Grumman XTSF
{{Short description|Torpedo scout aircraft proposed for the US Navy in 1944}}
{{Infobox aircraft
|name= XTSF
|image= File:Grumman XTSF-1 mockup.jpg
|caption= Mockup of the XTSF-1's forward fuselage
|type= Torpedo scout
|manufacturer= Grumman
|designer=
|first_flight=
|introduction=
|retired=
|status=
|primary_user= United States Navy
|more_users=
|produced=
|number_built=None
|unit cost=
|developed_from= Grumman F7F Tigercat
|variants=
|developed_into=
}}
The Grumman XTSF was a proposed twin-engine torpedo scout aircraft, designed by Grumman for the United States Navy towards the end of World War II. Based on the design of the Grumman F7F Tigercat fighter, but enlarged and with the addition of a bomb bay, the XTSF was deemed too large for carrier operations, and the project was cancelled before any aircraft were built. Instead, the Navy chose to order the single-engine XTB3F, which became the successful AF Guardian.
Design and development
In 1944, it was determined that the Grumman XTB2F, then under development for the Navy, would be too large to practically and safely operate from aircraft carriers.Goebel 2009 Even the new {{Sclass|Midway|aircraft carrier}}s, known as "battle carriers" (CVB) and the largest aircraft carriers built by any nation to that point, would have difficulty operating the massive aircraft, which was the size of a U.S. Army Air Force medium bomber. As a result, in late June 1944, Grumman submitted its G-66 design to the Bureau of Aeronautics (BuAer). After a review of the design by BuAer during the following month, a revised design was submitted, and on August 17 the existing contract for the XTB2F was modified to instead order two XTSF-1 aircraft, to be based on Grumman's F7F-2 Tigercat two-seat, twin-engined fighter-bomber, the first prototype intended to be a conversion of a F7F airframe.American Aviation Historical Society Journal, [https://books.google.com/books?id=x4ZWAAAAMAAJ&q=Grumman+XTSF v.14-15], p. 269.
A mid-wing, all-metal, cantilever monoplane with two Pratt & Whitney Double Wasp radial engines mounted in streamlined nacelles under the wing,Angelucci 1987, p. 238. the XTSF-1 was intended to carry two crew members in tandem seats, and featured an internal bomb bay and an SCR-720 radar set, the radar later being replaced in the design by an AN/APS-3 or AN/APS-4 set. A second seat was added for the radar operator.
The outer wing of the XTSF was lengthened by {{convert|7.8|ft}} compared to that of the F7F-2, while the size of the horizontal stabilizer was increased by {{convert|28|in|cm}}). The vertical stabilizer was also enlarged, while the aircraft's weight increased by almost {{convert|2000|lb|kg|spell=in}} over that of the Tigercat.
The wings folded upwards for stowage aboard aircraft carriers, while the undercarriage and arrestor hook were hydraulically operated. Gun armament was planned to be four .50 caliber (12.7 mm) Browning M2 machine guns, or, alternatively, two 20 mm Hispano cannon, while a bomb bay based on that of the Grumman TBF Avenger was installed in a fuselage stretched by {{convert|5.5|in|cm}}.
=Cancellation=
A mockup of the cockpit, center fuselage, and wing center section was built and was inspected by the BuAer in the fall 1944.Johnson 2008, p. 427 However, the contract for the prototype XTSF-1s was terminated in January 1945. This was due to a variety of factors, including the Navy's belief that the Grumman engineers and factory were already at capacity producing the F6F Hellcat, the F7F, and the F8F Bearcat,Norton 2008, p. 121 that the XTSF-1 would be too large for practical operations from escort carriers, and because it was believed the Grumman G-70, to be built as the XTB3F, was a better prospect. In addition, the F7F was proving difficult to certify for operations from aircraft carriers,Meyer 2002, p. 55 further prejudicing the Navy against the design.
Some sources erroneously state that the XTSF-1 became the XTB2F,Lawson and Tillman 2001, p. 87 however this is not the case.Norton 2008, p. 120 The XTSF-1 was the only aircraft ever designated by the U.S. Navy in the 'TS for Torpedo Scout' category, the designation being superseded and incorporated, along with 'BT for Bomber-Torpedo', 'SB for Scout-Bomber', and 'TB for Torpedo-Bomber', into the new 'A for Attack' series.[http://www.driko.org/usdes2.html "U.S. Systems of Aircraft Designation"], driko.org. Accessed May 8, 2010.
