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Can Anyone give me some links or information on the strike tactics they used in the Avenger? ie: Dive bombing, Level strike,etc.

Do you want Atlantic or Pacific tactics? May sound funny, but they were different. In the Atlantic, the Avenger was used in anti-submarine warfare...but in the Pacific they were used for land bombing as well as anti-shipping. There are major differences in the tactics used.

I have a semi-related question, were the rockets fired one at a time or did each "pair" of rockets, one from each wing, get launched simultaneously?

MK

Ok...here's some down and dirty on Avenger tactics...be they bombing or tordepo. The TBF-1C carried eight rockets arranged four per wing. The pilot could selectively launch these rockets from an arming panel in the cockpit. The selections were...single per squeeze of the trigger, paired (one per wing), or ripple (sequential fire of all rails in pairs one set at a time). Attacks were usually made from 2500 to 1000 feet at a 30 to 45 degree angle dive. Pull-out was at 500 feet or less at pilots discression. Torpedo attacks were a different matter. The Mk-13 aerial torpedos we used at the beginning of WW2 were notoriously unreliable and several "field fixes" never totally cured them. TBF pilots were forced to fly below 100 feet level and less than 100 kts (VERY vulnerable) to release a half decent shot. Once the Mk-13A torpedo became available, this was raised to release from up to 800 feet at up to 280 kts (much better). In the bombing or depth charge attack, the TBF used the same 30 to 45 degree dive with pullout at around 500 feet. A "sequencer" set in the radio compartment could space a stick of four bombs (or depth charges) 60 to 75 feet apart. The pilot would dive directly at a moving target and "pickle" a stick just as he pulled out almost ensuring a hit by at least one of the bombs dropped. During the dive, pilots also employed the .50 cals mounted (one on each wing just outside the propeller arc) to keep AA gunners occupied (scambling for cover!). In the Atlantic, Avengers roamed in pairs (hunter/killer) where one (hunter) carried airborne radar and searched for targets. The "killer" would then vector on the target and perform the attack while the "hunter" observed the strikes. OK....hope that answers some of your questions guys....?

In the Pacific Avengers were for the most part used for bombing, either land targets or sea targets. They were used sporadically as torpedo bombers with limited success until mid '44 when a new and improved torpedo came out. They were then used quite successfully as torpedo bombers as well. They played a major part in the sinking of 2 of Japan's giant battleships, Musashi and Yamato.

In the Atlantic they were used exclusively to hunt U-boats. Many were equipped with radar to detect surfaced Uboats. Once detected the tactic was to come in low and fast to try and catch it on the water, before the boat had time to crash dive. They would spray it with machine gun fire, fire rockets and drop conventional bombs to try and damage the boat so it couldn't dive. If that failed they were usually equipped with various types of depth charges or torpedos and could go after a submerged Uboat that way.

That low-level bombing run is why they got slaughtered at Midway. Slow and on the deck. However, in doing so, they drew most of the fighter cover low so the dive bombers came over the top unmolested. In that way, at least their sacrifice was not in vain.

Ummm...and maybe I'm starting something I really shouldn't, but I hope people accept that this is an attempt at accuracy, not intended to ruffle feathers. It has been widely reported and accepted that Torpedo 8 sacrificed themselves in order to "draw the CAP" down to wavetop heights where they could not intercept the dive bomber attacks. A book (widely circulated and acclaimed) call "Shattered Swords" details the Midway battles like no other text before. It was specifically written to dispell alot of myths that arose after WW2 about Midway in particular. One of those myths is the demise of Torpedo 8. While the low and slow approach certainly affected the survivability and the shreading of Torpedo 8's aircraft and crews, there is a problem with timeline. Both American and Japanese survivors agree that the attack by Torpedo 8 started at about 0920 hrs that morning. However (and both sides agree again) the dive bomber raids did not start until about 1020 hrs...a full hour after Torpedo 8's attack. Certainly plenty of time for A6M2 CAP fighters to climb back to patrol altitude and repulse the dive bomber attacks coming. So why didn't they? The answer is not as easy. The Japanese high command did not believe more American aircraft were in the area and did not insist on re-establishing the CAP as quickly as they should have. They got cocky...and lazy...and Diving 6 caught them daydreaming when it was too late. This should not be considered underscoring Torpedo 8's sacrifice at all. Torpedo 8 crews had no way of knowing where the other attack formations were....and went in anyway facing the full fury the Japanese fleet could give them. Their courage can never be underscored. An excellent IJN resourse site is here http://www.combinedfleet.com/kaigun.htm and I encourage anyone interested in Japanese fleet information and aircraft information (really anything involving the Pacific theatre) to go there and explore. I am constantly amazed at the detail and thoroughness of their works.

No problem, Fok. I wasn't saying that it was the Avengers intent to divert attention. Merely, the tactics of the Avengers caused a gap in the air coverage, whatever the reason, which the dive bombers exploited. By referring to it as a "sacrifice", I meant the Avengers actions helped get the other bombers through.