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Scale 1:36   Length 14"   Wingspan 18.5"
 

Photography by Action Asia Photo
© 2002-8 Action Asia Photo - All Rights Reserved
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Other TBM Versions:

• TBM-3E: Same as TBM-3 but equipped with special radar
• TBM-3S: ASW version of the TBM-3E.
• TBM-3S2: Same as TBM-3S with improved ASW equipment
• TBM-3W2: TBM-3W with improved ASW equipment and rearrangement of the after crew space with APS-20 radar.

The Avenger probably holds the honor of being the most versatile aircraft of any of Grumman's many outstanding contributions to naval aviation. It was in squadron from March 1942 until October 1954 - a shorter time than some other aircraft but, during those years, it served as a torpedo bomber, ASW aircraft and the Navy's first carrier-based AEW (Airborne Early Warning) plane. There was also a modification for night operations, one for radar countermeasures and another for Carrier Onboard Delivery.

Grumman's early experience had been entirely to build fighters. But in April 1940 the Navy awarded Grumman it's first contract to build an attack aircraft. The result was the Avenger whose design used a  wing that attached mid way up the fuselage to permit a large bay capable of carrying a torpedo. The first flight of the three-place, torpedo bomber occurred in August 1941.

As the Second World War developed, Grumman's output of the TBF Avenger was augmented by Eastern Aircraft Division of General Motors and those GM-built  Avengers were designated as the TBM. While Grumman produced a total of 2,290 TBF aircraft, Eastern produced 7,546 TBM aircraft. The last delivery to the Navy was made in September 1945.

The TBF-1 could carry up to 2,000 pounds of torpedoes or bombs in the bomb bay. It had a dorsal turret with a .50 caliber gun at the rear of the cockpit, a forward-firing .30 caliber gun in the nose cowling and another .30 caliber gun located ventrally facing aft. The TBF-1 was powered by a single 1700 horsepower Wright R-2600-8 engine.

The XTBF-3 was developed to give the Avenger the more powerful 1900 horsepower Wright 2600-20 engine. The production version of the XTBF-3 was never produced in its F designation but was built by Eastern as the TBM-3. The TBM-3's range was from 1,130 to 2,530 statute miles and an average speed of 150 mph.

The TBM-3S was a version built for Anti-Submarine Warfare and was the "Killer" unit in combination that included a TBM-3W which was the "Finder" aircraft.

Crew:          Three
Length:       41 ft
Wingspan:  54 ft (folded 19 ft)
Weight:      17,895 lbs gross
Engine:       One 1,900 hp Wright R-2600-20
Speed:         276 mph maximum
Range:        505 miles tactical

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