Early Avenger's went into Navy service in time for the June 1942 Battle of Midway. The Avenger played a pivotal role in the Pacific because of its effectiveness against the Japanese fleet and its rugged resistance to enemy fire. Avenger's three man crew included a pilot, a rear gunner in a powered turret and a bombardier/ gunner in the plane's belly.
| Type | Three-seat Carrier-based Torpedo Bomber |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Grumman |
| Powerplant | One 1268-kW (1700-hp) Wright R-2600-8 Cyclone 14-cylinder radial piston engine |
| Maximum speed | 436 km/h (270 mph) at 5030 m (15,000 ft) |
| Climb rate | 435 m/min (1425 fpm) |
| Range | 1778 km (1100 miles) |
| Service ceiling | 6830 m (22,400 ft) |
| Armament | (TBF-1C) two fixed forward-firing 12.7-mm (.50-cal) machine guns; one 12.7- mm machine gun in rear turret; one 7.62-mm (.30-cal) machine gun in ventral position; 907 kg (2000 lb) of bombs or one torpedo in internal bomb-bay |
| Weights | Empty 4788 kg (10,534 lb) Maximum take-off 7876 kg (17,327 lb) |
| Dimensions | Span 16.51 m (54 ft 2 in) Length 12.20 m (40 ft) Height 5.00 m (16 ft 5 in) Wing area 45.52 m2 (490 sq ft) |
