In the later years of the war, the need for dive bombers diminished as more advanced, versatile fighter aircraft arrived. With the introduction of the SB2C-4, the Helldiver proved to be a valuable asset to the Navy, especially in aerial attacks against the Japanese Navy. Over time, the Helldiver’s design was modified and improved. Navy refused to use the Helldiver until more than 880 modifications were made.Įventually, the Helldiver made its combat debut in 1943 from the USS Bunker Hill carrier, when bombing squadron VB-17 attacked Japanese targets at Rabaul, on the island of New Britain. In fact, early versions had so many problems that the U.S. The first airplanes produced had design flaws leading to several crashes. Nicknamed the “Big-Tailed Beast” by pilots and crew, the Curtiss SB2C Helldiver had a reputation for being difficult to handle, underpowered, and structurally weak. The aircraft also offered a longer range than the Dauntless, making it useful for naval operations.Īlthough it was bigger, faster and offered a better carrying load and range compared to its predecessors, the Helldiver was widely considered unpopular and poorly designed. Fitted with a Wright-powered radial engine, the Helldiver was capable of a max speed of 260 mph. Early prototypes offered foldable wings for better storage on aircraft carriers, though this feature was later discontinued. By the end of the war, the Helldiver was responsible for sinking more tonnage of Japanese warships in the Pacific than any other Allied aircraft.Ī metal, two-seat, single-engine monoplane, the SB2C was equipped with an internal bomb bay capable of carrying a 1,000-pound bomb, plus two 100-pound bombs under the wings. Navy in 1939 as a replacement for the Douglas SBD Dauntless and the Curtiss SBC, the Helldiver went on to become the front-liner of the Navy’s efforts. One of the last WWII aircraft explicitly produced for naval dive bombing was the Curtiss SB2C, known as the Helldiver. The tactic proved highly useful because it allowed pilots to maintain visual contact with their target for a more precise aim. Dive bomber aircraft would dive in at a steep angle directly at the target, then pull up abruptly after dropping its bombs. Navy used dive bombing as one of the most accurate ways to attack enemy targets, including naval vessels.
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