Deck aircraft in World War II: new aircraft. Part V

Continuing a series of deck articles aviation in the second world war. The first parts were posted on the site from 30.05.2016/01.07.2016/XNUMX to XNUMX/XNUMX/XNUMX and covered the origin and formation of carrier-based aviation (and aircraft carriers, respectively) as the main striking force in the war at sea. References to them are indicated in the Appendix.

American torpedo bombers

The combat debut of the new American carrier-based torpedo carrier Grumman TBF-1 Avenger (Avenger) took place in June 1942 during the battle of Midway Atoll. Details on this are set out in the article “Deck aircraft in World War II from Taranto to Midway. Part III »(01.06.2016).

The torpedo bomber TBF-1 Avenger is one of the planes lost during the Battle of Midway 4 June 1942 (Fig. Wp.scn.ru)

Despite the not quite successful start of a combat career (in the first combat sortie of six torpedo bombers, five were lost), the Americans launched a mass production of new aircraft.

In flight, the first production model of the torpedo carrier Grumman TBF-1 Avenger, 23 March 1942 (Photo by wikimedia.org)

Since November, 1942, the company "General Motors" joined the production of "Avenger". The torpedo bombers of this company received the letter designation TVM. Since December, 1943, General Motors has become the main and only manufacturer of the Avengers, and Grumman has focused all its efforts on the production of deck fighters, Hellcat.

One of the first "Avengers" TBF-1, wings folded, bomber compartment doors slightly opened (Photo site www.nasflmuseum.com)

The new Grumman torpedo bombers Avenger replaced the outdated Douglas torch TBD-1 Devstatore torpedo bombers in combat squadrons, which are in service with United States carrier-based aircraft from 1937 onwards.

Douglas torpedo carrier TBD-1 Devastate from CV-6 aircraft carrier Enterpair, 1938 (Photo by www.wcnews.com)

"Avenger" superior to their predecessors in flight performance and had more powerful weapons. The maximum horizontal flight speed of TBF-1, equipped with an 1700-powerful Wright engine, reached 436 km per hour, whereas for the DeVastajtora it did not exceed 332 km per hour. The flight range of the Avenger with a torpedo was 1955 km versus 700 km from TBD-1. The Avengers also had a higher ceiling in 6790 m, while the Destroyers did not exceed 5945 meters.

Preparing for the take-off of the TBD-1 "Devastate" torpedo on the deck of the CV-8 aircraft carrier "Hornet", 15 in May 1942 (Photo by wikimedia.org)

"Avenger" used as the main armament aircraft torpedo Mk.13, and since August 1944 its more reliable modification Mk.13-1А, having a stabilizing 63-mm ring, which was welded to stabilizers in the tail part of the torpedo, and ensured its discharge into a larger altitude range (up to 240 m versus 60) and speeds (up to 518 km per hour versus 185), which gave great chances of survival during a torpedo attack. Earlier, in order to stabilize the torpedo’s impact on the water during flight and depreciation, the Mk.13 torpedo was equipped with an additional rectangular plywood stabilizer and protective cover on the warhead, which collapsed and fell off when the torpedo entered the water. Suspended torpedo in a spacious bomb bay.

TBM-3E Avenger torpedo at an air show (in the bomb bay of a torpedo of the Mk.13), Greece, 2012 (Photo by www.airplane-pictures.net)

The capacious bomb bay also allowed to place conventional and depth charges weighing from 45 to 907 kg.

Open bomberjack "Avenger" with bomb weapons (Photo site craigmaas.net)

Bombing was carried out both in horizontal flight and diving. The best results were obtained by bombing from a dive at an angle from 30 to 45 degrees at the exit of the peak. With a consistent discharge of four aerial bombs, at least one of them hit the intended target.

TVM-3E Avenger torpedo bombers from the CV-9 Essex aircraft carrier carry out bombing targets on Hokaydo Island, Japan, July 1945. (Photo site wikimedia.org)

Created in the spirit of the “best traditions” of the Grumman company, the Avenger torpedo bomber possessed the best survivability, thanks to its durable glider construction and protection.

The torpedo bomber TBF-1 "Avenger" continues to fly, despite serious damage (Photo site photo.qip.ru)

During production at TBF-1, to detect surface targets and combat enemy submarines, the ASB centimeter range radars were installed, the antennas of which were mounted under the wing consoles, the screen and the main equipment were placed in the compartment of the radio scorer. The detection range of large surface targets such as a cruiser, in a calm sea, was about 40 km, and the felling of an emerging submarine 13 km. The minimum target detection range is 320 meters. The ASB radar has become a standard radar for subsequent modifications of the Avenger.

