Grumman XTB2F

TB2F
Mockup of the XTB2F
Role	Torpedo bomber
Manufacturer	Grumman
Status	Cancelled at mockup stage

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?

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

• Douglas TB2D Skypirate
• Grumman AF Guardian

Related lists

• List of United States Navy aircraft designations (pre-1962)
• List of military aircraft of the United States

References

Notes

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.