Colonial-Marine
UAVs are now friend, drones are the real enemy.
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I've been trying to understand he USN's various dive and torpedo bomber projects following the TBF/TMB Avenger and SB2C Helldiver. Ultimately these efforts led to the AM Mauler and AD Skyraider but there was a large number of designs prior to this. Would categorizing these aircraft into three distinct efforts be accurate?
1941 requirements dive bomber:
Douglas XSB2D - two seat dive bomber designed to succeed the troublesome SB2C Helldiver, two built
Curtiss XSB3C - cancelled in favor of the XSB2D before any prototypes built
Douglas BTD Destroyer - redesign of the XSB2D after revised 1943 requirements for a single seat aircraft, some sources claim it had worse performance, 26 built, further production cancelled in favor of newer designs
long range torpedo bomber (1943):
Grumman XTB2F - large two engine long range torpedo bomber, cancelled before prototype built
Grumman XTSF - two engine long range torpedo scout, derived from the F7F Tigercat, cancelled before prototype built
Douglas XTB2D Skypirate - large single engine long range torpedo bomber, cancelled after two prototypes
Grumman XTB3F - mixed power long range torpedo bomber
Grumman AF Guardian - redesign of the XTB3F into an anti-submarine aircraft, jet engine deleted
1943 requirement multi-role bomber:
Douglas XBT2D - single seat dive/torpedo bomber which became the AD Skyraider
Martin XBTM - single seat dive/torpedo bomber which became the AM Mauler
Curtiss XBTC - single seat dive/torpedo bomber rejected in favor of the Douglas and Martin designs, two prototypes built
Curtiss XBT2C - less ambitious dive/torpedo bomber reusing a large number of components of the SB2C Helldiver, second crewman in rear fuselage as a dedicated radar operator, nine built
Kaiser-Fleetwings XBTK - smaller single seat dive/torpedo bomber intended for escort carriers, cancelled after five prototypes
So a total of 11 different designs ordered by the Navy, 8 of which made it to prototype status, 3 of which saw service post-war.
1941 requirements dive bomber:
Douglas XSB2D - two seat dive bomber designed to succeed the troublesome SB2C Helldiver, two built
Curtiss XSB3C - cancelled in favor of the XSB2D before any prototypes built
Douglas BTD Destroyer - redesign of the XSB2D after revised 1943 requirements for a single seat aircraft, some sources claim it had worse performance, 26 built, further production cancelled in favor of newer designs
long range torpedo bomber (1943):
Grumman XTB2F - large two engine long range torpedo bomber, cancelled before prototype built
Grumman XTSF - two engine long range torpedo scout, derived from the F7F Tigercat, cancelled before prototype built
Douglas XTB2D Skypirate - large single engine long range torpedo bomber, cancelled after two prototypes
Grumman XTB3F - mixed power long range torpedo bomber
Grumman AF Guardian - redesign of the XTB3F into an anti-submarine aircraft, jet engine deleted
1943 requirement multi-role bomber:
Douglas XBT2D - single seat dive/torpedo bomber which became the AD Skyraider
Martin XBTM - single seat dive/torpedo bomber which became the AM Mauler
Curtiss XBTC - single seat dive/torpedo bomber rejected in favor of the Douglas and Martin designs, two prototypes built
Curtiss XBT2C - less ambitious dive/torpedo bomber reusing a large number of components of the SB2C Helldiver, second crewman in rear fuselage as a dedicated radar operator, nine built
Kaiser-Fleetwings XBTK - smaller single seat dive/torpedo bomber intended for escort carriers, cancelled after five prototypes
So a total of 11 different designs ordered by the Navy, 8 of which made it to prototype status, 3 of which saw service post-war.
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