


BTD Destroyer
Country | United States |
Manufacturer | Douglas Aircraft Company |
Primary Role | Torpedo Bomber |
Maiden Flight | 8 April 1943 |
Contributor: C. Peter Chen
ww2dbaseAircraft designer Ed Heinemann of the Douglas Aircraft Company of the United States led the team that completed the BTD Destroyer torpedo/dive bomber design, which was commissioned by the United States Navy in Jun 1941 to replace the SBD Dauntless and SB2C Helldiver designs currently in use. The prototype aircraft, designated XSB2D-1, took flight in Apr 1943, and deliveries to the US Navy began in Jun 1944. The US Navy originally ordered 358 examples from Douglas, but the contract was canceled when the Pacific War ended. Only 26 production examples were delivered. Including the two additional prototypes built in 1944 (XBTD-2 prototype turbojet aircraft), only 30 examples of this design were built between 1943 and 1945, and none of them saw combat. All of them were retired from service by the end of 1945.
ww2dbaseSource: Wikipedia
Last Major Revision: Jun 2013
BTD Destroyer Timeline
20 Jun 1941 | US Navy placed a contract with the Douglas Aircraft Company for two prototype aircraft of a new carrier torpedo/dive bomber design. |
8 Apr 1943 | XSB2D-1 prototype aircraft took its first flight. |
5 Mar 1944 | The second BTD Destroyer prototype aircraft took its first flight. |
SPECIFICATIONS
BTD-1
Machinery | One Wright R-3350-14 Cyclone 18 radial engine rated at 2,300hp |
Armament | 2x20mm cannon, up to 1,450kg of bombs or one torpedo |
Crew | 1 |
Span | 13.72 m |
Length | 11.76 m |
Height | 4.14 m |
Weight, Empty | 5,244 kg |
Weight, Maximum | 8,618 kg |
Speed, Maximum | 538 km/h |
Service Ceiling | 7,195 m |
Photographs
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