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.
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)
Empty weight: 10,547 lb (4,794 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 16,616 lb (7,553 kg)
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:
on underwing hardpoints: 500 lb (225 kg) of bombs each
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