Navy Plane Names

[andy2012]

What is the rhyme and reason to how the navy call there planes, like F4F, F4U, TBM etc? I have tried to look it up, but to no avail.

 

[MikeGazdik]

F4F. (F) fighter, (4) fourth design from manufacturer (F) letter code assigned to Grumman.
F4U. (F) fighter, (4) fourth design from manufacturer (U) letter code assigned to Chance-Vought.
F6F, F7F, and F8F self explanatory.

At least thats what I recall. Now staring at TBM, Im clueless. T/B Torpedo-Bomber, M ?

 

[vikingBerserker]

This should help:

1922 United States Navy aircraft designation system - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://www.history.navy.mil/avh-1910/APP05.PDF

 

[andy2012]

Thanks a lot for the information!!

 

[vikingBerserker]

Glad I could help Andy.