Vought XTBU-1 Sea Wolf

Vought · United States · first flew 1941 · bomber

The Vought XTBU-1 Sea Wolf was a single-engine torpedo bomber prototype developed for the US Navy, first flown in 1941 with promising performance.

Recognition (WEFT)

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Spot it by:

• Single-engine torpedo bomber prototype with internal weapons bay
• Production transferred to Consolidated as TBY Sea Wolf
• Large mid-wing monoplane with prominent cowling

Large mid-wing torpedo bomber with a prominent round cowling, internal bomb/torpedo bay, and greenhouse-style crew canopy — broadly similar in layout to the TBF Avenger but with a less angular fuselage.

Specifications

• The Vought XTBU-1 Sea Wolf has a length of 11.2 m (37 ft).
• It has a wingspan of 17.1 m (56 ft).
• Its maximum speed is 498 km/h (309 mph).
• Typical crew: 3.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Despite outperforming the Grumman TBF Avenger in some respects, Vought's production facilities were fully occupied with the F4U Corsair. The US Navy transferred production rights to Consolidated Vultee, which built the type as the TBY-2 Sea Wolf.

Variants

The production version built by Consolidated was designated TBY-2; approximately 180 were completed before the contract was cancelled at war's end.

Where you'll see it

The TBY-2 production aircraft arrived too late and in too few numbers to see significant combat, and the type never reached front-line operational units in meaningful quantities.

Related aircraft

• F4U Corsair
• Vought F4U-1 Corsair (Birdcage)
• Vought V-173 Flying Pancake
• Vought F4U-1A/D Corsair (Late)
• Avro Lancaster
• Avro Lancaster B.I
• Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress
• Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation Woomera

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