The Grumman TBF Avenger is a specifically designed carrier-borne single-engine mid-wing torpedo bomber. It had a crew of three, pilot, navigator/radio operator and gunner. It was armed initially with one .303 Browning in the dorsal turret, a .5 Browning in the nose and a third in the ventral observation window just below the tail section. Later the nose gun was removed in favour of two forward firing .5 Browning in the wings and a second added to the turret. The large bomb bay could carry a Mk.II torpedo or 2,000lb of bombs in various configurations.
It was powered by a Wright R-2600 Cyclone 14-cylinder radial engine driving a three bladed propeller giving it 1,900hp. However, it was a large aircraft, nicknamed the ‘turkey’ by crews of the escort carriers from which they were mainly based. The type used the Grumman ‘Sto-wing’ folding wing system, same as that developed for the Wildcat, from the outset giving it maximum storage capability on the tight carrier hangar decks.
The FAA obtained the first order of slightly modified Avengers in 1943 and renamed it the Tarpon I. 402 of these were delivered and used immediately in the Mediterranean and North Atlantic Fleets. There were two further batches of the type delivered for the FAA, 334 Tarpon II were supplied by Grumman with a further 334 Tarpon III, (TBM-3)produced by General Motors. In mid-1944 the British switched the name back to Avenger to keep in line with American aircraft names being the same. In all 34 FAA squadrons used the Tarpon/Avenger during the war.
The type was a huge success and was used to great effect. In January 1944 many Tarpons were assigned to the Far East first by the British East Indies Fleet in 1944 becoming the British Pacific Fleet in 1945. Avengers were on all the major Fleet carriers as well as five escort carriers. HMS Victorious, Indefatigable, Illustrious and Indomitable all carried Avenger Squadrons and later HMS Formidable and Implacable. Many bombing raids were carried out on mainland and Island targets as well as torpedo attacks on shipping. The Avenger was more suited to the tropical climate whereas the Barracuda struggled. The Barracuda was gradually phased out in the Far East and replaced by the far superior Avenger. Fighters escorted the Avengers in large numbers including Seafires, Corsairs, Martlets and Hellcats.
After the war the Avenger was quickly retired. Due to the Lend Lease Act the British either kept them and paid for them or returned them to America. However, neither wanted them so the vast majority were pushed overboard into the Pacific. In 1953 a vastly improved anti-submarine Avenger AS-4, AS-5 and AS-6 was bought by the FAA, 100 in total, and used until the late 50’s finally being retired from service in 1960.
There are many surviving aircraft mainly in the USA, 35 of which are airworthy, and many other static aircraft worldwide including airworthy examples in Canada, France, Australia and New Zealand The UK has two survivors:
TBM-3 69327 at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford and TBM-3 XB446 at the Fleet Air Arm Museum, Yeovilton.
