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Sweden's Saab B17 dive bomber¹

Saab B17A dive bomber¹:

Design

The Saab 17 was the first original design achieved by Saab.¹ It was to be a two seat reconnaissance aircraft.¹ It was redesigned to be able to be a dive bomber.¹

Saab (Svenska Aeroplan AB) was created in 1937.¹

Some of the Saab 17s could be equipped with retractable skis.¹

Prototype

The first prototype flew on May 19, 1940.¹

Production

The B17B was the first to enter service in 1941.¹

• Prototypes: 2¹
• B17A: 132¹
• B17B, S17B: 76¹
• S17BS: 38¹
• B17C: 77¹
• Total: 325¹

Variants

• Prototypes: Had Bristol Pegasus engine.¹
• B17A: Dive bomber.¹ The engine used was an unlicensed built Pratt & Whitney R-1830-S1C3G Twin Wasp.¹
• B17B: The engine was a licence built Bristol Mercury XXIV.¹
• S17B: Reconnaissance.¹ Had camera.¹
• B17C:
• S17BS: Maritime patrol.¹ Had twin floats.¹

Usage

Denmark and Sweden were the users of the B17.¹

Denmark

Denmark had one volunteer squadron based in Sweden late in World War II.¹

Ethiopia

After World War II 47 B17As were sold to Ethiopia.¹

	Saab B17A1	Saab B17B1	Saab B17C1
Type	Dive bomber1	Dive bomber1	Dive bomber1
Crew	21	21	21
Engine (Type)	SFA STWC3-G1	Nohab My XXIV1	Piaggio P.XIbis1
Cylinders	Radial 141	Radial 91	Radial 141
Cooling
HP	1,0651	9801	1,0201
Propeller blades	31	31	31
Dimensions
Span			44' 11.25"1 13.7 m1
Length			32' 2"1 9.8 m1
Height			14' 5.25"1 4.4 m1
Wing area
Weight
Empty
Loaded			8,521 lb1 3,865 kg1
Performance
Speed			270 mph1 434 kph1
Cruising speed			230 mph1 370 kph1
Climb
Service ceiling
Range
Armament
Wings			2: 13.2 mm MG1
Rear cockpit			1: 7.9 mm MG1
Bombs			1,500 lb1 680 kg1

Sources:

1. Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998

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