Hobby Master 1/72 - Grumman TBM-3 Avenger VT-84, USS Bunker Hill, April 1945

Hobby Master 1/72 - Grumman TBM-3 Avenger VT-84, USS Bunker Hill, April 1945

The TBF/M "Avenger" was the biggest single engine aircraft during the WWII. She was ordered into production in Dec 1940 with first delivery just in time for the Battle of Midway. The "Avenger" was characterized by its rigid and strong body and its versatilities. She started out as a torpedo bomber but it soon took the duties as a close-support bomber, a patrol aircraft and even a trainer. After the war the Avenger was also used as crop dusters and forest fire water bombers.

The Aircraft

On April 7, 1945 the Imperial Japanese Navy set out to inflict as much damage as possible on the American invasion force at Okinawa. Included in the flotilla were the giant battleship Yamato, one light cruiser and 8 destroyers. Aircraft from Task Force 58 had located the armada and tracked it until it came within range of the TBMs from VT-84 “the Wolf Pack” onboard the USS Bunker Hill as well as TBMs and Helldivers from other squadrons. The bombers departed but because of poor visibility were only able to attack a destroyer which they sank. On board the USS Bunker Hill VT-84 was led by veteran pilot Lt. Cdr. Chandler Swanson who instructed his pilots that they were to go after the Yamato, nothing else mattered. Swanson had arranged for 8 of his TBM’s to attack from the port and the remaining 6 to attack from starboard. On the run-in one TBM was shot down and one was badly damaged but continued on his mission. VT-84 had unloaded their torpedoes and claimed 7 torpedoes slammed into the port side and 2 into the starboard. Other groups stood by waiting their turn to attack the 64,000-ton monster. When it was over there had been 19 torpedo hits but when VT-84 returned to USS Bunker Hill they reported the number of hits but that the Yamato and 3 destroyers were still afloat. At 1600 hours word finally came that the Yamato had capsized and exploded.

Specifications :

Crew :	3
Length:	40 ft 11.5 in (12.48 m)
Wingspan:	54 ft 2 in (16.51 m)
Height:	15 ft 5 in (4.70 m)
Empty weight:	10,545 lb (4,783 kg)
Loaded weight:	17,893 lb (8,115 kg)
Power-plant:	1!N Wright R-2600-20 radial engine, 1,900 hp (1,420 kW)
Maximum speed:	276 mph (444 km/h)
Range:	1,000 miles (1,610 km)
Service ceiling:	30,100 ft (9,170 m)
Rate of climb:	2,060 ft/min (10.5 m/s)
Wing loading:	36.5 ft·lbf²(178 kg/m²)
Power/mass:	0.0094 hp/lb (0.17 kW/kg)
Armament:	1x 0.30 cal (7.62 mm) nose-mounted machine gun
	2x 0.50 cal (12.7 mm) wing-mounted machine guns
	1x 0.50 cal (12.7 mm) dorsal-mounted machine gun
	1x 0.30 cal (7.62 mm) ventral-mounted machine gun
	Up to 2,000 lb (900 kg) of bombs
	1x 2,000 lb (900 kg) torpedo