, allowing for one Bliss-Leavitt Mark 13 torpedo, a single 2,000 pound (907 kg) bomb, or up to four 500 pound (227 kg) bombs. The aircraft had overall ruggedness and stability, and pilots say it flew like a truck, for better or worse. With its good radio facilities, docile handling, and long range, the Grumman Avenger also made an ideal command aircraft for Commanders, Air Group (CAGs). With a 30,000 ft (10,000 m) ceiling and a fully-loaded range of 1,000 mi (1,610 km), it was better than any previous American torpedo bomber, and better than its Japanese counterpart, the obsolete Nakajima B5N "Kate". Later Avenger models carried radar equipment for the ASW and AEW roles. Although improvements in new types of aviation radar were soon forthcoming from the engineers at MIT and the electronic industry, the available radars in 1943 were very bulky, because they contained vacuum tube technology. Because of this, radar was at first carried only on the roomy TBF Avengers, but not on the smaller and faster fighters.

Escort carrier sailors referred to the TBF as the "turkey" because of its size and maneuverability in comparison to the F4F Wildcat fighters in CVE airgroups.[1]

Operational history

TBF Avenger ready for catapult launch.
A Grumman TBF Avenger aboard the USS Yorktown (CV-10), circa late 1943
A famous Avenger pilot was future American President George H. W. Bush, flying a TBM Avenger off the light aircraft carrier USS San Jacinto (CVL-30) in 1944.

On the afternoon of 7 December 1941, Grumman held a ceremony to open a new manufacturing plant and display the new TBF to the public. Coincidentally, on that day, the Imperial Japanese Navy attacked Pearl Harbor, as Grumman soon found out. After the ceremony was over, the plant was quickly sealed off to ward against possible enemy action. By early June 1942, a shipment of more than 100 aircraft was sent to the Navy (although most were too late to participate in the pivotal Battle of Midway).

However, six TBF-1s were present on Midway Island, as part of VT-8 (Torpedo Squadron 8), while the rest of the squadron flew Devastators from the Hornet. Unfortunately, both types of torpedo bombers suffered heavy casualties, with only one Avenger surviving, although they were credited with drawing away the Japanese combat air patrols so the American dive bombers could successfully hit the Japanese carriers.

Author Gordon Prange argued in Miracle at Midway that the outdated Devastators (and lack of new aircraft) contributed somewhat to the lack of a complete victory at Midway (the four Japanese fleet carriers were sunk directly by US dive bombers instead). Others pointed out that the inexperienced American pilots and lack of fighter cover were responsible for poor showing of US torpedo bombers, regardless of type.[2] Later in the war, with improving American air superiority, attack coordination, and more veteran pilots, Avengers were able to play vital roles in the subsequent battles against Japanese surface forces.[3]

On 24 August 1942, the next major naval battle occurred at the Eastern Solomons. With only the carriers Saratoga and Enterprise, the 24 TBFs present were able to sink the Japanese aircraft carrier Ryūjō and claim one dive bomber, at the cost of seven aircraft.

The first major "prize" for the TBFs (which had been assigned the name "Avenger" in October 1941,[4] [5] before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor) was at the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal in November 1942, when Marine Corps and Navy Avengers helped sink the battleship Hiei.

After hundreds of the original TBF-1 models were built, the TBF-1C began production. The allotment of space for specialized internal and wing-mounted fuel tanks doubled the Avenger's range. By 1943, Grumman began to slowly phase out production of the Avenger to produce F6F Hellcat fighters, and the Eastern Aircraft Division of General Motors took over, with these aircraft being designated TBM. Starting in mid-1944, the TBM-3 began production (with a more powerful powerplant and wing hardpoints for drop tanks and rockets). The dash-3 was the most numerous of the Avengers (with about 4,600 produced). However, most of the Avengers in service were dash-1s until near the end of the war (in 1945).

