TBD-1 Devastator
VT-6 Wake Island 1942
Preview

Great Wall Hobby, 1/48 scale

HyperScale is proudly supported by Squadron.com

Great Wall Hobby has sent information and images of their forthcoming 1/48 scale TBD-1 Devastator VT-6 Wake Island 1942, kit no. L4809.

More details will be available in the coming weeks.

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U.S. Navy  Douglas  TBD-1 Devastator 
VT-6  Wake Island 1942

On Feb 1, 1942, the Douglas TBD-1 Devastator of VT-6 on US Navy CV-6 Enterprise attacked the port and IJN vessels in Kwajalein Island. Due reliability issues of the MK XIII torpedo, the attacks were not very successful. In the first action, an armed tug and several cargo vessels were sunk while no TBD-1 of VT-6 was shot down. Through the baptism of fire, especially the Pearl Harbor Attack, the US Navy knew what halfway action meant. VT-6 started again soon after they had returned to the carrier, their armament now changed to 500lb bombs. The second attack destroyed the airport and tank farm thoroughly.
 
On Feb 24, 1942, VT-6 on USN Enterprise attacked Wake Island which had just been occupied by the Japanese. The TBD was used as a level bomber during the raid. Its standard armament for bombing mission was two 500 pound bombs. On March 4th they also attacked Marcus Island. One of the biggest actions were the raids against Lea and Salamaua in New Guinea.
 
Even though the performance of the TBD-1 in actual combat was below expectations, its meritorious service in several operations could not be ignored. By August 1944, no TBD-1 was left in the US Navy inventory. The last Devastator in the U.S. Navy was used by the Commander of Fleet Air Activities-West Coast until being scrapped in November 1944.

• Length: 10.67 m

• Wingspan: 15.24 m

• Height: 4.59 m

• Empty weight: 2,804 kg

• Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-1830-64 Twin Wasp radial engine, 900 hp (672 kW)

• Maximum speed:  322 km/h

• Cruise speed: 128 mph (111 knots, 206 km/h)

• Service ceiling: 5,945 m

• Armament

  • 1 × forward-firing 0.30 in (7.62 mm) or 0.50 (12.7 mm) machine gun

  • 1 × 0.30 in (7.62 mm) machine gun in rear cockpit

• Bombs:

  • 2 × 500 lb (227 kg) bombs or incendiary bombs ( VT-6, act as level bomber)

Thanks to GreatWall Hobby and Guido Hopp for the images and information

Images Copyright © 2012 by GreatWall Hobby
Page Created 2 September, 2012
Last updated 3 September, 2012

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