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However, on other threads it has been said that R-2600 replacements for R-1820/R-1830 powered aircraft would have been a waste of time pending R-2800 powered aircraft. The benefit of a R-2600 powered fighter would have been short-lived and would have diverted resources from R-2800 powered craft.
So employing the retrospectroscope, would the US have been better off pursuing a R-2800 craft to replace the TBD?
A more developed SB2C, for example, that could replace the TBF entirely sounds tempting, but the SB2C was already overweight, so while adding a heavier engine might get you off the deck with a heavier load, it will also exacerbate the SB2Cs problems while in the dive, and actually reduce it's effectiveness as a dive bomber. AFAIK, the SB2C was the only new USN DB that could have entered service in 1942. There were some R3350 designs in the works but none showed up till 1945, IIRC.
Hmm, actually there was the Seawolf:
TBU/TBY Sea Wolf Info
Budd RB Conestoga, by Jack McKillop
Indeed, Seawolf is the answer to the opening question.
However, Seawolf is still hampered by the inability to dive bomb and the same poor torpedo.
In case the R-2600 powered fighter is upgraded with R-2800s when those are available, then it would not be a waste of resources. Once the R-2800s are available, your production figures can hit the stride early on.
Anyway we slice it, the R-2800 powered fighters were a non-factor before Spring of 1943, and it was Autumn of 1943 when they appeared on the carriers.
True but then we are using the "retrospectroscope" to full advantage. Design fighter/s for two stage R-2800 with intercoolers and install single stage R-2600 in the first few hundred (or thousand or???) until the R-2800s are ready?
Of course you have hundreds less hp than the design really calls for and you have a bigger, bulkier plane than the the single stage R-2600 can most efficiently power.
lets Use the F6F-3 at 8951lbs empty and lets say you save 500lbs using the R-2600 single stage engine and you can save another 400lbs between the smaller prop, smaller engine accessories, oil system etc and lets say (just to keep things simple) you can keep the CG in place by shifting equipment. You now have an empty weight of 8051lbs, a basic weight of 8973lb and a clean gross weight of 10522lbs with only 200rpg of .50 cal ammo and 182 gallons of fuel. and you have (using a R-2600BA engine, 1700hp for take-off) 1300hp of military power at 15,000ft. instead of 1600hp(?) and it rapidly diminishes to 1050hp at 22,000ft instead of the 1650hp of the F6F-3 ?
Maybe you can come up with slightly smaller outer wings to to get weight down a bit more
Once you get above 6-7000ft I am just not seeing what advantage a R-2800 two stage sized plane has against enemy aircraft when powered by a an R-2600.
You may be able to design a fair performing aircraft using the R-2600 single stage engine, just don't expect to put a two stage R-2800 in it later. ANd we are back to the tens (if not hundreds) of thousands of man hours spent on designing the interim fighter and it's manufacturing jigs and tooling.
However, Seawolf is still hampered by the inability to dive bomb and the same poor torpedo.
You may be able to design a fair performing aircraft using the R-2600 single stage engine, just don't expect to put a two stage R-2800 in it later. ANd we are back to the tens (if not hundreds) of thousands of man hours spent on designing the interim fighter and it's manufacturing jigs and tooling.
That's fine, then perhaps there are aircraft like the SB2C Helldiver and TBF Avenger that could have/should have waited for more capable versions?
Seawolf's designation was 'TBU' - TB is for 'torpedo bomber'. Neither TBD (Devastator) nor TBF/TBM (Avenger) were dive bombers. I've already stated that any new A/C cannot cure torpedo's problems.
SB2C, for all of it's problems, was a dive bomber. Good one, once it was debugged.
The torpedo was not the problem of the airframe manufacturer.
Agree 100%, but for so many hit with dud torpedoes does beg a question, how come this wasnt found out sooner. A lot of lives were lost delivering duds.