Grumman TBF Avenger

The Grumman TBF Avenger was a carrier-borne torpedo-bomber used by the US Navy during World War II. It had been designed to attack and destroy enemy aircraft carriers and submarines. It was armed with the Mark-13 torpedo, which weighed 1,927 lb (874.1 kg), but it could also carry bombs. The TBF Avenger took part in the destruction and sinking of 42 enemy submarines and 7 Japanese aircraft carriers during the war.

The TBF had been designed by a team led by W. T. Schwendier in response to the Bureau of Aeronautic specifications issued on March 25, 1939. The prototype XTBF-1 flew for the first time on August 7, 1941. After many test flights, the first production torpedo-bomber was delivered to the US Navy in January 1942. It would be called "avenger" after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. It entered service in the TBF-1 version. Grumman and General Motors produced a total of 9,839 units. Former President George Bush was the youngest aviator when he flew this torpedo-bomber in the Pacific Theater of the war.

The Grumman TBF Avenger had its baptism of fire during the Battle of Midway on June 4, 1942. Six TBFs of Torpedo Squadron 8 took off from Midway island runway that morning, but only one of the six returned, with the turret gunner dead, and the pilot and radioman wounded. The other five aircraft had been shot down by Japanese A6M Zero fighters and the enemy carriers flak guns.

Technical Characteristics

The Grumman TBF Avenger was a three-seat, single-engine monoplane, which was fitted with hydraulically-folding mid-wing for ease of stowage. The fuselage was of semi-monocoque all-metal construction, with a deep belly of oval cross section. An internal bomb-bay, with hydraulically-operated door, could house either one torpedo or a combination of bombs up to 908 kg.

The cockpit was located above the center section of wings. It was designed for a crew of three: pilot, radio operator, and gunner, who sat beneath a green-house canopy. The aircraft was powered by one 1,700-HP, Curtis-Wright R-2600-8 Cyclone, 14-cylinder, air-cooled radial engine. This machine drove a three-blade Hamilton Standard Hydraumatic propeller. Landing gear was retractable and it consisted of two main wheeled legs, which folded up outboard into the wings.

Specifications (TBF-1)

Type: torpedo-bomber

Length: 12.20 m (40 feet)

Wingspan: 16.51 m (54 feet, 2 inches)

Wing Area: 45.52 m2 (490 sq. ft.)

Height: 5 m (16 feet, 5 inches)

Powerplant: one 1,700-HP, Curtis-Wright R-2600-8 radial engine.

Maximum Speed: 436 km/h (270 mph)

Ceiling: 6,830 m (22,400 feet)

Range: 1,778 km (1,100 miles)

Armament: four machine guns (two fixed forward firing M2 Browning .50-cal; one .50-cal. in rear turret; and one .30-cal in ventral position). 908 kg of bombs or one Mk 13 torpedo.

Below, the Grumman TBF Avenger flying over the Pacific in late 1944.

Drawing of this torpedo-bomber. Underside view.

Three TBFs flying in formation in early 1945.