SBD Dauntless

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Douglas SBD Dauntless was the U.S. Navy's main scout bomber and dive bomber from mid-1940 until 1943, when it was replaced by the SB2C Helldiver. Commonly, their extremely effective dive bombing technique was known as "Helldiving", leading to their being nicknamed "Helldivers" (not to be confused with other aircraft officially designated the Helldiver, like the SB2C listed above).

Related Topics:
Douglas - U.S. Navy - Scout bomber - Dive bomber - 1940 - 1943 - SB2C Helldiver

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Northrop BT-1 provided the basis for the design of the SBD, which began manufacture in 1940. It was designed with a 1,000 horsepower Wright Cyclone powerplant. A year earlier, both the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps had placed orders for the new dive bombers, aptly designated the SBD-1 and SBD-2 (the latter had increased fuel capacity and different armament). The former went to the Marine Corps in late 1940, and the latter went to the Navy in early 1941.

Related Topics:
Northrop BT-1 - 1940 - Horsepower - Powerplant - Marine Corps - 1941

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The next version, titled the SBD-3, began manufacture in early 1941. It provided increased protection, self-sealing fuel tanks, and four machine guns. The SBD-4 provided a 12-volt (from 6) electrical system, and a few were converted onto reconnaissance platforms.

Related Topics:
Self-sealing fuel tank - Reconnaissance

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The next (and most produced) variant, known as the SBD-5, was primarily produced on Douglas's plant at Tulsa, Oklahoma. It was equipped with a 1,200 hp (895 kW) engine and increased ammunition. Over 2,400 were built, and a few were shipped to the Royal Navy (although they were not used operationally). The type did see operation, from land bases, against the Japanese with 25 Squadron of the Royal New Zealand Air Force which soon replaced them with F4U Corsairs, and against the Germans with the Free French Air Force. A few were also sent to Mexico. The final version, the SBD-6, provided many improvements, but came later and was not used as much.

Related Topics:
Tulsa - Oklahoma - Royal Navy - Royal New Zealand Air Force - Mexico

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The U.S. Army made its own version of the SBD, known as the A-24, which was essentially the same aircraft with a few changes (the removal of the unnecessary arresting hook and different tires). Two versions (the A-24A and A-24B) were produced and used by the Army through and after the war.

Related Topics:
U.S. Army - Arresting hook

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~