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The Douglas XTB2D Skypirate (also known as the Devastator II) was a torpedo bomber intended for service with the United States Navy's Midway- and Essex-class aircraft carriers; it was too large for earlier decks. Two prototypes were completed, but the dedicated torpedo bomber was becoming an outdated concept, and with the end of World War II, the type was deemed unnecessary and cancelled.

TB2D Skypirate
XTB2D-1 prototype
Role	Torpedo bomber Type of aircraft
Manufacturer	Douglas Aircraft Company
First flight	13 March 1945
Status	Cancelled
Number built	2

Design and development

In 1939, Douglas designers Ed Heinemann and Bob Donovan began work on a VTB Proposal to replace the TBD Devastator torpedo bomber. In 1942, the team led by Heinemann and Donovan began work on a new project named the "Devastator II". On 31 October 1943, just four days after the very large Midway-class aircraft carriers were ordered into production, Douglas received a contract for two prototypes, designated TB2D, receiving the official name: "Skypirate".[1]

The TB2D was powered by a Pratt & Whitney R-4360 Wasp Major driving contra-rotating propellers. Four torpedoes (such as the Mark 13 torpedo) or an equivalent bomb load could be carried on underwing pylons. Defensive armament consisted of two 20 mm (.79 in) cannon in the wings and .50 in (12.7 mm) machine guns mounted in a power-operated dorsal turret.[2]

Very large for a single-engined aircraft, the TB2D would have been the largest carrierborne aircraft at the time; it could carry four times the weapon load of the Grumman TBF Avenger. With only limited support from the US Navy, and facing a recommendation for cancellation on 20 May 1944 due to the aircraft being designed only for the CVB and CV9 carriers, the TB2D project was in peril even at the design and mockup stage.[3]

Operational history

The two "Skypirate" prototypes, BuNo 36933 and 36934, were ready for flight trials in 1945 with the first prototype XTB2D-1 flying on 13 March 1945. The second example had a 58 cm increase in the length of the fuselage, and flew later in summer 1945. Both prototypes were test flown without any armament. Despite the flying trials proceeding on schedule, the collapse of the Japanese forces in the Pacific along with delays in the Midway class, eliminated the need for the type and the 23 pre-production aircraft on order were subsequently cancelled. The flight trials were suspended and the two prototypes were eventually reduced to scrap in 1948.[4]

Specifications (XTB2D-1 Skypirate)

Data from McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Since 1920;[5] Douglas XTB2D-1 Skypirate[6]

General characteristics

• Crew: 3
• Length: 46 ft 0 in (14.02 m)
• Wingspan: 70 ft 0 in (21.34 m)
• Height: 22 ft 7 in (6.88 m)
• Wing area: 605 sq ft (56.2 m²)
• Airfoil: root: ES SH 4518; tip: ES SH 4516[7]
• Empty weight: 18,405 lb (8,348 kg)
• Gross weight: 28,545 lb (12,948 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 34,760 lb (15,767 kg)
• Fuel capacity: 320 US gal (270 imp gal; 1,200 l) fuselage tank - Torpedo bomber mission

501 US gal (417 imp gal; 1,900 l) fuselage tank - Bomber mission

501 US gal (417 imp gal; 1,900 l) fuselage tank + 273 US gal (227 imp gal; 1,030 l) wing tanks + 2x 300 US gal (250 imp gal; 1,100 l) drop-tanks - Overload scout mission

• Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-4360-8 Wasp Major 28-cylinder 4-row air-cooled radial piston engine, 3,000 hp (2,200 kW)
• Propellers: 8-bladed Hamilton-Standard Super Hydromatic contra-rotating individually fully-feathering constant-speed propeller, 14 ft 1 in (4.29 m) diameter forward propeller section 14 ft 3 in (4.34 m) diameter aft propeller section

Performance

• Maximum speed: 340 mph (550 km/h, 300 kn) at 15,600 ft (4,800 m)
• Cruise speed: 168 mph (270 km/h, 146 kn)
• Range: 1,250 mi (2,010 km, 1,090 nmi)
• Ferry range: 2,880 mi (4,630 km, 2,500 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 24,500 ft (7,500 m)
• Rate of climb: 1,390 ft/min (7.1 m/s)
• Wing loading: 47.2 lb/sq ft (230 kg/m²)
• Power/mass: 0.1053 hp/lb (0.1731 kW/kg)

Armament

• Guns:
  
  • 4 × wing mounted 0.50 in (13 mm) machine guns
  • 2 × 0.50 in (13 mm) machine guns in dorsal turret
  • 1 × 0.50 in (13 mm) machine gun in ventral bath
• Bombs: Up to 8,400 lb (3,800 kg)) of bombs or four torpedoes

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• Consolidated TBY Sea Wolf
• Curtiss XBTC
• Douglas A-1 Skyraider
• Douglas BTD Destroyer
• Fairey Spearfish
• Grumman TBF Avenger
• Martin AM Mauler

Related lists

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

Citations

Bibliography

• Andrews, Harold: XTB2D-1. United States Naval Aviation News, January 1982, pp. 20–21 ISSN 0028-1417
• Francillon, René J. McDonnell Douglas Aircraft since 1920: Volume I. London: Putnam, 1979. ISBN 0-370-00050-1.
• Kowalski, Bob. Douglas XTB2D-1 Skypirate (Naval Fighters, Volume Thirty-Six). Simi Valley, CA: Ginter Books, 1996. ISBN 0-942612-36-1.
• Wagner, Ray. American Combat Airplanes of the 20th Century: A Comprehensive Reference. Reno, Nevada: Jack Bacon & Co., 2004. ISBN 0-930083-17-2

На других языках

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[de] Douglas XTB2D

Die Douglas TB2D Skypirate (auch bekannt unter dem Namen Devastator II) war ein Torpedobomber der United States Navy, der vorgesehen war für den Einsatz von Flugzeugträgern der Midway- und Essex-Klasse; auf älteren Flugzeugträgern konnte er wegen zu kleiner Flugdecks nicht eingesetzt werden. Zwei Prototypen wurden gebaut, aber mit dem Ende des Zweiten Weltkriegs galten Torpedobomber als ein veraltetes Konzept, daher wurde der Typ als unnötig erachtet und gestrichen.

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- [en] Douglas XTB2D Skypirate

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[fr] Douglas XTB2D Skypirate

Le Douglas TB2D Skypirate était un bombardier-torpilleur prévu pour les porte-avions de classe Midway et Essex de l'US Navy. Il était trop grand pour le pont des porte-avions antérieurs. Seuls deux prototypes furent construits, le concept de bombardier dédié uniquement au torpillage devenant obsolète. La Seconde Guerre mondiale touchant à sa fin, on considéra ce modèle inutile et le projet fut annulé.

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[it] Douglas TB2D Skypirate

Il Douglas XBT2D Skypirate (conosciuto anche come Devastator II) era un aerosilurante imbarcato, sviluppato dall'azienda statunitense Douglas Aircraft Company negli anni quaranta per l'US Navy, e rimasto allo stadio di prototipo. Tale velivolo era destinato all'imbarco sulle nuove portaerei delle classi Essex[2] e Midway, ma la sua acquisizione venne cancellata alla fine della seconda guerra mondiale.

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