Specifications (XTSF-1)
File:Grumman XTSF-1 3-view.jpg
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=XTSF-1 Airplane Characteristics and Performance
|prime units?=imp
|crew=2 (Pilot and radar operator)
|capacity=
|length m=
|length ft=46
|length in=4
|length note=
|span m=
|span ft=59
|span in=4
|span note=(folded span {{convert|32|ft}})
|height m=
|height ft=16
|height in=
|height note=
|wing area sqm=
|wing area sqft=500
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=
|airfoil=NACA 23015-23012
|empty weight kg=
|empty weight lb=17288
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight lb=26171
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight kg=
|max takeoff weight lb=
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity={{convert|400|USgal}}
|more general=
|eng1 number=2
|eng1 name=Pratt & Whitney R-2800-22W Double Wasp
|eng1 type=radial engines
|eng1 kw=
|eng1 hp=2400
|eng1 note=
|power original=
|prop blade number=4
|prop name=Aeroproducts H-20-156
|prop dia m=
|prop dia ft=13
|prop dia in=2
|prop note=
|max speed kmh=
|max speed mph=414
|max speed kts=
|max speed note=at {{convert|18600|ft}}
|max speed mach=
|cruise speed kmh=
|cruise speed mph=
|cruise speed kts=
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed kmh=
|stall speed mph=84
|stall speed kts=
|stall speed note=
|minimum control speed kmh=
|minimum control speed mph=
|minimum control speed kts=
|minimum control speed note=
|range km=
|range miles=975
|range nmi=
|range note=internal fuel at {{convert|172|mph}}
|combat range km=
|combat range miles=395
|combat range nmi=
|combat range note=radius with two {{convert|150|USgal}} drop tanks
|ferry range km=
|ferry range miles=
|ferry range nmi=
|ferry range note=
|endurance=
|ceiling m=
|ceiling ft=36500
|ceiling note=
|g limits=
|roll rate=
|glide ratio=
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate ftmin=3920
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude=
|lift to drag=
|wing loading kg/m2=
|wing loading lb/sqft=47.9
|wing loading note=
|fuel consumption kg/km=
|fuel consumption lb/mi=
|power/mass=6.5lb/bhp
|more performance=
|guns= 4 .50-calibre machine guns
|bombs= Internal bomb bay, capacity one Mark 13 torpedo, one {{convert|2000|lb}} bomb or naval mine, or up to {{convert|4000|lb}} smaller bombs, or up to {{convert|1300|lb}} depth charges.
|rockets=
|missiles=
|hardpoints=Two, {{convert|1000|lb}} capacity each
|hardpoint capacity=
|hardpoint rockets=
|hardpoint missiles=
|hardpoint bombs=
|hardpoint other=
|avionics=
}}
See also
{{Portal|Aviation}}
{{aircontent
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References
=Citations=
{{Reflist|2}}
=Bibliography=
- {{cite book |last1=Angellucci |first1=Enzo |title=The American Fighter from 1917 to the Present |year=1987 |publisher=Orion |location=New York |isbn=0-517-56588-9}}
- {{cite web |url=http://www.vectorsite.net/avguard.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020221193021/http://www.vectorsite.net/avguard.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=February 21, 2002 |title=The Grumman AF Guardian |first=Greg |last=Goebel |year=2009 |publisher=vectorsite.net |access-date=2010-05-06}}
- {{cite book |last1=Johnson |first1=E.R. |title=American Attack Aircraft Since 1926 |year=2008 |publisher=McFarland & Company |location=Jefferson, NC |isbn=9780786434640}}
- {{cite book |last1=Lawson |first1=Robert |author2=Barrett Tillman |title=U. S. Navy Dive and Torpedo Bombers of World War II |year=2001 |publisher=MBI Publishing |location=St. Paul, MN |isbn=0-7603-0959-0 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/usnavydivetorped0000till }}
- {{cite journal |last=Meyer |first=Corwin H. |author-link=Corky Meyer |date=August 2002 |title=F7F Tigercat: The Untold Story |journal=Flight Journal |location=Ridgefield, CT |publisher=AirAge Publications }}
- {{cite book |last1=Norton |first1=Bill |title=U.S. Experimental & Prototype Aircraft Projects: Fighters 1939-1945 |year=2008 |publisher=Specialty Press |location=North Branch, MN |isbn=978-1-58007-109-3}}
- {{cite web |url=http://www.alternatewars.com/SAC/XTSF-1_Tigercat_ACP_-_1_August_1944.pdf |title=XTSF-1 Airplane Characteristics and Performance |author=U.S. Navy |date=August 1, 1944 |at=alternatewars.com |access-date=2011-01-08}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{cite web |url=http://www.alternatewars.com/SAC/Description_Card_for_XTSF-1.pdf |title=Aircraft Description Card for XTSF-1 |author=U.S. Navy |date=July 1944 |at=alternatewars.com |access-date=2011-01-08}}
- [https://www.angelfire.com/space/grumman/aircraft/designs.html "Grumman Designs and Proposals"], The Grumman Pages.
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20091130005013/http://www.personal.psu.edu/dob104/aviation/us/ntorpedos.html#XTSF-1 TS - Torpedo Scout Aircraft], U.S. Military Aircraft and Weapon Designations
{{Grumman aircraft}}
{{USN torpedo aircraft}}
{{Good article}}
Category:Cancelled military aircraft projects of the United States
Category:Carrier-based aircraft
Category:Twin piston-engined tractor aircraft