The Douglas XTB2D Skypirate was developed for the large Midway-class carriers under a December 1943 requirement. A powerful radial engine drove an eight-bladed contra-rotating propeller assembly, and the planned armament included defensive guns as well as wing-mounted weapons. Its maximum bomb or torpedo load was 8,400 pounds, with substantial range and a quoted maximum speed of 340 mph. Those capabilities made it a formidable large torpedo bomber, but they no longer matched the Navy's preferred crew arrangement. Development ended as the U.S. Navy adopted single-seat carrier bombers, leaving the Skypirate without an operational role.
Notable Point · 1:53:54-1:55:20
The Skypirate's heavy payload lost out to single-seat doctrine
The Skypirate offered a large payload and strong performance, but the Navy's move away from multi-crew bombers ended its development.