4-blade prop on Avenger?

[Maxrobot1]

The SB2C and TBF/TBM shared the R2600-20 engine but the Helldiver got a 4-blade prop. Would a 4-blade shorten the takeoff roll of the Avenger? Would it have less prop noise?
I've been contemplating a work of fiction where The RAF is looking into a Tarpon/Avenger for special operations over Europe in a manner similar to what the Lysanders were doing.
Avengers had radar altimeter allowing low flying at night over the Channel. A navigator/ radioman was standard.
The turret could ease fears of German night fighters but the interior would allow multiple agents to come and go in one flight. It had a good size crew door also.
Compare to the Lysander's cramped rear cockpit shared with the gunner/radioman and the necessary ladder.
(One Fleet air arm pilot mentioned that he took his bicycle in his Avenger.) Cargo containers could be packed in the bomb bay. good range too, plus it could take two drop tanks. The British Avengers had bubble fuselage windows for increased visibility.
As a carrier plane, it had a low landing speed and shorter takeoff run that other designs.
An issue would be the tires and conversion to larger low pressure ones for rough fields. Also the exhaust flame would need shielding and prop noise - could it be reduced so take offs would not attract much attention?
Any ideas?
This is a photo of the interior.

 

[Tom Fey]

Pretty cool idea. Since it is fiction you have a pretty free hand. I'd suggest the R-2600 use a fictional, high reduction ratio nose gear box ( three or four to one) to slow the propeller speed and a custom 4 blade Curtiss Electric wide-chord, asymmetric blade prop blades like those used on the P-47. The use of those long perforated exhaust pipes similar to the Lysander but much larger, longer, might reduce engine noise. Perhaps custom fowler or other type of flaps, enlarged, would reduce landing speeds. Big fat tires would be mandatory. The airframe would have to be lightened considerably, so turrets and internal stations, framework, gear, would have to be eliminated. Fun project. Good luck.

 

[Maxrobot1]

Last night I had also thought of the Grumman Goose amphibian since the RAF had some of them and post war Grumman Albatross planes were used extensively for covert mission in Easter Europe. ( I had a copy of the book Apollo's Warriors which covered this)
The Goose was versatile and with low powered engines probably quiet. A factor is that the Goose had engine exhaust on top of the wings - not pointed downwards or to the side. Plus it could carry passengers and some cargo.
I think those are some of the same reasons the "Black Cat" PBY's were so successful. They were relatively quiet to ground observers. Plus the PBYs with internal wing defrosters had huge heat exchangers over the exhaust effectively muffling the noise too.
So if the British special Operations teams were looking for aircraft, the Avenger and the Goose might belong on their team.

 

[Frog]

Last night I had also thought of the Grumman Goose amphibian since the RAF had some of them and post war Grumman Albatross planes were used extensively for covert mission in Easter Europe. ( i had a copy of the book Apollo's Warriors which covered this)
The Goose was versitile and with low powered engines probably quit. A factor is that the Goose had engine exhaust on top of the wings - not pointed downwards or to the side. Plus it could carry passengers and some cargo.
I think those are some of the same reasons the "Black Cat" PBY's were so successful. they were relatively quiet to ground observers. Plus the PBYs with internal wing defrosters had huge heat exchangers over the exhaust effectively muffling the noise too.
So if the British special Operations teams were looking for aircraft, the Avenger and the Goose might belong on their team.

No. 161 Squadron RAF used Lockeed Hudsons III and V from october 1943 exactly for that duty.

 

[Maxrobot1]

I saw a reference to Hudsons in that regard but wonder how big twin-engine like the Hudson could sneak in and out of France.

 

[Capt. Vick]

...it wore a mustache

 

[Frog]

...it wore a mustache

And a beret.

More seriously much information here :

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.airandspaceforces.com/article/0712moon/&ved=2ahUKEwigm5r8_q2PAxX-K_sDHdKYHmQQFnoECBUQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3BJDBuK20yEX7kJA_SsfMe