Douglas XT3D

Development

The XT3D torpedo bomber (BuNo 8730) was first flown in 1931, it has been described as a large and ugly aircraft. Of metal construction with a fabric covering the XT3D had folding wings and an arrestor hook for carrier operation. With a fixed tailwheel landing gear and powered by a Pratt & Whitney R-1690 Hornet radial engine, the XT3D had three open cockpits, forward for the gunner/bomb-aimer, centre for the pilot, rear for another gunner.

The XT3D failed to meet the Navy's requirements and after tests was returned to Douglas. It was modified with a more powerful Pratt & Whitney XR-1830-54 radial, and wheel fairings and the two rear cockpits were enclosed. Re-designated XT3D-2, it still failed to pass Navy trials and was not ordered into production. The prototype was used by the Navy for the next ten years for general purpose use until it was relegated as an instructional airframe in 1941.

Variants

XT3D-1

Prototype powered by a Pratt & Whitney R-1690 radial, one built.

XT3D-2

Prototype modified including a change to a Pratt & Whitney R-1830 radial.

Operators

 United States

United States Navy

Specifications

Data from

General characteristics

Crew: 3 (pilot, bomb-aimer/gunner, gunner)

Length: 35 ft 5 in (10.80 m)

Wingspan: 50 ft 0 in (15.24 m)

Height: 13 ft 2.5 in (4.026 m)

Wing area: 624 sq ft (58.0 m²)

Empty weight: 4,238 lb (1,922 kg)

Max takeoff weight: 7,857 lb (3,564 kg)

Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-1690 Hornet radial piston engine, 575 hp (429 kW)

Performance

Maximum speed: 128 mph (206 km/h; 111 kn) at 6000ft (1830m)

Range: 555 mi (482 nmi; 893 km)

Service ceiling: 14,000 ft (4,300 m)

Armament

Guns: 2 × 0.3in (7.62mm) machine-gun (flexible mounted on forward and rear cockpits)

Bombs: 1835lb (832kg) torpedo or equivalent in bombs