In flight, the Avenger group from the CV-11 Interpid aircraft carrier (under the wing of the ASB radar antenna), 1944 (Photo by website www.warbirdinformationexchange.org)

The practice of combat use of TBF-1 revealed the weakness of small arms, consisting of a single 7.62-mm machine gun mounted in the fuselage. In the squadrons even attempted to install 12.7-mm machine guns with a synchronization mechanism in the root of the wing with the simultaneous dismantling of the 7.62-mm machine gun.

The problem of increasing the firepower of exchange rate weapons was solved in July of the 1943 year with the start of production of a new modification of the TBF / TBM-1C torpedo bomber. Avenger received a reinforced wing, which allowed it to install 12.7 mm machine guns in it outside the range of rotation of the screw.

Torpedo carrier "Grumman" ("General Motors") TBM-1C "Avenger" (Fig. Wardrawings.be site)

Thanks to the new TBF / TBM-1С wing, it was possible to install the Mk.4 rail guides (four under each wing of the wing) for 127-mm unguided missiles and underwing locks for hanging depth charges and discharged fuel tanks.

Torpedo bombers TBF-1C "Avenger" from CV-17 "Bunker Hill" aircraft carrier before the attack on the island of Saipan (rail guides for missiles are installed under the wing), June 1944 (Photo by lex-for-lexington.tumblr.com)

For the increased fire power, the “Avenger” had to pay a reduction in maximum speed (increased aerodynamic resistance due to suspensions) to 414 km per hour. The heavy TBF / TBM-1С had a smaller flight range with a torpedo (1780 km versus 1955 km at TBF-1) and a smaller practical ceiling in 6485 meters.

TBF-1C “Avenger” prepares for takeoff from an aircraft carrier with the help of a catapult (under the wing, a complete set of Mk.IV rail guides for 127-mm missiles) (Photo from www.airwiki.org)

To reduce aerodynamic drag in California, the new X.UMNXX Mk.5 trackless guides for rockets (the so-called “zero start”) and more powerful 127-mm HVAR missiles were developed.

127-mm HVAR unguided rockets on the Mk.5 trackless guides under the wing of the Avenger, 1944. (Photo site www.catalystwwiifacts.com)

The “Avenger”, with a long range, equipped with radars and depth charges (and TBF-1С and unguided missiles), actively participated in anti-submarine operations on the Atlantic from the decks of escort aircraft carriers to cover the convoys. For greater efficiency, the escort carriers with the Avengers on board acted together with destroyers as part of independent search and shock anti-submarine groups. This tactic of the Hunter Killer Group made it possible to pursue enemy submarines at a considerable distance from guarded convoys. Until the end of 1944, 14 of such anti-submarine groups on the Atlantic sunk 53 German submarines and one captured. American losses amounted to one escort aircraft carrier.

TVM-1С Avenger (58 ae) attacks a German submarine (Fig. Fanread.ru site)

To increase the ability to search for submarines on the Avenger 3-centimeter radar ASD (AN / APS-3) was installed in the fairing on the leading edge of the right wing. The new radar had better accuracy and greater detection range of airborne and surface targets (cutting a submarine to 20 km, and large ships to 148 km). New anti-submarine torpedo version received the designation TBM-1D.

TBM-1D Avenger on the deck of the light aircraft carrier CVL-22 Independence, September 1944 (Photo by www.worldwarphotos.info)

At the beginning of 1944, the torpedo bomber received a more powerful 1900-powerful Wright engine. The new modification of the Avenger TVM-3 after the installation of this engine became a bit heavier, the practical ceiling dropped to 5608 m (against 6790 m for TVM-1). The maximum speed at the same time increased to 430, and cruising to 243 km per hour.

General Motors (Grumman) torpedo bomber TBM-3 Avenger (Fig. Wardrawings.be site)

The TVM-3 armament remained the same (as in the TBF-1): with 12.7-mm machine guns in the reinforced wing and lightweight Mk.5 guides for the 127-mm unguided HVAR missiles. Anti-submarine version with radar AN / APS-3 in the fairing on the leading edge of the right wing received the index TBM-3D.

In flight, the seven TVM-3D Avenger torpedo bombers from the CV-6 Enterprise carrier, January 1945 (Photo by wikimedia.org)

The production of TVM-3, the main and most mass modification of the Avenger, was launched at the Eastern Aviation branch of the concern General Motors. Until October, 1945, about four thousand "Avengers" were built there.

