Hobby Master Archive

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA1212 Grumman TBM-3E Avenger Flotille 4F, Karouba 1953

Superb detailing in 1/72 scale. Pre-painted with pad applied markings. Fully assembled. Weapons are not permanently attached. Bomb bay can be displayed open or closed. Display stand included. Option to display model with wheels up or down. Minimum use of plastic. Very collectable.

The TBM is the Grumman TBF built under license by Eastern Aircraft, a subsidiary of General Motors. The TBM-3E was the last Avenger model put into production during the war. The company managed to reduce the empty weight of the 3E by 1,980 lbs. but still was able to increase airframe strength. This variant saw the elimination of the rear-firing .30 caliber machine gun and faired over the opening. Another distinguishing feature is the non-retractable arresting hook. This variant was used for ASW and Avengers also flew in the Atlantic from small escort carriers and played a large role in helping to defend allied convoys. U.S. Avengers are credited with sinking 30 German U-boats between 1943 and 1944.

In September 1951 the French Aeronavale received an unknown number of WWII Avengers. Some were TBM-3Es that were dispersed among various Flotille (combat squadron) of which 4F was one. The 4F was based at Karouba NAS in Tunisia from September 1952 to July 1958. The French had a total of 7 land based units as well as 3 aircraft carriers. Some of the TBM-3E provided anti-surface and anti-submarine patrols during the uncompleted Anglo-French Suez operation against Egypt in 1956. France operated the TBM until 1960.

Specifications for the Grumman TBM-3E Avenger Crew - (3)

Performance Powerplant - Wright R2600-20 Double Cyclone 14 Cylinder, air-cooled radial engine, rated @ 1900 Hp Weight Empty - 10,545 lb (4,783 kg) Fully Loaded - 17,890 lb (8.115 kg)

Range - 1,010 miles (1,610 km) Fuel Capacity - 726 US gal (2,748 litres)

Speed Maximum - 276 mph (444 km/h) Cruising - 115 mph (185 km/h) Service Ceiling - 30,100 ft (9,170 m)

Dimensions Wingspan - 54 ft 2 in (16.51 m) Length - 40 ft 11.5 in (12.48 m) Height - 16 ft 5 in (5 m)

Weapons (2) .50 caliber (12.7 mm) forward-firing wing-mounted machine guns (1) .50 caliber (12.7 mm) turret-mounted machine gun (1) .30 caliber (7.62 mm) ventral-mounted machine gun Armament Up to 2,000 lb (907 kg) of ordnance made up of possible combinations of: (1) 2,000 lb (907 kg) Bliss-Leavitt MK.13 Torpedo or High Explosive, Fragmentary and/or Anti-personnel bombs in these combinations: (2) 1,000 lb (453.6 kg) bombs (4) 500 lb (226.8 kg) bombs (6) 250 lb (113.4 kg) bombs (12) 100 lb (45.4 kg) bombs or (4) Depth Charges (8) 5 inch rail-launched unguided rockets