Douglas BTD Destroyer

History of the Douglas BTD destroyer

The awkward-looking Douglas BTD destroyer was developed by Douglas Aircraft for use on US aircraft carriers during World War II. This model was designed to succeed the SBD Dauntless (another Douglas product) and the Curtiss SB2C Helldiver torpedo bomber that served the same purpose. Due to the end of the war in August 1945, total production of BTD destroyers was limited to 30 destroyers, which marked the end of the program and many other projects currently in development, or the completion of mass production orders.

Introduced in 1944, it was quickly withdrawn in 1945 as the US Navy's requirements for its carrier aircraft changed.

The BTD destroyer was born in the XSB2D-1 prototype commissioned by the US Navy in June 1941. The design is credited to prolific aeronautical engineer Ed Heinemann, who used his talents to develop the A-20 Havoc, A-26 Invader, A-1 Skyraider and several other light and medium mounts.

He may be remembered as the leader in the design of the A-4 Skyhawk jet fighter. The XSB2D-1 features a number of novel design qualities, including a powered tricycle landing gear, a pair of remote-controlled machine gun-armed turrets, and an inverted gull-wing arrangement (similar to the Vought F4U Corsair fighter).

Despite the inherent qualities of the proven XSB2D-1 prototype and in keeping with the US military's habit of modifying its requirements during critical stages of aircraft development, the USN returned with a brief delay with very different requirements. The requirement now is for a single-seat dive bomber to be free of expensive and complex defensive weapons. The new aircraft will approach the field more like a fighter jet, with a simplified airframe designed for performance, still primarily for launching torpedoes and secondary for dive bombs. The aircraft is still well-armed and well-armored, offering the U.S.

Navy a cheaper alternative that can be produced in less time and requires a pilot to be trained.

Having mastered the new requirements, Douglas revised the original plan and developed the "BTD-1", a sleeker and more refined form that still retained the internal bomb bay, tricycle landing gear, gull wings, Large vertical tail and radial piston engine. The engine now drives a more impressive four-bladed propeller system that promises improved performance through the use of a smaller airframe.

2 x 20mm cannons are mounted on the leading edge of the wing in the same way as the XSB2D prototype. The wings are mounted centrally on both sides of the fuselage. The pilot is under a glass canopy that slides back for entry. Cockpit visibility is generally good for this class of aircraft.

The US Navy accepted the revised destroyer design as the BTD-1 and began production in earnest. The first example was available in June 1944, followed by 27 other units. However, that's all it was when the Empire of Japan surrendered on August 15, 1945.

In total, about 30 airframes were completed and rapidly decommissioned, but never saw combat action against their intended enemy in the Pacific.

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