The Douglas TBD Devastator was a torpedo bomber which entered service with the United States Navy in 1937, it was advanced for it's time and was fitted with hydraulically powered folding wings and an all enclosed cockpit. By the time the Douglas TBD Devastator went into battle for the first time in early 1942, it had become "old technology, aircraft design leaping forward as a result of the years of fighting in Europe, it still however managed to acquit itself quite well. During the Battle of Midway in June 1942 the Douglas TBD Devastator suffered horrendous losses against the Japanese fighters, nearly all the aircraft used were lost, in consequence the TBD Devastator was withdrawn from active service in favour of the superior Grumman TBF Avenger. A total of 130 Douglas TBD Devastator torpedo bombers were produced, it is of note that the undercarriage did not fully retract which reduced considerably the damage caused buy a wheels up emergency landing. Douglas TBD-1 Devastator Specifications: - Crew: Pilot, Torpedo Officer/Navigator and a Radioman/Gunner
- Length: 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m)
- Wingspan: 50 ft 0 in (15.24 m)
- Height: 15 ft 1 in (4.60 m)
- Empty weight: 6,182 lb (2,804 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 10,194 lb (4,623 kg)
- engine: Single 900 hp (671 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-1830-64 Twin Wasp radial engine
- Maximum speed: 206 mph (331 km/h)
- Range: 435 mi (700 km) with a Mk XIII Torpedo, 716 mi (1,152 km) with a 1,000 lb (454 kg) bomb
- Service ceiling: 19,700 ft (6,000 m)
Armament: - Single 0.30 in (7.62 mm) or 0.50 in (12.7 mm) forward-firing machine gun
- One or two rear firing 0.30 in (7.62 mm) machine guns in the rear cockpit
- Single 1,200 lb (544 kg) Mark XIII torpedo or 1,000 lb (454 kg) bomb
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