The torpedo bombers that might have been

[Brooke]

The US had the Douglas TBD Devastator:



It was good for its intended time (first flight in 1935), as a first step from the older biplane era, but was outdated by 1940.  In 1939, the Navy requested replacement designs, and there were a couple of contenders.  One was the Grumman TBM Avenger (first flight in 1941, unveiled to the public in a ceremony on Dec. 7, 1941, coincidentally the same as the day of the attack on Pearl Harbor).



Another was the Vought TBY Sea Wolf (first flight in 1941, two weeks after the attack on Pearl Harbor).



It carried the same load as the TBM, but it was significantly faster.  The Navy ordered 1000 of them, but before production started, there were two accidents with the prototype (damage in an arrested-landing trial and later collision with another aircraft) that delayed things, then Vought was too full producing the Corsair to handle the TBY, so it was to be manufactured by Consolidated, but Consolidated had build a manufacturing facility for it.  By then, the TBM had cemented its role, and the Navy cancelled its big orders for the TBY.

[Brooke]

In 1942 or 1943, the Navy asked for designs that could fill both torpedo and dive-bomber roles and replace the TBM Avenger and the SB2C Helldiver.  The aircraft built and competing for that role were:

The Curtis XB2C

4x 20 mm cannon
Up to 2000 lbs of ord
374 mph
Crew of 1
R-4360 Wasp Major engine (3000 HP)
Two contra-rotating props
First flight 1945

The Douglas BTD-1 Destroyer

crew 1
Wright R-3350 (2,300 hp)
334 mph
2x 20 mm cannons
Up to 4000 lbs ord
First flight 1944

The Douglas  XBT2D-1 Skyraider

Crew 1
322 mph
4x 20 mm cannon
Up to 8000 lbs of ord
Wright R-3350 (2700 HP)
First flight 1945

The Kaiser-Fleetwings XBTK-1

2x 20 mm cannon
crew 1
373 mph
up to 3000 lbs ord
R-2800 engine (2100 HP)
First flight 1945

and the Martin XBTM-1 Mauler

crew 1
367 mph
4x 20 mm cannon
up to 4500 lbs ord
R-4360 Wasp Major (2,975 hp)
First flight 1944

At the end of WWII, all of these were cancelled except for the Martin Mauler and Douglas Skyraider, which went on to production and use off of carriers and land bases.  Both also proved capable of carrying much more ord than they were initially specified for, as evident in the following two pictures.  The Mauler was harder to land on CV's than the Skyraider and was not as easy to maintain, so it was eventually discontinued in favor of the Skyraider.




The above includes evidence of the infamous toilet bomb.

[bustr]

You forgot the "Kitchen Sink" bomb dropped by a Skyraider on Pyongyang in 1952.

[GScholz]

The Fairey Spearfish was a 1940s British torpedo bomber designed and built by Fairey Aviation for the Fleet Air Arm. It was one of the largest single-engine aircraft to ever operate from a British aircraft carrier. Only five development aircraft were built during the war due to problems with the engine. After the war it was developed into the turo-prop Gannet.

[Brooke]

Spearfish stats
Centaurus 2585 HP engine
crew 2
5 bladed prop
300 mph
2000 lbs of ord
first flight 1945

[Old Sport]

Was designed to be able to carry two torpedoes and flew in 1944.

[Brooke]

Manufacturer and model?

[Saxman]

Manufacturer and model?

Boeing F8B. Right-click -> Properties on the pic is your friend.  

Pretty impressive stats, if you can trust Wikipedia:

    Maximum speed: 376 knots (432 mph, 695 km/h)
    Cruise speed: 165 knots (190 mph, 306 km/h)
    Range: 2,435 NM (2,800 miles, 4,500 km)
    Service ceiling: 37,500 ft (11,400 m)
    Rate of climb: 2,800 ft/min (850 m/min)
    Power/mass: 0.15 hp/lb (240 W/kg)

Armament

    6 × .50cal (12.7 mm) or 6 × 20 mm wing mounted cannons
    6,400 pounds (2,900 kg) of bombs or 2 × 2,000 lb (910 kg) torpedoes

[shermanjr]

are these torpedo bombers r damn fightser

[Brooke]

Wow, that F8B is awesome, and I had never heard of it.

Engine  R-4360 Wasp Major (3000 HP)
contra-rotating props

[Brooke]

are these torpedo bombers r damn fightser

They are all torpedo bombers.  Some are torpedo bombers and attack bombers (or dive bombers).  One (the F8B) was intended to be a torpedo bomber, dive bomber, and fighter.

[Shifty]

 The B7 was an interesting looking aircraft. I think only one or two actually saw combat, can't say it with any conviciton though.
I do seem to remember one appearing in some USN gun camera footage.

[Brooke]

Aichi B7A Ryusei
2 crew
first flight 1941
2x 20 mm cannon forward
1x 13 mm MG rear
engine 1825 HP
1800 lb of ord
352 mph

It did fly in WWII, and 114 were produced.

Like some of the later US designs, the B7A was designed to be both a torpedo bomber and a dive bomber.

[mthrockmor]

Wow!!

I had no idea and one reason love reading these boards. Always learning new things. Thanks Brookes and company.

 

[1stpar3]

You forgot the "Kitchen Sink" bomb dropped by a Skyraider on Pyongyang in 1952.

(Image removed from quote.)

I guess that is industrial strength "draino"? Looks like it could work pretty fast. I love this stuff, where do you guys find these things, or post more? please! Fellow wise arse here