The Curtiss SB2C Helldiver was a carrier-based dive-bomber and scout aircraft in service with the US Navy during World War II. The prototype XSB2C-1 took to the air for the first time on December 18, 1940. The first version, the SB2C-1, was introduced into service with the US Navy Squadron VS-9 in December 1942, with an early deployment on the USS Essex (CV-9). Curtiss produced 6,100 aircraft. It was also used by the US Air Force under the designation A-25A Shrike.
To increase mass production of Helldivers, two Canadian factories began building them as well; Fairchild Aircraft Ltd. and Canadian Car & Foundry Co. Ltd., with the former building 300, and the latter 894 aircraft. These were made under the designation of SBW-1, SBW-2, SBW-3, and SBF-1, SBF-2, and SBF-3. Twenty six Canadian-built Helldivers were supplied to the UK. Thus, the production of this scout-bomber totaled 7,199 aircraft.
The Curtiss SB2C Helldiver first saw combat action on November 11, 1943, when 23 SB2C-1s of Squadron VF-17 took off the flight deck of USS Bunker Hill to attack IJN ships moored at Rabaul, Papua New Guinea. They managed to sink two ships and to seriously damage three other vessels. Thus, along with the Douglas SBD Dauntless and the Grumman TBF Avenger, this scout-bomber would play an important role in the Pacific Theater of Operations in providing fire support to US Marines during landing in the island-hopping campaign as well as attacking Japanese aircraft carriers and other capital ships.
Technical Characteristics
The Curtis SB2C was a two-seat, single-engine monoplane. It had cantilever low wing, with a dihedral twist of 6 degrees. Ailerons were located on outer portion of wing trailing edge, with their undersurfaces being fabric-covered. The wing had perforated split flaps on inner portion of wing. The fuselage was all-metal semi-monocoque. It had retractable landing gear, with wheels folding up inwardly into wing root.
The SB2C-4 version of the aircraft was powered by one Wright R-2600-20 Cyclone 14, twin-row, radial piston engine, which delivered 1,900 HP. This variant had provision to carry eight 127-mm (5-inch) rockets, or 454-kg of bombs. It was also fitted with a radar, which was carried in a pod under the wing.
Specifications (SB2C-4)
Type: two-seat dive-bomber/scout
Length: 11.18 m (36 feet, 8 inches)
Wing Span: 15.16 m (49 feet, 9 inches)
Wing Area: 39.20 m2 (422 sq. feet)
Height: 4 m (13 feet, 2 inches)
Maximum Speed: 475 km/h (295 mph)
Rate of Climb: 549 m per minute
Range: 1,875 km (1,165 miles)
Ceiling: 8,870 m (29,100 feet).
Armament: two fixed, forward-firing 20-mm cannons, one in each wing; two 7.62-mm (.30-cal.) machine guns in rear portion of fuselage.
Below, the prototype XSB2C-1, with wings folded.
