Hobby Master Archive

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA1218 Grumman TBM-3E Avenger VT-10, USS Intrepid, Spring 1945

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.

VT-10 made three combat cruises during WWII. They were assigned to the USS Intrepid from February 1945 until October 1945. On April 7, 1945 VT-10 took part in the massive assault against the IJN Battleship Yamato and an armada of support ships. The Japanese ships were spotted by aircraft from Task Force 58 around 12:30 with the first aircraft dove at the ships at 12:37. The aerial attacks came in 3 waves. The first at 12:37, the second at 13:00 and the third and decisive one came at 13:40. There were 180 fighters, 75 bombers and 131 torpedo aircraft involved in the attacks. At 14:05 the cruiser Yahagi sank after attacks by VT-10 aircraft. After the 3 attacks the mighty Yamato began to capsize and at 14:23 an explosion that could be felt several miles away ripped the ship apart. From the time of the first attack at 12:37 until finally sinking at 14:23 the Yamato was struck by at least 11 torpedoes and perhaps 2 more as well as by 8 bombs. Of the 2,332 crew on the Yamato 2,055 were lost. VT-10 lost 2 aircraft and crews. During WWII VT-10 is credited with sinking or damaging 300,000 tons of Japanese shipping at a cost of 30 aircraft and 27 crewmen.

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