Besides the traditional surface role (torpedoing surface ships), Avengers claimed about 30 submarine kills, including the cargo submarine I-52. They were one of the most effective sub-killers in the Pacific theatre, as well as in the Atlantic, when escort carriers were finally available to escort Allied convoys. There, the Avengers contributed in warding off German U-Boats while providing air cover for the convoys.

After the "Marianas Turkey Shoot", in which more than 250 Japanese aircraft were downed, Admiral Marc Mitscher ordered a 220-aircraft mission to find the Japanese task force. At the extreme end of their range (300 nmi (560 km) out), the group of Hellcats, TBF/TBMs, and dive bombers took many casualties. However, Avengers from Belleau Wood torpedoed the light carrier Hiyō as their only major prize. Mitscher's gamble did not pay off as well as he had hoped.

In June 1943, future-President George H.W. Bush became the youngest naval aviator at the time. While flying a TBM with VT-51 (from the USS San Jacinto (CVL-30)), his TBM was shot down on 2 September 1944 over the Pacific island of Chichi Jima.[6] Both of his crewmates died. However, he released his payload and hit the target before being forced to bail out; he received the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Another famous Avenger aviator was Paul Newman, who flew as a rear gunner. He had hoped to be accepted for pilot training, but did not qualify because of being color blind. Newman was on board the escort carrier Hollandia roughly 500 mi (800 km) from Japan when the Enola Gay dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima.[7]

The Avenger was the type of torpedo bomber used during the sinking of the two Japanese "super battleships": the Musashi and the Yamato.[8][9]

The Avenger was also used by the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm where it was initially known as the "Tarpon" however this name was later discontinued and the Avenger name used instead. The first 402 aircraft were known as Avenger Mk 1, 334 TBM-1s from Grumman were the Avenger Mk II and 334 TBM-3 the Mark III.

The only other operator in World War II was the Royal New Zealand Air Force which used the type primarily as a bomber, operating from South Pacific Island bases. Some of these were transferred to the British Pacific Fleet.

During World War II, the US aeronautical research arm NACA used a complete Avenger in a comprehensive drag-reduction study in their large Langley wind tunnel[10]. The resulting NACA Technical Report shows the impressive results available if practical aircraft did not have to be "practical".

In 1945 Avengers were involved in pioneering trials of aerial topdressing in New Zealand that led to the establishment of an industry which markedly increased food production and efficiency in farming worldwide. Pilots of the Royal New Zealand Air Force's 42 Squadron spread fertilizer from Avengers beside runways at Ohakea air base.

The postwar disappearance of a flight of American Avengers, known as Flight 19, added to the Bermuda Triangle legend.

Royal Navy Grumman Avenger AS.4 XB355 'CU 396' of 744 Squadron at Blackbushe in 1955.

100 USN TBM-3Es were supplied to the Fleet Air Arm in 1953 under the US Mutual Defense Assistance Programme. The aircraft were shipped from Norfolk, Virginia, many aboard the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Perseus. The Avengers were fitted with British equipment by Scottish Aviation and delivered as the Avenger AS.4 to several FAA squadrons including No. 767, 814, 815, 820 and 824. The aircraft were replaced from 1954 by Fairey Gannets and were passed to squadrons of the Royal Naval Reserve including No. 1841 and 1844. The survivors were transferred to the French Navy in 1957-1958.

One of the primary postwar users of the Avenger was the Royal Canadian Navy, which obtained 125 former US Navy TBM-3E Avengers from 1950 to 1952 to replace their venerable Fairey Fireflies. By the time the Avengers were delivered, the RCN was shifting its primary focus to anti-submarine warfare (ASW), and the aircraft was rapidly becoming obsolete as an attack platform. Consequently, 98 of the RCN Avengers were fitted with an extensive number of novel ASW modifications, including radar, electronic countermeasures (ECM) equipment, and sonobuoys, and the upper ball turret was replaced with a sloping glass canopy that was better suited for observation duties. The modified Avengers were designated AS 3. A number of these aircraft were later fitted with a large magnetic anomaly detector (MAD) boom on the rear left side of the fuselage and were redesignated AS 3M. However, RCN leaders soon realized the Avenger's shortcomings as an ASW aircraft, and in 1954 they elected to replace the AS 3 with the S-2 Tracker, which offered longer range, greater load-carrying capacity for electronics and armament, and a second engine, a great safety benefit when flying long-range ASW patrols over frigid North Atlantic waters. As delivery of the new license-built CS2F Trackers began in 1957, the Avengers were shifted to training duties, and were officially retired in July 1960.[11]

