General Motors TBM-3E Avenger
General Motors · United States · first flew 1944 · bomber
The TBM-3E was a radar-equipped sub-variant of the GM-built Avenger, fitting an AN/APS-4 search radar pod beneath the starboard wing for anti-submarine patrol duties. It became a mainstay of post-war US Navy anti-submarine squadrons.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 12.48 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- AN/APS-4 radar pod under starboard wing
- Single Wright R-2600 Cyclone with distinctive short exhaust stacks
- Large ventral weapons bay beneath broad mid-wing
The AN/APS-4 radar pod on the starboard wing distinguishes the -3E from the baseline TBM-3; overall airframe proportions are identical to other Avenger variants.
Specifications
- The General Motors TBM-3E Avenger has a length of 12.48 m (41 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 16.51 m (54 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 444 km/h (276 mph).
- Typical crew: 3.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed late in the Second World War, the -3E's radar gave operators the ability to detect surfaced submarines at night or in poor visibility. Many TBM-3s were converted to -3E standard post-war as the threat from Soviet submarines grew. The type served through the Korean War era.
Variants
Further derivatives included the TBM-3Q electronic intelligence aircraft and TBM-3W airborne early warning variant with a large belly radome.
Where you'll see it
The TBM-3E served primarily with the US Navy well into the 1950s; Canada's Royal Canadian Navy also operated the type extensively, and it saw use with France's Aéronavale.
Related aircraft
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 5,024 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.