United States' Grumman TBF/TBM Avenger torpedo bomber

Grumman TBF Avenger torpedo bomber:	Grumman TBF Avenger torpedo bomber:	Grumman TBF Avenger torpedo bomber:
Grumman TBF-1 Avenger torpedo bomber: Aeronautics Aircraft Spotters' Handbook	Grumman TBF-1 Avenger torpedo bomber: Aeronautics Aircraft Spotters' Handbook
Grumman Avenger Mk I, TBF-1 torpedo bomber: Grumman	Grumman Avenger Mk I, TBF-1 torpedo bomber in 1944:
Grumman TBM-3 Avenger torpedo bomber:	Grumman TBM-3 Avenger torpedo bomber:
Grumman TBM Avenger torpedo bomber landing on the USS Cowpens:	Grumman TBM Avenger torpedo bombers, from the USS Essex, bombing Japan:
Grumman XTBF-1 Avenger torpedo bomber prototype:	Grumman TGM Avenger torpedo bomber:

Design

On April 8, 1940, both Grumman and Chance Vought were asked to construct prototypes of a carrier based torpedo plane.⁵ Grumman had more experience at building Naval aircraft and their design won out.⁵

Bomb bay

The bomb bay doors were hydraulically operated by the pilot or the bomb aimer.¹

Undercarriage

The main and rear wheels all retracted.¹ The tail hook was electrically operated.¹

Wings

The wings were folded hydraulically.¹ The Avenger was the first Naval plane to be an all metal low wing aircraft.⁵

Prototype

The XTBF-1 prototype was first flown on August 1, 1941.^2,3,5

Production

Before the first prototype flew an order for 286 had been placed.²

The TBF-1 first flew in January 1942.³

General Motors Eastern Aircraft starting building the TBMs in November 1942.^3,5 Grumman stopped production in December 1943.³

• Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation⁵: 2,291⁴, 2,293^1,3
  • Grumman TBF-1: 1,525³, 2,290²
  • Grumman TBF-1C: 764³
  • 1942: 646⁴
  • 1943: 1,645⁴
• General Motors Eastern Aircraft^1,3: 7,543³, 7,546^1,4
  • Grumman TBM-1: 550³, 2,882²
  • Grumman TBM-1C: 2,332³
  • Grumman TBM-3 / TBF-3⁵: 4,664^2,3,5
  • 1942: 3⁴
  • 1943: 1,109⁴
  • 1944: 3,481⁴
  • 1945: 2,953⁴
• Total: 9,836^3,5, 9,839¹
  • Production: January 3, 1942 - 1945⁵

Variants

• Grumman XTBF-1: Prototype.²
• Grumman XTBF-2: Prototype.³ Constructed in early 1942.⁵
• Grumman XTBF-3: Prototype.³ Had R-2600-20 engine.³
• Grumman XTBF-4: Prototype.⁵ Had stronger wing.⁵
• Grumman TBF-1: First appeared in January 1942.²
• Grumman TBM-1: Produced by General Motors.²
• Grumman TBF-1B: Sent to United Kingdom.²
• Grumman TBF-1C: Two 20 mm cannons in wings.^2,3
• Grumman TBF-1CP: Photo reconnaissance.³
• Grumman TBF-1D: Had ASV radar installed.^2,3
• Grumman TBF-1E: Had ASV radar installed.^2,3
• Grumman TBF-1L: Had a search light installed in the bomb bay.^2,3
• Grumman TBM-3: Produced by General Motors (Eastern Division).^2,3 Had R-2600-20 engines.^2,3 Stronger wings for rockets or radar.³
• Grumman TBM-3P: Camera equipped.²
• Grumman TBM-3H: Had search radar.^2,5
• Grumman TBM-3W: Had search radar.⁵ The radar was located in a special housing in the belly.⁵

Usage

The Avengers were used by Britain, New Zealand, and the United States.³

TBF Avengers either destroyed or shared in the destruction of 42 U-boats.¹

High velocity aircraft rockets (HVARs) were first used by the Avenger in January 1944.¹

The TBF Avenger was in use with the United States Navy until 1954.²

First Unit

The VT-8 received its first TBF-1s in May 1942.² These were later used at the Battle of Midway.^2,3,5 They were stationed on the USS Hornet, and five of the six never returned.⁵

Midway

Six TBF Avengers were used at Midway and only one returned.^1,2,6

United States

Former US President George Bush was the youngest naval aviator when he flew in combat.¹

United Kingdom

Initially called the Tarpon, but was later changed to the Avenger.¹

Thirty three squadrons were equipped with the Avenger in the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm.¹

921 / 958⁵ were delivered to the United Kingdom.¹ 395 TBF-1Bs and 526 TBM-3Bs.²

New Zealand

New Zealand received 60⁵ / 63.^1,2

After World War II

The Avenger was used by Canada, France, Holland, Japan, New Zealand, and Uraguay.⁵

The last Avenger was withdrawn from service in 1962.⁵

Specifications