General Motors (Grumman) torpedo bomber TBM-3 Avenger (Fig. Wardrawings.be site)

Work to further improve the design of Avenger resulted in the creation of a lightweight modification of TBM-3, the production of which was started at the end of 1944. The lightweight TVM-3E (almost a ton) developed a higher maximum speed of 444 km per hour. The practical ceiling of the aircraft increased to 6585 m.

In flight, the torpedo bomber TBM-3 “Avenger”, airshow, Austria, June 2013 (Photo by aviationspotters.net)

The lower 7.62-mm machine gun was dismantled, since at the final stage of the fighting (with the conquest of practical superiority in the air) the need for it disappeared. The torpedo bomber received a more powerful 3-cm radar AN / APS-4 (installed under the right wing console). The detection range of the submarine deckhouse was up to 30 km, the merchant ship up to 55 km, and the coastline 140 km. Air targets were detected at a distance of 9 km.

TBM-3 "Avenger" at the air show in Wisconsin (USA) demonstrates the radar AN / APS-4 and the version of the suspended arms, July 2013 g. (Photo site www.airliners.net)

October 1944 of the year was a vivid episode of the Avenger combat career when the Japanese battleship Musashi was sunk as a result of a torpedo attack in October Leyte Gulf of October, which received nineteen hits.

TBM-3 "Avenger" in the conditions of strong excitement takes off from the deck of the aircraft carrier "Essex" (CV 9), 1944 g. (Photo site www.warbirdinformationexchange.org)

Over the next two days, the Avengers took an active part in sinking four Japanese aircraft carriers: Zuiho, Zuikaku, Chitose and Tiyoda. The total number of torpedo bombers involved in the Gulf operation was about 236 units.

Suspension torpedoes of the Mk.13 on TVF-1С “Avenger” on the deck of the CVL-30 “San Jacinto” aircraft carrier, Leyte Gulf, 25 of October 1944 (Photo of www.ibiblio.org)

According to the results of combat use in World War II, the Grumman (General Motors) TBF / TBM Avenger torpedo bomber justified its expectations.

Quite a large number of "Avenger" survived to this day, not only as museum exhibits, but also flight-suitable samples, participating in various air shows in different parts of the world.

Grumman TBM-3 Avenger at the airport in Greece, 2012 (Photo by cdn.airplane-pictures.net)

Grumman TBM-3 Avenger at an air show in Austria, June 2013 (Photo by aviationspotters.net)

Grumman TBM-3 Avenger at an air show in Colorado, 2012 (Photo by www.madography.com)

References:
1. Shant K., Bishop. Aircraft carriers. The most formidable aircraft-carrying ships of the world and their aircraft: The Illustrated Encyclopedia / Per. from English / - M .: Omega, 2006.
2. Beshanov V.V. Encyclopedia of aircraft carriers / Under the general editorship of AE Taras - Moscow: AST, Minsk: Harvest, 2002 - (Library of military stories).
3. Polmar N. Aircraft carriers: In 2 volumes. T. 1 / Per. from English. A.G. Patients. - M .: AST Publishing House LLC, 2001. - (Military History Library).
4. Patients A.G. Aircraft carriers. Illustrated Encyclopedia - M.: Yauza: EKSMO, 2013.
5. Frederick Sherman. War in the Pacific. Aircraft carriers in battle - M .: AST Publishing House LLC, 1999. - (Military Historical Library).
6. Kudishin I.V. Carrier-based fighters of the Second World War - M .: Astrel Publishing House LLC: AST Publishing House LLC, 2001.
7. Kharuk A.I. Fighters of the Second World War. The most complete encyclopedia - M .: Yauza: EKSMO, 2012.
8. Kharuk A.I. Attack aircraft of the Second World War - attack aircraft, bombers, torpedo bombers - M .: Yauza: EKSMO, 2012.
9. English military aircraft of the Second World War / Ed. D. March; Per. from English. M.V. Konovalova / - M .: AST, 2002.
10. American aircraft of the Second World War (1939-1945) / Ed. D.Donald; Per. from English. S. Vinogradova and M. Konovalova - M .: Astrel Publishing House LLC: AST Publishing House LLC, 2002.
11. Ivanov S.V. Grumman Avenger. War in the air (Part 1-No. 98, Part 2 No. 99) - Beloretsk: ARS LLC, 2003.
12. Ivanov S.V. SB2C Helldiver. War in the air (No. 121) - Beloretsk: ARS LLC, 2004.
13. Ivanov S.V. SBD Dauntless. War in the air (No. 129) - Beloretsk: ARS LLC, 2005.
14. Doroshkevich O. Airplanes of Japan of the Second World War - Minsk: Harvest, 2004.
15. Kravchenko V.Ya. Fairy torpedo bomber "Baracuda" - Kharkiv: Acoustic Cooperative, 1992.

