United States' Douglas TBD Devastator

Photos

Douglas TBD Devastator:	Douglas TBD Devastator:	Douglas TBD Devastator:	Douglas TBD Devastator: Aeronautics Aircraft Spotters' Handbook
Douglas TBD Devastator: Aeronautics Aircraft Spotters' Handbook
Douglas TBD Devastator from the USS Enterprise at Wake Island on February 24, 1942:	Douglas TBD Devastator, Torpedo Squadron 6 (VT-6), 1938:
Douglas TBD Devastator:	Douglas TBD Devastator:

Design

The Douglas TBD Devastator was the first US Navy all metal, low wing, carrier based monoplane with hydraulic folding wings.^1,2 If there was a strong wind, ground crew would have to move the wings.¹ Some of the early pilots weren't used to the folding wings and crashed their planes when they didn't check that the wings were locked down.¹

Was designed by Donald Douglas in 1934.^1,3 The TBD was the United States Navy's first all metal low wing aircraft.³ Designs from Great Lakes Aircraft Corporation (XTBG-1) and Hall Aluminum Aircraft Corporation (XPTBH-2) were also submitted.³

The TBD Devastator originally had wing floatation bags to help the crew escape if the aircraft was ditched, but they were removed during the war to make sure the Norden bombsight would go down with the TBD.¹

Undercarriage

The undercarriage retracted but the main wheels would remain sticking out of the belly.^2,3 This was to allow for safer emergency landings.³

Cockpit

After the tests of the prototype, the design of the cockpit was improved to allow better pilot visibility.³

Wings

By using hydraulic controls the wings could be folded back.³

Prototype

The XTBD-1 prototype first flew on April 15, 1935.^1,2,3

Carrier trials were conducted aboard the USS Lexington in December 1935.¹

Production

129 TBD-1s were ordered in February 1936.^2,3

• Douglas XTBD-1: 1²
• Douglas TBD-1: 129²
• Total: 130²
• Manufacturer: Douglas Aircraft Company³

Variants

• Great Lakes XTBG-1: Prototype.³ Biplane.³
• Hall Aluminum XPTBH-2: Prototype.³ High wing.³
• Douglas XTBD-1: Prototype.² Powered by a Pratt & Whitney R-1830-60 Twin Wasp.²
• Douglas TBD-1: Powered by Pratt & Whitney R-1830-64 Twin Wasp.³ engine.³
• Douglas TBD-1A: Fitted with Edo floats and test flown in 1939 at Newport, Rhode Island.^1,2

Usage

The VT-3 (Torpedo Squadron), on the USS Saratoga³, was the first unit to receive the TBD Devastators in October / November³ 1937.^1,2,3

Start of War

There were 69 operational TBD Devastators, out of 100 available, that were in service at the time of the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbof.³

Midway

On June 4, 1942, 35 / 36³ TBD Devastators were shot down.^1,2,3 There were a total of 41 Devastators from the Enterprise, Hornet, and Yorktown.³ The Hornet had 14 of its 15 Devastators that took off on June 4, 1942, shot down.³

Bomber

In 1942, against the Japanese in the Gilbert and Marshall Islands, the TBD Devastators were outfitted with three 500 lb / 227 kg bombs or twelve 100 lb / 45 kg bombs (six under each wing).¹

Retired

After being pulled from the front lines, after the Battle of Midway³, TBD Devastators were used for communications and training.¹

Specifications

	Douglas TBD-1 Devastator
Type	Torpedo bomber1,2,3,4
Crew	31,2,3 Pilot, gunner/navigator, torpedo operator1,2
Engine (Type)	Pratt & Whitney R-1830-64 Twin Wasp piston1,2,3 Wright Cyclone4
Cylinders	Radial1,4, Radial 142,3
Cooling	Air3
HP	9001,2,3
Propeller blades	31,2
Dimensions
Span	50'1,2,3,4 15.24 m1,2
Length	35'1,2,3,4 10.67 m1,2
Height	15'1, 15' 1"2,3 4.6 m1,2
Wing area	422 ft2 1 39.2 m2 1
Weight
Empty	6,169 lb1, 6,182 lb2 2,804 kg1,2
Loaded	10,173 lb1, 10,194 lb2,3 4,624 kg1,2
Performance
Speed @ 8,000' / 2,440 m	205 mph1, 206 mph2,3 332 kph1,2
Cruise speed	128 mph2 206 kph2
Climb	720'/minute2 219 m/minute2
Service ceiling	19,700'1,2,3 6,005 m1,2
Range	415 miles1, 716 miles3 670 km1
Range with full load	435 miles2 700 km2
Maximum range	716 miles2 1,152 km2
Armament	2: MG3
Nose	1: 0.3" MG2
Port wing	1: 7.62 mm MG1
Rear cockpit	1: 7.62 mm MG1 1: 0.3" MG2
Bombs	1,000 lb3, 1,500 lb1 680 kg1
OR
Torpedo	1: 1,000 lb1,2 1: 21"2 1: 454 kg1,2 53 cm2