Civilian use

TBM-1 in three color camouflage scheme, c. 1943

Many Avengers have survived into the 21st century working as spray-applicators and water-bombers throughout North America, particularly in the Canadian province of New Brunswick.

Forest Protection Limited (FPL) of Fredericton, NB once owned and operated the largest civilian fleet of Avengers in the world. FPL began operating Avengers in 1958 after purchasing 12 surplus TBM-3E aircraft from the Royal Canadian Navy[12]. Use of the Avenger fleet at FPL peaked in 1971 when 43 aircraft were in use as both water bombers and spray aircraft. [12] FPL was still operating 3 Avengers in 2007 configured as water-bombers[13]. The company sold three Avengers in 2004 (C-GFPS, C-GFPM, and C-GLEJ) to museums or private collectors. The Central New Brunswick Woodsmen’s Museum has a former FPL Avenger on static display.[14] An FPL Avenger that crashed in 1975 in southwestern New Brunswick was recovered and restored by the Atlantic Canada Aviation Museum and is currently on display.[15]

There are several Avengers in private collections around the world today.[16]

Variants

A TBF-1 dropping a torpedo.

TBF

XTBF-1
Two prototypes each powered by a 1,700 hp (1,300 kW) R-2600-8 engine, second aircraft introduced the large dorsal fin.
TBF-1
Initial production model based on the second prototype, 2,291 built (some as TBF-1Cs)
TBF-1C
TBF-1 with provision for two 0.5 in (12.7 mm) wing guns and fuel capacity increased to 726 gal (2,748 l).
TBF-1B
Paper designation for the Avenger I for the Royal Navy.
TBF-1D
Conversions of the TBF-1 with centimetric radar in radome on starboard wing leading edge.
TBF-1CD
Conversion of TBF-1Cs with centimetric radar in radome on starboard wing leading edge.
TBF-1E
TBF-1 conversions with additional electronic equipment.
TBF-1J
TBF-1 equipped for bad weather operations
TBF-1L
TBF-1 equipped with retractable searchlight in bomb bay.
TBF-1P
TBF-1 conversion for photo-reconnaissance
TBF-1CP
TBF-1C conversion for photo-reconnaissance
XTBF-2
One TBF-1 re-engined with a 1,900 hp (1,400 kW) XR-2600-10 engine.
XTBF-3
Two TBF-1 aircraft with 1,900 hp (1,400 kW) R-2600-20 engines.
TBF-3
Planned production version of the XTBF-3, cancelled

