The Grumman TB2F was a cancelled twin-engined torpedo bomber project, intended as Grumman's successor to the successful TBF Avenger. However, only a mockup was ever constructed.
In 1944, during World War II, the Midway class aircraft carriers were being built, and Grumman attempted to design a new torpedo bomber to accompany those carriers. However, it was soon decided that, among other difficulties, it would be impractical to efficiently deploy twin-engined aircraft of this size from an aircraft carrier, and the plans were shelved.
Specifications
Data from A Tracker Before Its Time?[1]
General characteristics
- Crew: 3
- Length: 52 ft 0 in (15.85 m)
- Wingspan: 74 ft 0 in (22.56 m) (Folded span: 36 ft 0 in (10.97 m))
- Height: 17 ft 0 in (5.18 m)
- Max takeoff weight: 43,937 lb (19,929 kg)
- Fuel capacity: 1,960 US Gallon internal fuel
- Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney R-2800-22 Double Wasp radial engine, 2,100 hp (1,600 kW) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 271 kn (312 mph, 502 km/h)
- Stall speed: 61.8 kn (71.1 mph, 114.4 km/h)
- Ferry range: 2,352 nmi (2,707 mi, 4,356 km)
- Service ceiling: 31,600 ft (9,600 m)
Armament
- Guns:
- 1× 75 mm cannon and 6× .50 in (12.7 mm) machine guns forward firing
- 2× .50 in machine guns each in dorsal and ball turrets
- Bombs: 1× Mark 13 torpedo or 3,500 lb (1,600 kg) bombs or mines in bomb bay
See also
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
- List of United States Navy aircraft designations (pre-1962)
- List of military aircraft of the United States
References
- Notes
- ^ Pelletier 2002, pp. 99–101
- Bibliography
- Johnson, E.R. (2008). American Attack Aircraft Since 1926. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. ISBN 978-0-7864-3464-0.
- Pelletier, Alain J. "A Tracker Before Its Time?: Grumman's Heavyweight XTB2F-1". Air Enthusiast, No. 98, March/April 2002. ISSN 0143-5450. pp. 48–53.
This page was last edited on 10 June 2022, at 02:48