www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org - Naval Aviation Resource Center

Type: Carrier based Torpedo bomber,
later ASW (anti-submarine warfare) aircraft
and AEW (Airborne Early Warning) aircraft
Origin: Grumman Aircraft
Crew: 3
Models: TBF and TBM series
First Flight: XTBF-1: August 1, 1941
Service Delivery: January 30, 1942
Final Delivery (New): September 1945
Final Delivery (Rebuilt): August 1954
Production: N/A

Powerplant:
Model: Wright R-2600-8 or -20 Double cyclone
Type: 14-cylinder dual-row radial engine
Number: One Horsepower: 1,700 hp

Dimensions:
Wing Span: 16.5m (54 ft. 2 in.)
Length (To TBM-3): 12.2m (40 ft.)
Length (To TBM-3E): 12.48m (40 ft. 11.5 in.)
Height: 5m (16 ft. 5 in.)
Wing Area: N/A

Weights:
Empty (TBF-1): 4580 kg (10,100 lb)
Empty (TBM-3): 4787 kg (10,545 lb)
Maximum (TBF-1): 7214 kg (15,905 lb)
Maximum (TBM-3): 8278 kg (18,250 lb)
Maximum (TBM-3E): 8117 kg (17,895 lb)

Performance:
Max. Speed (TBF-1): 445 km/h (278 mph)
Max. Speed (TBM-3): 430 km/h (267 mph)
Initial Climb (TBF-1): 1,075 ft/min (376 m/min)
Service Ceiling (TBF, TBM-1 to -3):
7132m (23,400 ft.)
Service Ceiling (TBM-3E): 30,000 ft.
Max. Range (Full weapons load):
1,600-1,950 km (1,010-1,215 miles)
Max. Range (Ferry tanks): 4072 km (2,530 miles)

Armament:
TBF-1 & TBM-1
One .30 Browning fixed above engine
One .50 Browning in powered dorsal turret
One .30 Browning manually aimed in rear ventral position

TBF-1C, TBM-1C & TBM-3
One .30 Browning fixed above engine
One .50 Browning in powered dorsal turret
One .50 Browning in each outer wing
One .30 Browning manually aimed in rear ventral position

Most subsequent versions unarmed or fitted with
ASW weapons only.

Bomb Load:
TBF-1 & TBM-1
2,000 lb. (454 kg) of bombs or one 22 in. Torpedo internally

TBF-1C, TBM-1C & TBM-3
2,000 lb. (454 kg) of bombs or one 22 in. Torpedo internally
Underwing racks for eight 60 lb. (27 kg.) rockets

Avionics:
N/A

Variants:
TBM-3E: ASW search and attack equipment
TBM-3W and -3W2: Early Warning aircraft with huge belly radar
TBM-3U: Tug
TBM-3R: COD (carrier on-board delivery) aircraft
with seven passenger seats
Avenger AS.4: Designation of 100 TBM-3E Avengers
that served with the Fleet Air Arm

Comments:
Another outstanding design from the Grumman "Ironworks", the Avenger proved to be an extremely versatile design. Large numbers of the types served with the US Navy and fought from the Battle Of Midway onwards. Originally designed as a torpedo bomber, the Avenger proved to be a capable conventional bomber and later served as an ASW (Anti-Submarine Warfare) and AEW (Airborne Early Warning) aircraft and fulfilled these roles well into the mid-fifties. Large numbers of Avengers found postwar roles with the RCN, Aeronavale, Japan and the Netherlands.
The Avengers usefulness extended to post-war civilian life. Number of Avengers were modified for use as firebombers by removing the turret and military equipment and installing tanks in the bomb bays. Several of these fire bombers still fill this role today while others have been restored back to there military configuartion and have proved to be popular warbirds.