Curtiss SB2C Helldiver
Initially poor handling characteristics and late modifications caused lengthy delays to production and deployment, to the extent that it was investigated by the Truman Committee, which turned in a scathing report.Saddled with demanding requirements set forth by both the U.S. Marines and United States Army Air Forces, the manufacturer incorporated features of a "multi-role" aircraft into the design.[5] The Model XSB2C-1 prototype initially suffered development issues connected to its Wright R-2600 Twin Cyclone engine and three-bladed propeller; further concerns included structural weaknesses, poor handling, directional instability, and bad stall characteristics.[12] The U.S. Navy would not accept the SB2C until 880 modifications[7] to the design and the changes on the production line had been made, delaying the Curtiss Helldiver's combat debut until 11 November 1943 with squadron VB-17 on Bunker Hill, when they attacked the Japanese-held port of Rabaul on the island of New Britain, north of Papua New Guinea.[13] The SB2C-1 could deploy slats mechanically linked with landing gear actuators, that extended from the outer third of the wing leading edge to aid lateral control at low speeds.The early prognosis of the "Beast" was unfavourable; it was strongly disliked by aircrews due to its size, weight, and reduced range compared to the SBD it replaced.[15] Among its major faults, the Helldiver was underpowered, had a shorter range than the SBD, was equipped with an unreliable electrical system, and its manufacturing quality control was often poor.[17] [check quotation syntax] The solution to these problems began with the introduction of the SB2C-3 beginning in 1944, which used the R-2600-20 Twin Cyclone engine with 1,900 hp (1,400 kW) and Curtiss' four-bladed propeller.Many other changes distinguished the A-25A, including larger main wheels, a pneumatic tailwheel, ring and bead gunsight, longer exhaust stubs, and other Army-specified radio equipment.By late 1943, when the A-25A was being introduced, the USAAF no longer had a role for the dive bomber, as fighter aircraft such as the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt had shown their ability to carry out tactical air support missions with great success.The RAAF and US Fifth Air Force already operated a joint pool of aircraft types common to both services in the South West Pacific theatre and, by mid-January 1944, the other nine Shrikes had been transferred to USAAF units.[24] Greek SB2C-5 Helldivers had minor changes for their COIN operations: the hard rubber tailwheel (for carrier use) was replaced by a bigger pneumatic tire for use on landing strips; and the rear gunner station and its twin MGs were deleted, as no aerial opposition existed and weight reduction was used for bombs and extra machine guns.Curtiss SB2C-5 Helldivers, Supermarine Spitfires, and North American T-6D/Gs were used in ground-attack missions against Communist ground forces, camps, and transports during the last stages of the Greek Civil War.
Grumman XSBFCurtiss SBC HelldiverCurtiss HelldiverUSS HancockDive bomberManufacturerCurtiss-WrightFairchild (Canada)Canadian Car & FoundryUnited States NavyUnited States Marine CorpsUnited States Army Air ForcesFrench NavyCurtiss XSB3CWorld War IIcarrier-basedPacific theatersDouglas SBD DauntlessTruman Committeeattack aircraftUS Army Air ForcesUS Marine CorpsBritish Royal NavyRoyal Australian Air ForcehandlingOtto C. Koppenautopilotself-sealing fuel tanksGrumman TBF AvengerFairchild Aircraft Ltd. (Canada)Canadian Car and FoundryBunker HillRabaulPapua New GuineaYorktownBattle of the Philippine SeaMarianasPhilippinesbattleshipMusashiIwo JimaOkinawathe sinking of theYamatoRyukyu IslandsHonshūatomic bombsJapanese surrenderGrumman F6F HellcatVought F4U CorsairFranceGreecePortugalThailandGreek Civil WarFirst Indochina Warfolding wingsRepublic P-47 ThunderboltUS MarinesVMSB-151EnjebiLend LeaseVultee Vengeancein service with the RAAFNo. 1 Air Performance UnitFifth Air ForceBritishRoyal NavyFleet Air ArmAir operations during the Greek Civil WarRoyal Hellenic Air ForceSupermarine Spitfires336th Bomber SquadronCOIN operationsCommunist ground forcesHellenic Air Force MuseumAeronavaleArromanchesBois BelleauLa FayetteBattle of Dien Bien PhuAustraliaAviation NavaleItalian Air ForcePortuguese NavyPortuguese Air ForceRoyal Thai Air ForceRoyal Thai NavyUnited KingdomUnited StatesDecelea Air BaseRoyal Thai Air Force MuseumDon Muang Royal Thai Air Force BaseBangkokColorado Springs, ColoradoFagen Fighters WWII MuseumGranite Falls, MinnesotaCommemorative Air ForceSteven F. Udvar-Hazy CenterNational Air and Space MuseumChantilly, VirginiaNational Museum of the United States Air ForceWright-Patterson AFBDayton, OhioYanks Air MuseumChino, CaliforniaNational Naval Aviation MuseumNaval Air Station PensacolaFloridaLower Otay ReservoirSan Diego, CaliforniaNew Cumberland, PennsylvaniaNaval Air Station Grosse IleLaurel HillLigonier TownshipMaalaea BayNaval History and Heritage CommandUnderwater Archaeology BranchAirfoilNACA 23017NACA 23009Wright R-2600-20 Twin CycloneAN/M2 cannonM1919 Browning machine gunsM2 Browning machine gunsHigh Velocity Aircraft Rockets