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Douglas TBD range needed
I´m gathering info on various US carrier a/c. From 'The First Team' I found out an SBD had a combat radius of 170 to 220nm depending on the bombload and that it could make a 300nm search, presumably with a 500lb bomb?
The Wildcat´s combat radius is at least 125nm but up to 200nm was mentioned once.
The TBD has totally eluded and confused me. At Coral Sea torpedo armed TBD were send against a target -Shoho- that was reported 200nm away. Cruise speed for a TDB with a fish is 100 to 110 knots. The strike departed at 9:45, the attack began at 11:05. That 80 minutes. TBD could cover 140nm in that time, not 200. Ok, the inital report was wrong, a second place the Shoho 30nm away from the first but that would still be at least 170nm.
Anyone having some info or an idea where else to look?
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