The Grumman Avenger "replacement" ...

[Mark Allen M]

Grumman XTB2F ... or ... (A Grumman S-2 Tracker Before Its Time?)

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 impracticable to efficiently deploy twin-engined aircraft of this size from an aircraft carrier, and the plans were scrapped.

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; 502 km/h (312 mph)
Stall speed: 62 kn; 114 km/h (71.1 mph)
Ferry range: 2,352 nmi; 4,356 km (2,707 mi)
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

[Snake45]

Don't think I've ever seen this before, thanks!

I'd think a Tigercat would make a good torpedo attacker.

[Michel Lemieux]

Wing folding also!

Tks for sharing Mark!

Or see here: http://www.vehibase.com/grumman-xtb2f/photo-1.htm

[DB2]

I'd think a Tigercat would make a good torpedo attacker.

Grumman thought so too!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grumman_XTSF

[raconnel]

Wotta monster.

Compared to the S-2, 8.5 feet longer, 2 feet more wingspan, and 20,000 pounds heavier (max take-off). Much closer in size to the AJ Savage. "When first deployed, the AJ-1 was too large and heavy to be used by any American aircraft carrier except for the Midway class" (Wikipedia).

Richard

[Adam Kline]

Never knew this existed. Thanks for posting

[Craig59]

A Sperry ball turret with a whole lotta ugly attached! Was the sawhorse optional?

[Joe Scheil]

Very cool S-2 foreshadowing!

Of course the other reason for cancellation was that there simply was not anything left to sink with a torpedo on the Axis side....

[Cvairwerks]

A Sperry ball turret with a whole lotta ugly attached! Was the sawhorse optional?

Doesn't look like it got past the mock-up stage.