Internet resources:
http://www.airwar.ru;
http://pro-samolet.ru;
http://wp.scn.ru;
http://www.aviastar.org;
http://wardrawings.be/WW2;
http://www.airpages.ru;
http://www.airaces.ru.

Appendix:
Deck aircraft in World War II: from Taranto to Midway. Part I
http://topwar.ru/95921-palubnaya-aviaciya-vo-vtoroy-mirovoy-voyne-ot-taranto-do-midueya-chast-i.html
Deck aircraft in World War II: from Taranto to Midway. Part II
http://topwar.ru/95927-palubnaya-aviaciya-vo-vtoroy-mirovoy-voyne-ot-taranto-do-midueya-chast-ii.html
Deck aircraft in World War II: from Taranto to Midway. Part III
http://topwar.ru/95272-palubnaya-aviaciya-vo-vtoroy-mirovoy-voyne-ot-taranto-do-midueya-chast-iii.html
Deck aircraft in World War II: new aircraft. Part I
https://topwar.ru/96946-palubnaya-aviaciya-vo-vtoroy-mirovoy-voyne-novye-samolety-chast-i.html
Deck aircraft in World War II: new aircraft. Part II (a)
https://topwar.ru/96971-palubnaya-aviaciya-vo-vtoroy-mirovoy-voyne-novye-samolety-chast-iia.html
Deck aircraft in World War II: new aircraft. Part II (b)
https://topwar.ru/96972-palubnaya-aviaciya-vo-vtoroy-mirovoy-voyne-novye-samolety-chast-iib.html
Deck aircraft in World War II: new aircraft. Part III
https://topwar.ru/96975-palubnaya-aviaciya-vo-vtoroy-mirovoy-voyne-novye-samolety-chast-iii.html
Deck aircraft in World War II: new aircraft. Part IV
https://topwar.ru/97406-palubnaya-aviaciya-vo-vtoroy-mirovoy-voyne-novye-samolety-chast-iv.html

To be continued ...

Comments

[venik]

“It’s interesting, but why did you need the 3-third seat (between the pilot and the top shooter)? For passengers or something ??????

[AlexVas44]

Quote: venik

“It’s interesting, but why did you need the 3-third seat (between the pilot and the top shooter)? For passengers or something ??????

The crew consisted of three people: a pilot, a turret gunner and a scorer, but there was also a place for a fourth crew member (navigator-observer), behind the pilot. These are American "little things."
By the way, during World War II, the future president of the United States, George W. Bush, served as the pilot of this torpedo bomber. 2 September 1944 year, Bush's plane was shot down and Bush was the only crew who managed to escape.

[Alexey RA]

Quote: AlexVas44

The crew consisted of three people: a pilot, a turret gunner and a scorer, but there was also a place for a fourth crew member (navigator-observer), behind the pilot. These are American "little things."

The roots of this "little thing" grow from the founders of aircraft carrier aircraft - from the British.
This British scout torper crew had a dedicated observer navigator in the carriage - he is also the crew commander, the “white bone”. The pilot, on the other hand, was something like a “driver,” and there’s nothing to say about the shooter.

[Aaleks1974]

Navigator, probably?

[Doublegreen]

Our wooden planes exist in single copies in museums, and overseas duralumin aircraft still fly in dozens.

[Kenxnumx]

What do you want. Firstly, a different attitude to their history. Secondly, ours were made using mobilization technology, that is, it is easier cheaper and faster.

[uskrabut]

In the USSR, the state did not need old planes, and the private owner could not acquire them. In the west, they were acquired mainly by private owners. The design of the aircraft has nothing to do with it.

[mar4047083]

Yesterday there was an article on how a domestic metal plane was practically in the trash, and some added, there it belongs. So, the material has nothing to do with it.

[Perseus]

Quote: uskrabut

In the USSR, the state did not need old planes, and the private owner could not acquire them. In the west, they were acquired mainly by private owners. The design of the aircraft has nothing to do with it.

we still do not need a private trader except money ... just recently, it seems, the IL-2 was restored with American money and sent to the States that there were no patriots to buy this plane, but why? easier to tie the ribbon of St. George, but in the comments of the hair on the opera tear, in the heat of cheers-patriotism ....