TBM

TBM-3Ds of VT(N)-90 January 1945.
A TBM-3R COD plane in the early 1950s.
TBM-3S and TBM-3W of VS-26.
TBM-1
as TBF-1, 550 built.
TBM-1C
as TBF-1C, 2336 built.
TBM-1D
Conversions of the TBM-1 with centimetric radar in radome on starboard wing leading edge.
TBM-1E
TBM-1 conversions with additional electronic equipment.
TBM-1J
TBM-1 equipped for all weather operations
TBM-1L
TBM-1 equipped with retractable searchlight in bomb bay.
TBM-1P
TBM-1 conversion for photo-reconnaissance
TBM-1CP
TBM-1C conversion for photo-reconnaissance
TBM-2
One TBM-1 re-engined with a 1,900 hp (1,400 kW) XR-2600-10 engine.
XTBM-3
Four TBM-1C aircraft with 1,900 hp (1,400 kW) R-2600-20 engines.
TBM-3D
TBM-3 conversion with centimetric radar in radome on starboard wing leading edge.
TBM-3E
TBM-3 conversion with centimetric radar in radome on starboard wing leading edge and strengthened airframe.
TBM-3H
TBM-3 conversion with surface search radar.
TBM-3J
TBM-3 equipped for all weather operations
TBM-3L
TBM-3 equipped with retractable searchlight in bomb bay.
TBM-3M
TBM-3 conversion as a missile launcher.
TBM-3N
TBM-3 conversion for night attack.
TBM-3P
TBM-3 conversion for photo-reconnaissance.
TBM-3Q
TBM-3 conversion for electronic countermeasures with large ventral radome.
TBM-3R
TBM-3 conversions as seven-passenger, Carrier onboard delivery transport.
TBM-3S
Anti-submarine strike version converted from TBM-3.
TBM-3U
General utility and target towing conversion of TBM-3.
TBM-3W
Anti-Submarine search conversion of TBM-3 with APS-20 radar in ventral radome.
XTBM-4
Three prototypes based on TBM-3E with modified wing incorporating a reinforced center section and a different folding mechanism.
TBM-4
Production version of XTBM-4, 2,141 on order were cancelled.

Royal Navy Avenger

Royal Navy Avenger.
Canadian Avenger AS3M with long tubular magnetic anomaly detector (MAD) boom on the lower rear fuselage.
US Navy TBF Grumman Avenger flight, similar to Flight 19. This photo had been used by various Triangle authors to illustrate Flight 19 itself. (US Navy)
Grumman TBM-3E Avenger - Tom Buck, N683G
Avenger Mk.I
RN designation of the TBF-1, 400 delivered.
Avenger Mk.II
RN designation of the TBM-1/TBM-1C, 334 delivered.
Avenger Mk.III
RN designation of the TBM-3, 222 delivered
Avenger Mk.IV
RN designation of the TBM-3S, 70 cancelled
Avenger AS4
RN designation of the TBM-3S, 100 delivered postwar
Avenger AS3
Modified by RCN for anti-submarine duty, dorsal gun turret removed, 98 built
Avenger AS3M
AS3 with magnetic anomaly detector boom added to rear fuselage

Operators

 Brazil
 Canada
 France
 Japan
 Netherlands
Avenger in the RNZAF Museum.
 New Zealand
 United Kingdom
 United States
 Uruguay

Notable incident

The most famous incident involving the Avenger aircraft was the disappearance of Flight 19, a squadron of five Avengers lost in December 1945 which began the legend of the Bermuda Triangle.

Main article: Flight 19

Specifications (TBF Avenger)

General characteristics

  • Crew: 3

Performance Armament

  • Guns:
    • 1 × 0.30 in (7.62 mm) nose-mounted M1919 Browning machine gun(on early models)
    • 2 × 0.50 in (12.7 mm) wing-mounted M2 Browning machine guns
    • 1 × 0.50 in (12.7 mm) dorsal-mounted M2 Browning machine gun
    • 1 × 0.30 in (7.62 mm) ventral-mounted M1919 Browning machine gun
  • Bombs:

Aircraft on Display

Avenger in the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum
Avenger in the Cradle of Aviation Museum

A TBM Avenger is on display in the hangar deck of the USS Yorktown (CV-10) at the Patriot's Point Naval and Maritime Museum in Charleston, SC.

A TBM Avenger is also on display at the National Museum of the Pacific War at the Pacific Combat Zone in Fredericksburg, TX.

A TBM-3E Avenger is on display on the hanger deck of the USS Intrepid (CV-11) at the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum at Pier 86 in New York, NY. It is on loan from the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola, Florida. A TBM-3E Avenger is on display in the hangar deck of the USS Hornet (CV-12) in Alameda, CA.

A TBM Avenger is on display at the Tillamook Air Museum in Tillamook, OR.

