Main Menu
United States' Douglas TBD Devastator1,2
Douglas TBD Devastator from the USS Enterprise at Wake Island on Febuary 24, 1942: |
Douglas TBD Devastator: |
Douglas TBD Devastator: |
Douglas TBD Devastator: |
Douglas TBD Devastator, Torpedo Squadron 6 (VT-6), 1938: |
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
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.2
Prototype
The XTBD-1 prototype first flew on April 15, 1935.1,2
Carrier trials were conducted aboard the USS Lexington in December 1935.1
Production
129 TBD-1s were ordered in February 1936.2
- XTBD-1: 12
- TBD-1: 1292
- Total: 1302
Variants
- XTBD-1: Prototype.2 Powered by a Pratt & Whitney R-1830-60 Twin Wasp.2
- TBD-1:
- TBD-1A: Fitted with Edo floats and test flown in 1939 at Newport, Rhode Island.1,2
Usage
The VT-3 was the first unit to receive the TBD Devastators in October 1937.1,2
Midway
On June 4, 1942 35 TBD Devastators were shot down.1,2
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, TBD Devastators were used for communications and training.1
| Douglas TBD-1 Devastator1,2 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Torpedo bomber1,2 |
| Crew | 31,2 Pilot, gunner/navigator, torpedo operator1,2 |
| Engine (Type) | Pratt & Whitney R-1830-64 Twin Wasp piston1,2 |
| Cylinders | Radial1, Radial 142 |
| Cooling | |
| HP | 9001,2 |
| Propeller blades | 31,2 |
| Dimensions | |
| Span | 50'1,2 15.24 m1,2 |
| Length | 35'1,2 10.67 m1,2 |
| Height | 15'1, 15' 1"2 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 4,624 kg1,2 |
| Performance | |
| Speed @ 8,000' / 2,440 m |
205 mph1, 206 mph2 332 kph1,2 |
| Cruise speed | 128 mph2 206 kph2 |
| Climb | 720'/minute2 219 m/minute2 |
| Service ceiling | 19,700'1,2 6,005 m1,2 |
| Range | 415 miles1 670 km1 |
| Range with full load | 435 miles2 700 km2 |
| Maximum range | 716 miles2 1,152 km2 |
| Armament | |
| Nose | 1: 0.3" MG2 |
| Port wing | 1: 7.62 mm MG1 |
| Rear cockpit | 1: 7.62 mm MG1 1: 0.3" MG2 |
| Bombs | 1,500 lb1 680 kg1 |
| OR | |
| Torpedo | 1: 1,000 lb1,2 1: 21"2 1: 454 kg1,2 53 cm2 |
Sources:
- Aircraft of WWII, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
- Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
