Grumman's first attempt at an Avenger replacement, the Model 55 design appeared just a year after the first production TBFs began arriving. Somewhat resembling Grumman's S2F Tracker of a decade later, the XTB2F would have been a much larger A/C than the Avenger, with two R-2800 engines on a high mounted wing.
The tricycle-gear A/C was projected as a multi-role type, able to carry a pair of torpedoes internally, but alternative warloads included two tons of bombs in the bomb bay, with the ability to carry another ton on underwing pylons. Defensive armament would have included dorsal and ventral turrets each with a pair of .50-cal MGs, in addition to guns in the nose and wings.
The XTB2F got as far as the mockup stage, but the order for two prototypes would be cancelled when it looked likely that the type's performance would be inadequate. In any case, the XTB2F would be too large for operations from Essex class carriers, and would even be a tight fit aboard the larger Midway class ships as built.