A TBM-3E Avenger is on display at the Cradle of Aviation Museum, Garden City, Long Island, NY. It is on loan from the Friends For Long Island's Heritage, sponsored by Mrs.William P. Schwendler.[17]

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References

Notes
  1. ^ O'Rourke, G.G, CAPT USN. "Of Hosenoses, Stoofs, and Lefthanded Spads". United States Naval Institute Proceedings, July 1968.
  2. ^ [1]
  3. ^ Supership
  4. ^ Associated Press. “Fighting Names Given to Planes by the Navy”. The New York Times. Vol. XCI No. 30,567, 2 October 1941, p. 17.
  5. ^ “New Plane Names”. Flying and Popular Aviation. Chicago, IL: Ziff-Davis Publishing Company, Vol. 30 [sic] No. 1 (January 1942), p. 232.
  6. ^ Hove, Duane. American Warriors: Five Presidents in the Pacific Theater of World War II. Shippensburg, Pennsylvania: Burd Street Press, 2003. ISBN 1-57249-260-0.
  7. ^ Biographies in Naval History
  8. ^ [2]
  9. ^ [3]
  10. ^ History of Langley Research Center
  11. ^ Shearwater Aviation Museum- Aircraft History- Grumman Avenger
  12. ^ a b FPL : About FPL : History / Timeline
  13. ^ New Brunswick Insects, etc: June 2007
  14. ^ Woods Museum
  15. ^ Avenger
  16. ^ Area 52 Aviation
  17. ^ Cradle of Aviation Museum, Grumman TBM-3E Avenger, Bethpage / Trenton, 1945
Bibliography
  • Drendel, Lou. TBF/TBM Avenger Walk Around. Carrollton, Texas: Squadron/Signal Publications, Inc., 2001. ISBN 0-89747-424-4.
  • Drendel, Lou. "Grumman TBF/TBM Avenger". U.S. Navy Carrier Bombers of World War II. Carrollton, Texas: Squadron/Signal Publications, Inc., 1987, pp. 89–120. ISBN 0-89747-195-4.
  • Francillon, René. Grumman (Eastern) TBF (TBM) Avenger (Aircraft in Profile 214). London: Profile Publications Ltd., 1970. No ISBN.
  • Jackson, B.R. and Thomas E. Doll. Grumman TBF/TBM "Avenger" (Aero Series 21). Fallbrook, California: Aero Publishers, Inc., 1970. ISBN 0-8168-0580-6.
  • Jackson, B.R. and Thomas E. Doll. Supplement to Grumman TBF/TBM "Avenger". Fallbrook, California: Aero Publishers, Inc., 1970. ISBN 0-8168-0582-2.
  • Kinzey, Bert. TBF & TBM Avenger in Detail & Scale. Carrollton, Texas: Squadron/Signal Publications, Inc., 1997. ISBN 1-888974-06-0.
  • Pelletier, Alain. Grumman TBF/TBM Avenger (in French). Paris: Ouest France, 1981. ISBN 2-85882-311-1.
  • Prange, Gordon William et al. Miracle at Midway. New York: Viking, 1983. ISBN 0-14-006814-7.
  • Scrivner, Charles L. TBF/TBM Avenger in Action. Carrollton, Texas: Squadron/Signal Publications, Inc., 1987. ISBN 0-89747-197-0.
  • Skulski, Przemyslaw. Grumman Avenger (Seria Pod Lupa 5). Wroclaw, Poland: Ace Publications, 1997. ISBN 83-8615-340-7.
  • Tillman, Barrett. Avenger at War. London: Ian Allan Ltd., 1979. ISBN 0-7110-0957-0.
  • Tillman, Barrett. TBF/TBM Avenger Units of World War 2. Botley, UK; Osprey Publishing Ltd., 1999. ISBN 1-85532-902-6.
  • Treadwell, Terry C. Grumman TBF/TBM Avenger. Mount Pleasant, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing, 2001. ISBN 0-75242-007-0.
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