Curtiss SB2C Helldiver. A photo. Characteristics.
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Curtiss SB2C Helldiver. A photo. Characteristics.

Curtiss SB2C Helldiver. A photo. Characteristics.

 

USA

A type: single-engine dive bomber

Crew: pilot and rear gunner

The most numerous dive bomber allied forces during the Second World War aircraft "Helldayver» (Helldiver - diving into hell) companies "Curtis" withstood the prolonged design, to become one of the most efficient aircraft of similar purpose. With 1942 1945 of the year it was built about 7200 aircraft.

The Helldaiver aircraft began its combat debut over Rabaul in November 1943, flying from the deck of the USS Bunker Hill. At that time, this aircraft was in many respects worse than the SBD "Downtless" of the company "Douglas," the aircraft that Helldiver was supposed to replace! Despite the fact that it was significantly improved over the next two years (about 880, a large change in the design of the SB2C-1 aircraft was made before production moved altogether). Behind the Helldiiver aircraft there was an unenviable reputation "around the ship", as more planes were lost on landing on the deck than from the enemy's actions - his unsatisfactory flight characteristics at the stall boundary earned him the nickname "The Beast" (The Beast) While the crews who drove these planes into battle, gloomily joked that its designation (SB2C) means "Son of a Bitch, 2nd Class" (son of a bitch, second class).

Although he was strongly disliked crews vodivshimi him into battle, yet the plane "Helldayver" destroyed more Japanese targets than any other dive bomber USA. After the war, a small number of aircraft operated Navy France, Italy, Greece and Portugal, as well as the Royal Thai Air Force, while their career in the US Navy continued until the end 1940-ies. Several aircraft "Helldayver" escaped torches torch scrap metal recycling, and today only one aircraft SB2C-5 83589, tail number Confederate Air Force is in a state of airworthiness.

Basic data

Dimensions:

  • Length: 11,2 m
  • Wingspan: 15,2 m
  • Height: 5,1 m

Range of flight: 1786 km

Power point: R-2600-8 Cyclone Company "Wright"

Power: 1700 l. from.

The weight:

  • BLANK: 4990 kg
  • Maximum take-off: 7550 kg

 

Date of first flight:

  • 18 декабря 1940 года

 

Aircraft performance characteristics:

  • Maximum speed: 452 km / h

 

The surviving airworthy modifications:

  • SB2C-5

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