Douglas TBD Devastator

The Douglas TBD Devastator was a three-seat, torpedo-bomber used by the US Navy during the first years of the Pacific Theater of WW2. The prototype, the XTBD-1, had first flown on April 15, 1935. After a long period of test flights, competing with other firms' prototypes, it was finally accepted for production in May 1937. It was formally introduced into service on August 3, 1937, as the TBD-1. Another variant would be produced, the TBD-1A, which was fitted with twin floats.

In 1937, when it entered service with the VT-3 Squadron aboard the USS Saratoga, the TBD Devastator was the most modern, carrier-based torpedo-bomber in the world, as it had replaced the Great Lakes TG-2 biplane. However, by December 7, 1941, when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, it had already become a slow and obsolete aircraft. The Nakajima B5N and the Aichi D3A, which would be introduced in 1938 and 1939 respectively, were faster and more maneuverable.

During the Battle of the Coral Sea, on May 7, 1942, Douglas TBD-1s, along with SBD Dauntless dive-bombers, sank the IJN carrier Shoho. On June 4, 1942, during the Battle of Midway, 41 Devastators attacked the Japanese fleet, but only five of them were able to return as the rest had been wiped out of the sky by Mitsubishi A6M Zeke fighters. Thus, the following year, this torpedo-bomber would be phased out and replaced by the Grumman TBF Avenger.

Technical Characteristics

The Douglas TBD Devastator was a three-seat, single-engine monoplane, with a semi-monocoque, all-metal, two-spar fuselage. Its control movable surfaces were fabric-covered. The aircraft was fitted low wing, whose outer panel could hydraulically be folded up over cockpit for storage aboard carriers. The inner wing panel trailing edge had large split flaps, which allowed for a slower approach and landing speed. The cockpit was large enough for a crew of three and it was covered by a greenhouse type canopy. The retractable landing gear wheels folded backwards into root of wing. Since it was a carrier-borne warplane, it featured a deck-arrester hook under rear segment of fuselage.

Specifications

Type: three-seat torpedo-bomber

Length: 10.67 m (35 feet)

Wing Span: 15.24 m (50 feet)

Wing Area: 39.20 m2 (422 square feet)

Height: 4.60 m (15 feet)

Powerplant: one 900-HP, Pratt & Whitney R-1830-64 twin Wasp, radial piston engine.

Maximum Speed: 332 km/h (205 mph)

Range: 700 km (434.9 miles)

Armament: one 7.62mm (.30-caliber) forward firing machine gun; one 7.62mm backward-firing machine gun mounted in rear portion of cockpit. One Bliss-Leavitt Mk XIII aerial torpedo, or up to three 500-pound bombs.

Crew: three (pilot, navigator, gunner).

Below, three TBD-1s flying over San Diego in 1939.

A Devastator in flight over Hawaii in 1940.

A Douglas TBD dropping a Mk XIII torpedo into sea waters during drills.

Below, Devastators of VT-3 Squadron on flight deck of USS Saratoga.