[Signore Tomato]

Quote: Perseus

easier to tie the ribbon of St. George, but in the comments of the hair on the opera tear, in the heat of cheers-patriotism ....

But he didn’t buy it himself, or the thought that "everything was gone!" Doesn’t give rest, and everything eclipses?

[Alexey RA]

The Avangers used the MK.13 aviation torpedo as their main armament, and since August 1944 its more reliable modification MK.13-1A, which has a stabilizing 63-mm ring, which was welded to stabilizers in the rear part of the torpedo, and ensured its discharge in a larger range of heights (up to 240 m against 60) and speeds (up to 518 km per hour against 185), which gave great chances of survival during a torpedo attack.

Until 1944, the Avengers used bombs as their main armament. Because the unreliability and poor performance characteristics of the Mark-13 were a byword.

Unfortunately and unlike the Mod 0, the Mod 1 proved to be an unreliable weapon, with only one of ten torpedoes dropped by VT-6 during an exercise in July 1941 having a hot, straight and normal run. Of the others, four sank and could not be recovered while the other five experienced erratic runs.
These problems continued into the early war years, with a mid-1943 analysis of 105 torpedoes dropped at speeds in excess of 150 knots found that 36 percent ran cold (did not start), 20 percent sank, 20 percent had poor deflection performance, 18 percent gave unsatisfactory depth performance, 2 percent ran on the surface and only 31 percent gave a satisfactory run. The total exceeds 100 percent as many torpedoes had more than one defect.

Not bad, but: in 1941, only the 1 torpedo from the 10 dropped normally started the engine and went with holding the course and depth, 4 - sank, 5 - moved randomly.
In 1943 - 36% of the dumped engines did not start, 20% sank, 20% did not keep their course, 18% did not keep depth, 2% generally flew to the surface and only 31% behaved normally (a sum greater than 100% is obtained because many torpedoes showed several defects at once).
However, it is not surprising - before the war, deck torpedo bombers were considered secondary vehicles. The main goal of the US AV was to become the enemy’s AV (to “blind” the enemy’s squadron + remove the AA air defense), and the main striking force in the strike on the AB was the “deck-based” dive-bombers. And only at the second stage, when the enemy’s AV were knocked out, did the torpers become on a par with the dive-bombers - when attacking the “naked and blind” LCs.

The fact is that the Americans, in principle, did not expect to use torpedoes against anything other than battleships, and they were relatively slow at their adversaries - faster than their relatives, but not by much (especially since the Japanese kept the speed of full speed secret ) So Mk.13 - this is the anti-gun weapon, but not the main one - the main were the guns of their battleships. At Fleet Problem XX, held in the Caribbean in 1939, there was a very characteristic episode - Yorktown was assigned to the Whites, and together with both Lex and Enterprise, it ran there to escort the convoy, then to reconnaissance with cruisers. The only AV “Black” was the “Ranger”, which followed not far from the linear warrant of these forces. So, having received a tip from the Lexa airplane on the Ranger, Yorktown in 25 minutes of time picked up all of its 72 aircraft, and all with bombs (from 45 kg to 454 kg), but all 18 TBD from its VT- 5 carried three 227-kg. Having banged under the terms of the Ranger exercises, the air group itself already discovered the linear system of the Blacks, and now the returning TBDs were already armed with torpedoes. In 1940, at Fleet Problem XXI (the last pre-war), the training duel “Yorktown” and “Lexington” took place, and again - no torpedoes, all TBDs of both air groups worked only with bombs!

© Nomat
If, when attacking enemy ABs, torpedoes carried torpedoes, their task was to “maneuver targets with their torpedo soup” to facilitate the attack of dive-bombers.

[AlexanderBrv]

Quote: Alexey RA

The Avangers used the MK.13 aviation torpedo as their main armament, and since August 1944 its more reliable modification MK.13-1A, which has a stabilizing 63-mm ring, which was welded to stabilizers in the rear part of the torpedo, and ensured its discharge in a larger range of heights (up to 240 m against 60) and speeds (up to 518 km per hour against 185), which gave great chances of survival during a torpedo attack.

Until 1944, the Avengers used bombs as their main armament. Because the unreliability and poor performance characteristics of the Mark-13 were a byword.

