Grumman XTSF

XTSF
	Mockup of the XTSF-1's forward fuselage
Role	Torpedo scout
Manufacturer	Grumman
Primary user	United States Navy
Number built	None
Developed from	Grumman F7F Tigercat

The Grumman XTSF was a proposed twin-engine

AF Guardian.^[1]

Design and development

In 1944, it was determined that the

U.S. Army Air Force medium bomber.^[2] As a result, in late June 1944, Grumman submitted its G-66 design to the Bureau of Aeronautics (BuAer).^[2] After a review of the design by BuAer during the following month, a revised design was submitted, and on August 17 the existing contract for the XTB2F was modified to instead order two XTSF-1 aircraft,^[2] to be based on Grumman's F7F-2 Tigercat two-seat, twin-engined fighter-bomber, the first prototype intended to be a conversion of a F7F airframe.^[3]

A mid-wing, all-metal,

APS-4 set.^[2] A second seat was added for the radar operator.^[2]

The outer wing of the XTSF was lengthened by 7.8 feet (2.4 m) compared to that of the F7F-2, while the size of the horizontal stabilizer was increased by 28 inches (71 cm)).^[2] The vertical stabilizer was also enlarged, while the aircraft's weight increased by almost two thousand pounds (910 kg) over that of the Tigercat.^[2]

The wings

Browning M2 machine guns,^[5] or, alternatively, two 20 mm Hispano cannon,^[2] while a bomb bay based on that of the Grumman TBF Avenger was installed in a fuselage stretched by 5.5 inches (14 cm).^[2]

Cancellation

A mockup of the cockpit, center fuselage, and wing center section was built and was inspected by the BuAer in the fall 1944.^[6] However, the contract for the prototype XTSF-1s was terminated in January 1945. This was due to a variety of factors, including the Navy's belief that the Grumman engineers and factory were already at capacity producing the F6F Hellcat, the F7F, and the F8F Bearcat,^[7] that the XTSF-1 would be too large for practical operations from escort carriers,^[2] and because it was believed the Grumman G-70, to be built as the XTB3F, was a better prospect.^[1] In addition, the F7F was proving difficult to certify for operations from aircraft carriers,^[8] further prejudicing the Navy against the design.

Some sources erroneously state that the XTSF-1 became the XTB2F,^[9] however this is not the case.^[2] The XTSF-1 was the only aircraft ever designated by the U.S. Navy in the 'TS for Torpedo Scout' category,^[6] the designation being superseded and incorporated, along with 'BT for Bomber-Torpedo', 'SB for Scout-Bomber', and 'TB for Torpedo-Bomber', into the new 'A for Attack' series.^[10]

Specifications (XTSF-1)

Three-view drawing of the XTSF-1 from Johnson 2008.

Data from ^[5]

General characteristics

Crew: 2 (Pilot and radar operator)
Length: 46 ft 4 in (14.12 m)
Wingspan: 59 ft 4 in (18.08 m) (folded span 32 feet (9.8 m))
Height: 16 ft (4.9 m)
Wing area: 500 sq ft (46 m²)
Airfoil: NACA 23015-23012
Empty weight: 17,288 lb (7,842 kg)
Gross weight: 26,171 lb (11,871 kg)
Fuel capacity: 400 US gallons (1,500 L; 330 imp gal)
Powerplant: 2 ×
Pratt & Whitney R-2800-22W Double Wasp radial engines
, 2,400 hp (1,800 kW) each

Propellers: 4-bladed Aeroproducts H-20-156, 13 ft 2 in (4.01 m) diameter

Performance

Maximum speed: 414 mph (666 km/h, 360 kn) at 18,600 feet (5,700 m)

Stall speed: 84 mph (135 km/h, 73 kn)

Range: 975 mi (1,569 km, 847 nmi) internal fuel at 172 miles per hour (277 km/h)

Combat range: 395 mi (636 km, 343 nmi) radius with two 150 US gallons (570 L; 120 imp gal) drop tanks

Service ceiling: 36,500 ft (11,100 m)

Rate of climb: 3,920 ft/min (19.9 m/s)

Wing loading: 47.9 lb/sq ft (234 kg/m²)

Power/mass: 6.5lb/bhp

Armament

Guns: 4 .50-calibre machine guns
Hardpoints: Two, 1,000 pounds (450 kg) capacity each
Bombs: Internal bomb bay, capacity one Mark 13 torpedo, one 2,000 pounds (910 kg) bomb or naval mine, or up to 4,000 pounds (1,800 kg) smaller bombs, or up to 1,300 pounds (590 kg) depth charges.

References

Citations

^ ^a ^b ^c Goebel 2009
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k Norton 2008, p. 120
^ American Aviation Historical Society Journal, v.14-15, p. 269.
^ ^a ^b Angelucci 1987, p. 238.
^ ^a ^b XTSF-1 Airplane Characteristics and Performance
^ ^a ^b Johnson 2008, p. 427
^ Norton 2008, p. 121
^ Meyer 2002, p. 55
^ Lawson and Tillman 2001, p. 87
^ "U.S. Systems of Aircraft Designation", driko.org. Accessed May 8, 2010.

Bibliography

Angellucci, Enzo (1987). The American Fighter from 1917 to the Present. New York: Orion.
ISBN 0-517-56588-9
.

Goebel, Greg (2009). "The Grumman AF Guardian". vectorsite.net. Retrieved 2010-05-06.
Johnson, E.R. (2008). American Attack Aircraft Since 1926. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company.
ISBN 9780786434640
.

Lawson, Robert; Barrett Tillman (2001). U. S. Navy Dive and Torpedo Bombers of World War II. St. Paul, MN: MBI Publishing.
ISBN 0-7603-0959-0
.

Meyer, Corwin H. (August 2002). "F7F Tigercat: The Untold Story". Flight Journal. Ridgefield, CT: AirAge Publications.
Norton, Bill (2008). U.S. Experimental & Prototype Aircraft Projects: Fighters 1939-1945. North Branch, MN: Specialty Press.
ISBN 978-1-58007-109-3
.

U.S. Navy (August 1, 1944). "XTSF-1 Airplane Characteristics and Performance" (PDF). alternatewars.com. Retrieved 2011-01-08.

External links

U.S. Navy (July 1944). "Aircraft Description Card for XTSF-1" (PDF). alternatewars.com. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
"Grumman Designs and Proposals", The Grumman Pages.
TS - Torpedo Scout Aircraft, U.S. Military Aircraft and Weapon Designations

[VectorSite-1] Goebel 2009

[Norton-2] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k Norton 2008, p. 120

[3] American Aviation Historical Society Journal, v.14-15, p. 269.

[AMF-4] Angelucci 1987, p. 238.

[Navy-5] XTSF-1 Airplane Characteristics and Performance

[Johnson-6] Johnson 2008, p. 427

[Norton2-7] Norton 2008, p. 121

[Meyer-8] Meyer 2002, p. 55

[Dive-9] Lawson and Tillman 2001, p. 87

[10] "U.S. Systems of Aircraft Designation", driko.org. Accessed May 8, 2010.

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