Main Menu

Sweden's Saab B18 bomber1

Saab B18B dive bomber1:
Sweden's Saab B18B dive bomber

Design

The Saab B18 was originally designed in the late 1930s to be a reconnaissance plane.1 Swedish requirements kept changing so the first Saab-18 didn't appear until 1942.1 These requirements called for the aircraft to be able to do bombing and dive bombing.1

The Saab-18 was of all metal construction.1

Wings

The wings were positioned mid fuselage and were cantilevered.1

Engines

The engines used in the B18A were unlicensed Pratt & Whitney R-1830-S1C3G Twin Wasps.1

Prototype

The first Saab-18 prototype flew on June 19, 1942.1

Production

The first B18B flew on June 10, 1944.1

Production ceased in 1948.1

Variants

Usage

Flygvapen (Swedish Air Force) units were equipped with the B18s in 1944.1 In 1956 the last Saab-18 was withdrawn from service.1

  Saab B18A1 Saab B18B1
Type Reconnaissance bomber1
Dive bomber1 		Reconnaissance bomber1
Dive bomber1
Crew 2 - 31 2 - 31
Engine (Type) 2: SFA1 2: Daimler-Benz DB 605B1
Cylinders Radial 141 Inverted V 121
Cooling    
HP 1,065 each1 1,475 each1
Propeller blades 3 each1 31
Dimensions    
Span 55' 9.25"1
17 m1 		55' 9.25"1
17 m1
Length 43' 5"1
13.23 m1 		43' 5"1
13.23 m1
Height 14' 3.25"1
4.35 m1 		14' 3.25"1
4.35 m1
Wing area    
Weight    
Empty 12,100 lb1
5,488 kg1 		 
Loaded 17,946 lb1
8,140 kg1 		 
Maximum load   19,400 lb1
8,800 kg1
Performance    
Speed   357 mph1
574 kph1
Speed @ 19,685' /
6,000 m 		289 mph1
465 kph1 		 
Cruising speed 258 mph1
415 kph1 		 
Climb    
Service ceiling 26,250'1
8,000 m1 		32,150'1
9,800 m1
Range 1,367 miles1
2,200 km1 		1,616 miles1
2,600 km1
Armament    
Nose 1: 7.9 mm MG1 1: 7.9 mm MG1
Rear cockpit 1: 13.2 mm MG1 1: 13.2 mm MG1
Rear under nose 1: 13.2 mm MG1 1: 13.2 mm MG1
Internal bombs 3,307 lb1
1,500 kg1 		3,307 lb1
1,500 kg1

Sources:

  1. Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
Home page graphic for wwiivehicles.com, pictures of Sherman, T-34/85, Tiger, and Churchill