![]() ![]() A total of 7,140 SB2Cs were produced in World War II. (Canada) which produced a total of 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. ![]() Nevertheless, production tempo accelerated with production at Columbus, Ohio and two Canadian factories: Fairchild Aircraft Ltd. 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. The SB2C-2 was built with larger fuel tanks, improving its range considerably. The size of the fin and rudder was enlarged, fuel capacity was increased, self-sealing fuel tanks 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. Large-scale production had already been ordered on 29 November 1940, but a large number of modifications were specified for the production model. The revised prototype flew again on 20 October 1941, but was destroyed when its wing failed during diving tests on 21 December 1941. The fuselage was lengthened and a larger tail was fitted, while an autopilot was fitted as a result of the aircraft's poor stability. It crashed on 8 February 1941 when its engine failed on approach, but Curtiss was asked to rebuild it. The first prototype made its maiden flight on 18 December 1940. He was referencing controllability issues with the small vertical tail. Koppen was quoted as saying, "if they build more than one of these, they are crazy". Professor Emeritus of Aeronautical Engineering Otto C. In 1939, a student brought a model of the new Curtiss XSB2C-1 to the MIT wind tunnel. The Model XSB2C-1 prototype initially suffered teething problems connected to its R-2600 engine and 3-bladed propeller further concerns included structural weaknesses, poor handling, directional instability and bad stall characteristics. ![]() Marines and United States Army Air Forces, the manufacturer incorporated features of a "multi-role" aircraft into the design. Saddled with demanding requirements set forth by both the U.S. The Helldiver was developed to replace the Douglas SBD Dauntless it was a much larger aircraft able to operate from the latest aircraft carriers of the time and carry a considerable array of armament and featured an internal bomb bay that reduced drag when carrying heavy ordnance. File:Helldiver crashes.jpgĪn SB2C Helldiver failed to catch the wire on landing and hit the first barrier, nose-diving into the deck ( USS Hornet, 3 July 1944). VB-17 SB2C-1 which lost its tail while landing on USS Bunker Hill in 1943. SB2C-1s in tricolor scheme (front) on the flight deck of USS Yorktown in 1943. ĭesign and development File:Prototype XSB2C Helldiver.jpgĬurtiss XSB2C Helldiver prototype on its maiden flight ![]() Although production problems persisted throughout its combat service, it was reported that some pilots soon changed their minds favorably about the potency of the Helldiver, and in spite of its problems, the aircraft was flown through the last two years of the Pacific War with a fine combat record, due to the high training of its crews. The Truman Committee investigated Helldiver production and turned in a scathing report, which eventually led to the beginning of the end for Curtiss. Another factor also hampered its service introductions-due to the poor handling of the aircraft both the British Royal Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force cancelled substantial orders. ĭelays 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. Neither pilots nor aircraft carrier skippers seemed to like it. Despite its size, the SB2C was much faster than the SBD it replaced.Ĭrew nicknames for the aircraft included the Big-Tailed Beast (or just the derogatory Beast), Two-Cee and Son-of-a-Bitch 2nd Class (after its designation and partly because of its reputation for having difficult handling characteristics). It replaced the Douglas SBD Dauntless in US Navy service. The Curtiss SB2C Helldiver was a carrier-based dive bomber aircraft produced for the United States Navy during World War II. Curtiss SB2C Helldiver in tricolor scheme and tail markings for Bombing Squadron 80 (VB80) operating off USS Hancock, Feb 1945. ![]()
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