Unfortunately and unlike the Mod 0, the Mod 1 proved to be an unreliable weapon, with only one of ten torpedoes dropped by VT-6 during an exercise in July 1941 having a hot, straight and normal run. Of the others, four sank and could not be recovered while the other five experienced erratic runs.
These problems continued into the early war years, with a mid-1943 analysis of 105 torpedoes dropped at speeds in excess of 150 knots found that 36 percent ran cold (did not start), 20 percent sank, 20 percent had poor deflection performance, 18 percent gave unsatisfactory depth performance, 2 percent ran on the surface and only 31 percent gave a satisfactory run. The total exceeds 100 percent as many torpedoes had more than one defect.

Not bad, but: in 1941, only the 1 torpedo from the 10 dropped normally started the engine and went with holding the course and depth, 4 - sank, 5 - moved randomly.
In 1943 - 36% of the dumped engines did not start, 20% sank, 20% did not keep their course, 18% did not keep depth, 2% generally flew to the surface and only 31% behaved normally (a sum greater than 100% is obtained because many torpedoes showed several defects at once).
However, it is not surprising - before the war, deck torpedo bombers were considered secondary vehicles. The main goal of the US AV was to become the enemy’s AV (to “blind” the enemy’s squadron + remove the AA air defense), and the main striking force in the strike on the AB was the “deck-based” dive-bombers. And only at the second stage, when the enemy’s AV were knocked out, did the torpers become on a par with the dive-bombers - when attacking the “naked and blind” LCs.

The fact is that the Americans, in principle, did not expect to use torpedoes against anything other than battleships, and they were relatively slow at their adversaries - faster than their relatives, but not by much (especially since the Japanese kept the speed of full speed secret ) So Mk.13 - this is the anti-gun weapon, but not the main one - the main were the guns of their battleships. At Fleet Problem XX, held in the Caribbean in 1939, there was a very characteristic episode - Yorktown was assigned to the Whites, and together with both Lex and Enterprise, it ran there to escort the convoy, then to reconnaissance with cruisers. The only AV “Black” was the “Ranger”, which followed not far from the linear warrant of these forces. So, having received a tip from the Lexa airplane on the Ranger, Yorktown in 25 minutes of time picked up all of its 72 aircraft, and all with bombs (from 45 kg to 454 kg), but all 18 TBD from its VT- 5 carried three 227-kg. Having banged under the terms of the Ranger exercises, the air group itself already discovered the linear system of the Blacks, and now the returning TBDs were already armed with torpedoes. In 1940, at Fleet Problem XXI (the last pre-war), the training duel “Yorktown” and “Lexington” took place, and again - no torpedoes, all TBDs of both air groups worked only with bombs!

© Nomat
If, when attacking enemy ABs, torpedoes carried torpedoes, their task was to “maneuver targets with their torpedo soup” to facilitate the attack of dive-bombers.

[AlexanderBrv]

Three air squadrons of the “Devastaytorov” TBD-1, ahead of the dive, without a fighter cover, requested an attack on the Japanese aircraft carriers. Only 41 to 4 machines survived from the Devastator's 6. None of the torpedoes dropped by them reached their goal. The Japanese were surprised by the violent suicide attack of American pilots. But the death of the torpedo bombers was not in vain.
At that moment, when almost all Japanese fighters attacked low-flying torpedo bombers under heavy fire of ship-based anti-aircraft artillery, dive-bombers from three squadrons suddenly fell from the height of the Japanese aircraft carriers. It was Dawnless's finest hour, which at 10.24, almost simultaneously, attacked Akagi, Kagu and Soryu and for five minutes put them out of action.
(In the Midway Atoll area, 4 June 1942 g.)

[Alexey RA]

Quote: AlexanderBrv

Three air squadrons of the “Devastaytorov” TBD-1, having outstripped the dive-bombers, requested an attack on the Japanese aircraft carriers without fighter cover.

Ahem ... actually, Tech's five pulled a third of Japanese fighters from their torpers. Of which then there were 42 pieces in the air - Nagumo raised for the air defense fighters assigned to cover the second wave.

Quote: AlexanderBrv

At a time when almost all Japanese fighters attacked torpedo bombers flying low under heavy fire from naval anti-aircraft artillery, dive bombers of three squadrons suddenly fell from a height on Japanese aircraft carriers.

More precisely, the Japanese at that time were chasing after the Yorktown Torpers. And they tried to do something with Tech and his “wildcats” - the damned Yankees stubbornly did not want to get into the dogfight, but downloaded the “swing” and worked with “scissors”.