Douglas XT3D

Douglas XT3D

Douglas XT3D-1
Role	Three-seat torpedo bomber Type of aircraft
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Douglas Aircraft Company
First flight	1931
Retired	1941
Primary user	United States Navy
Number built	1

The Douglas XT3D was an American three-seat torpedo bomber biplane developed by the Douglas Aircraft Company to meet a United States Navy requirement.^[1]

Development

The XT3D torpedo bomber (BuNo 8730) was first flown in 1931, it has been described as a large and ugly aircraft.^[1] Of metal construction with a fabric covering the XT3D had folding wings and an arrestor hook for carrier operation.^[1] With a fixed tailwheel landing gear and powered by a Pratt & Whitney R-1690 Hornet radial engine,^[1] the XT3D had three open cockpits, forward for the gunner/bomb-aimer, centre for the pilot, rear for another gunner.^[1]

The XT3D failed to meet the Navy's requirements and after tests was returned to Douglas.^[1] It was modified with a more powerful Pratt & Whitney XR-1830-54 radial, and wheel fairings and the two rear cockpits were enclosed.^[1] Re-designated XT3D-2, it still failed to pass Navy trials and was not ordered into production.^[1] 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.^[1]

Variants

XT3D-1: Prototype powered by a Pratt & Whitney R-1690 radial, one built.^[1]^[2]
XT3D-2: Prototype modified including a change to a Pratt & Whitney R-1830 radial.^[1]^[2]

Operators

United States

United States Navy

Specifications

Data from ^[1]

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 (893 km, 482 nmi)
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

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Douglas T3D.

Notes

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l Orbis 1985, p. 1578
^ ^a ^b Andrade 1979, p. 224

Bibliography

Andrade, John (1979). U.S.Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909. Midland Counties Publications. ISBN 0-904597-22-9.
The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing.

Douglas military aircraft

Fighters

Ground attack