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Curtiss SB2C Helldiver
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtiss_SB2C_Helldiver
The Curtiss SB2C Helldiver was a carrier-based dive bomber aircraft produced for the United States Navy during World War II. It replaced the Douglas SBD Dauntless in US Navy service. The SB2C was much faster than the SBD it replaced. Crew nicknames for the aircraft included the Big-Tailed Beast (or just the derogatory Beast),[1] Two-Cee and Son-of-a-Bitch 2nd Class (after its designation and partly because of its reputation for having difficult handling characteristics).[2] Neither pilots nor aircraft carrier skippers seemed to like it. Delays marred its production—by the time the A-25 Shrike variant for the USAAF was deployed in late 1943, the Army Air Forces no longer had a need for a thoroughbred dive bomber. Poor handling of the aircraft was another factor that hampered its service introductions; both the British Royal Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force cancelled substantial orders. The Truman Committee investigated Helldiver production and turned in a scathing report, which eventually led to the beginning of the end for Curtiss. Problems with the Helldiver were eventually ironed out, and in spite of its early problems, the aircraft was flown through the last two years of the Pacific War with a fine combat record. Large-scale production had already been ordered on 29 November 1940, but a large number of modifications were specified for the production model. The size of the fin and rudder was enlarged, fuel capacity was increased, self-sealing fuel tanks were added and the fixed armament was doubled to four 0.50 in (12.7 mm) machine guns in the wings, compared with the prototype's two cowling guns. The SB2C-2 was built with larger fuel tanks, improving its range considerably. The program suffered so many delays that the Grumman TBF Avenger entered service before the Helldiver, even though the Avenger had begun its development two years later. Nevertheless, production tempo accelerated with production at Columbus, Ohio and two Canadian factories: Fairchild Aircraft Ltd. (Canada), which produced 300 (under the designations XSBF-l, SBF-l, SBF-3 and SBF-4E), and Canadian Car and Foundry, which built 894 (designated SBW-l, SBW-3, SBW-4, SBW-4E and SBW-5), these models being respectively equivalent to their Curtiss-built counterparts. A total of 7,140 SB2Cs were produced in World War II. Specifications (SB2C-4 Helldiver) General characteristics Crew: Two, pilot and radio operator/gunner Length: 36 ft 8 in (11.18 m) Wingspan: 49 ft 9 in (15.17 m) Height: 13 ft 2 in (4.01 m) Wing area: 422 ft² (39.2 m²) Empty weight: 10,547 lb (4,794 kg) Max. takeoff weight: 16,616 lb (7,553 kg) Powerplant: 1 × Wright R-2600-20 Twin Cyclone radial engine, 1,900 hp (1,417 kW) Performance Maximum speed: 295 mph (257 knots, 475 km/h) at 16,700 ft (5,090 m) Cruise speed: 158 mph (137 knots, 254 km/h) Range: 1,165 mi (1,013 nmi, 1,876 km) with 1,000 lb (450 kg) bombload Service ceiling: 29,100 ft (8,870 m) Rate of climb: 1,800 ft/min (9.1 m/s) Armament Guns: 2 × 20 mm (.79 in) Mk.2 cannon in the wings 2 × 0.30 in (7.62 mm) M1919 Browning machine guns in the rear cockpit Bombs: in internal bay: 2,000 lb (900 kg) of bombs or 1 × Mark 13-2 torpedo[44] on underwing hardpoints: 500 lb (225 kg) of bombs each * |
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