The Planes that DIDN'T win the war...

As a fan of alternate history, I have come across a few planes that most people are not familiar with. For various reasons of technology, timing, politics, money, or simple fate, these planes were destined to be a footnote. But perhaps if the Fates had allowed, some of these forgotten aircraft could have become stars of the sky war:

TBU SeaWolf:



Faster and longer ranged than the competing Grumman TBF, this aircraft first flew in late December 1941, four months after the first successful flight of the TBF. Still, its characteristics impressed Navy Officials enough to issue a contract for 1100 of these fine aircraft. Unfortunately, time was not on the side of the TBU. Delays caused by accidents and the Vought company's commitment to producing the F4U Corsair resuted in Vought licensing the design to Consolidated as the TBY. Unfortunately, only 180 of these aircraft would be built. The first operational squadron coming on line in December 1945, commanded by Torpedo 8 survivor George Gay.

Vought TBU / Consolidated TBY Sea Wolf
Type: Torpedo Bomber
Crew: 3 (pilot, bomb-aimer, radio operator/gunner)
Armament: three forward firing .50 cal machine guns
one .50 cal machine gun in dorsal turret
one .30 cal machine gun in ventral position
one torpedo in internal bay

Specifications:
Length: 39' 2.5" (11.9512.47 m)
Height: 15' 6" (4.72 m)
Wignspan: 56' 11" (17.35 m)
Takeoff Weight: 18,488 lb (8386 kg) maximum

Propulsion:
No. of Engines: 1
Powerplant: Pratt & Whitney R-2800-20 Double Wasp
Horsepower: 2000 hp

Performance:
Range: 1500 miles (2414 km)
Max Speed: 306 mph ( 492 km/h)
Ceiling: 27200 ft (8290 M)

 

XF5F Skyrocket:



Test flown in April 1940, the prototype XF5F was a prospective carrier fighter designed in competition with the F4F, XF4U, Brewster Buffalo, and other aircraft. In the initial test flights, the Skyrocket was fast and agile, but ultimately the large size and complexity and parts requirements made the plane unacceptable to Navy officials for further development. While more, smaller fighters was clearly the better answer for carrier duty, it is interesting to wonder how the F5F might have performed in place of the Brewster Buffaloes and other Navy castoffs in Marine squadrons in the early days of the war.

Grumman F5F Skyrocket
Type: Fighter
Crew: 1, Pilot
Armament: 2 23mm Madsen cannons (proposed)

Specifications:
Length: 28' 8.5"
Height: 11' 4"
Wingspan: 42' 0"
Wing area: 303.5 sq. ft
Empty Weight: 8,107 lb
Maximum Weight: 10,138 lb

Propulsion:
No. of Engines: 2
Powerplant: Wright XR-1820-40/42 Cyclone radials
Horsepower: 1200 hp each

Performance:
Range: 1,200 miles
Cruise Speed: 210 mph
Max Speed: 383 mph
Ceiling: 33,000 ft

 

XB-21



A 1936 design was this offering from the North American company.
SPECIFICATIONS
Span: 95 ft. 0 in.
Length: 61 ft. 9 in.
Height: 14 ft. 9 in.
Weight: 40,000 lbs. max. weight
Armament: Five .30-cal. machine guns and 10,000 lbs. of bombs
Engines: Two Pratt & Whitney R-2180-1 supercharged radials of 1,200
hp. each
Crew: Six (eight with the nose and ventral turrets)

PERFORMANCE
Maximum speed: 220 mph at 10,000 ft.
Cruising speed: 190 mph
Service ceiling: 25,000 ft.
Range: 1960 miles with 2,200 lbs. of bombs (600 miles with 10,000 lbs.
of bombs)

This obscure aircraft lost out to that Legendary Bomber, the B-18A Bolo.The Bolo being almost half the cost. While the XB-21 was destined for obscurity, both it and the Bolo continued to evolve. The Bolo eventually becoming the famous B-23 Dragon... and the XB-21? Its descendant was a little plane called the B-25.

 

It certainly served the Black Hawk Squadron well!

 

Interesting info.