In 194 the US Navy issued its requirement for a new carrier borne torpedo bomber, and prototype were order from Douglas and Great Lake Aircraft Compact. The former XTBD-1 first flew in April 1935 with the 800-hp XR-1380-60 radial engine. It was the first modern low wing monoplane designed for the navy, and featured all metal construction flaps, and retractable or rather rearward moving semi retractable main landing gear units. The Devastator set a new standard for carrier borne warplane, and the first of 129 TBD-1 production aircraft entered service in October 1937. Eventually four squadrons were equipped with the Devastator, which paid the price for its pioneering nature by being absolute at the time of the U S As entry into the Second World War during December 1941. In the June 1942 Battle of Midway, the Devastator suffered such losses (35 aircraft including one complete squadron) to Japanese AA fire and fighters that it was almost immediately withdrawn from first line service to the training role.