Sword 72137 Grumman Avenger / Tarpon Mk. I

The Grumman TBF-1 Avenger is an American, single-engine, metal-structure medium-wing bomber-torpedo plane from the Second World War. TBF Avenger was first used during the Battle of Midway (1942). His baptism of fire can be considered successful due to the numerous hits of Japanese carriers that these planes scored, although the good reputation is undoubtedly spoiled by the statistics of numerous losses on the part of these American dive bombers. Nevertheless, after the battle, TBF-1 gained the name of Avenger, the avenger. Since then, the Avenger has been widely used throughout the Pacific theater of hostilities, and has undoubtedly been one of the most important tools by which the Americans were victorious in the conflict. After World War II, however, deserved planes began to be withdrawn quite quickly, and only a dozen or so of them took part in the war in Korea, and by the mid-1950s, only a few remained. They managed to survive longer in the colors of the air forces of other countries: Great Britain, New Zealand, Canada and Japan, against which they had fought for so long. They were kept there for the longest time, until 1962. After being released from military service, many machines were purchased by aviation museums or individual buyers - admirers of this one of the most famous bombers of the Second World War. Technical data: length: 12.48 m, wingspan: 16.51 m, height: 4.7 m, maximum speed: 440 km / h, speed of climb: 10.5 m / s, practical ceiling: 9100 m, maximum range: 1600 km, armaments: fixed - 2 M1919 machine guns cal.7.62mm and 3 M2 machine guns cal.12.7mm, suspended-bombs weighing 908 kg or the torpedo Mk.13.