07/31/2009. Remarks by Johan Visschedijk: "Ordered on June 30, 1930, the XT3D-1 was an unstaggered fabric covered metal biplane powered initially by a 575 hp Pratt & Whitney Hornet S2B1-G nine-cylinder air-cooled radial. The crew of three consisted of a pilot, a bomb-aimer/gunner and a gunner in open cockpits. The gunners each manned a single flexible 0.30 in (7.62 mm) machine gun and the bomb-aimer aimed the 1,835 lb (832 kg) torpedo or bombs. The fixed landing gear was of the split-axle type, and an arrester hook was installed beneath the rear fuselage.

Flown at Santa Monica, California, during the early summer of 1931, on September 19 the XT3D-1 arrived at NAS Anacostia, Washington, D.C., where BIS (Board of Inspection and Survey) trials were conducted between October 14, 1931, and April 8, 1932, but the results were disappointing. Consequently, the aircraft was retumed to Douglas for modifications.

Douglas installed an 800 hp Pratt & Whitney XR-1830-54 fourteen-cylinder air-cooled radial and added wheel spats. In addition, a sliding canopy was added over the bomb-aimer's cockpit whilst a large canopy was fitted over the pilot's and rear gunner's cockpits.

XT3D-2 (A-8730)

So modified and redesignated XT3D-2, the aircraft was ferried from NAS San Diego to NAS Anacostia during February 1933.

However, by that time the USN was more interested in dive-bombers than in torpedo-bombers. This, and still disappointing performance, coupled with continuous engine troubles led to the rejection of the XT3D-2 as a Service type and it was used as an engine test bed.

In October 1936 an 800 hp R-1830-58 was fitted, and finally, the XT3D-2 made its last flight at NAS Philadelphia on April 22, 1941. Two weeks later, on May 5, the aircraft was struck off strength and sent to NAS Norfolk for use as an instructional airframe."