Curtiss SB2C Helldiver
Carrier-based dive bomber. The SB2C was designed to combine a powerful engine and a
large weapons load in a small airframe, as required for carrier operations. The SB2C was
compact and dense, and its fuselage was inordinately small compared with the large wings
and tail. The bad handling characteristics earned this dive bomber uncomplimentary
nicknames (this plane has one other nickname more - the pilots said its by that SB2C:
"Son
of a Bitch of the 2nd Class":-)). But its performance was little better
than that of the older
SBD. Nevertheless the USN fought
several major battles with it.
| General characteristics
SB2C-4 |
| Primary function |
Dive bomber |
| Contractor |
Curtiss-Wright Corporation |
| Power plant |
One Wright R-2600-20 engine |
| Thrust |
1,877 HP |
1,400 kW |
| Wingspan |
49.7 ft |
15.16 m |
| Length |
36.7 ft |
11.18 m |
| Height |
13.1 ft |
4.01 m |
| Wingarea |
422 sq ft |
39.20 sq m |
| Weight |
empty |
10,547 lb |
4,784 kg |
| max. |
16,616 lb |
7,537 kg |
| Speed |
295 mph |
475 km/h |
| Ceiling |
2,9200 ft |
8,900 m |
| Range |
1,926 miles |
3,100 km |
| Armament |
2x 20mm cannon, 2x 12.7mm machine gun, 907 kg bombs |
| Crew |
Two |
| Date deployed |
1943 |
| Number built |
over 7000 |
Jirka Wagner
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