General Motors
TBM-3 Avenger
The TBM‑3 Avenger was a torpedo‑bearing, carrier‑based bomber developed for the United States Navy during World II. Originally designed by Grumman, production was transferred to the Eastern Aircraft Division of General Motors in 1942 to meet soaring demand. By the war’s end more than 7,800 TBMs had been built, making it the most numerous American carrier aircraft of the conflict.
Key features included a powerful Wright R‑2600‑20 radial engine delivering 1,900 hp, a long, low‑drag wing and a spacious, glazed cockpit that accommodated a pilot, radioman‑gunner and a rear flexible‑mount. The aircraft could carry a single Mk 13 torpedo, up to 2,000 lb of bombs, or rockets, and its defensive armament comprised a forward .50‑caliber machine gun and a rear 20 mm cannon. Robust air‑scoop cooling and a sturdy undercarriage allowed operations from both carriers and rough land bases.
The Avenger’s significance lies in its versatility: it performed anti‑submarine patrols, ground‑attack missions and served as a platform for early airborne radar experiments. Its reliability and payload capacity influenced post‑war naval aviation design and cemented General Motors’ role as a major wartime aircraft manufacturer throughout the 1940s.
Key features included a powerful Wright R‑2600‑20 radial engine delivering 1,900 hp, a long, low‑drag wing and a spacious, glazed cockpit that accommodated a pilot, radioman‑gunner and a rear flexible‑mount. The aircraft could carry a single Mk 13 torpedo, up to 2,000 lb of bombs, or rockets, and its defensive armament comprised a forward .50‑caliber machine gun and a rear 20 mm cannon. Robust air‑scoop cooling and a sturdy undercarriage allowed operations from both carriers and rough land bases.
The Avenger’s significance lies in its versatility: it performed anti‑submarine patrols, ground‑attack missions and served as a platform for early airborne radar experiments. Its reliability and payload capacity influenced post‑war naval aviation design and cemented General Motors’ role as a major wartime aircraft manufacturer throughout the 1940s.
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Classification
Production & History
- Units Produced
- 4,011
Design & Classification
- Manufacturer
- General Motors
- Military Designation
- TBM-3, Avenger Mk.III
- Engine
- R-2600-20 Twin Cyclone
- Operator
-
TBM-3 Avenger fleet
- Wikidata ID
- Q21684977