The Great Lakes XTBG-1 was an American prototype torpedo bomber, intended for service in the United States Navy as part of that service's plan to modernise its aerial striking force in the mid-1930s. The XTBG-1 was outperformed by the competing TBD Devastator, however, in addition to having instability problems and only a single prototype of the three-seat design was constructed during 1935.

Design

Featuring retractable landing gear and a fully enclosed weapons bay for its torpedo, the XTBG-1 had the unusual feature of the torpedo-aimer seated forward of the wing, in a small, enclosed compartment.

Specifications (XTBG-1)

Data from Aero-web

General characteristics

  • Crew: 3
  • Length: 34 ft 9 in (10.6 m)
  • Wingspan: 42 ft 0 in (12.8 m)
  • Height: 15 ft 1 in (4.6 m)
  • Gross weight: 9,313 lb (4,224 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-1830-60 Twin Wasp 14-cyl. twin row air-cooled radial piston engine, 800 hp (600 kW)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 185 mph (298 km/h, 161 kn)
  • Service ceiling: 15,600 ft (4,800 m)

Armament 1 x air-droppable torpedo in an internal weapons bay

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

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