United States' Douglas SBD Dauntless^1,2,3,4

Douglas SBD-1 Dauntless:	Douglas SBD-2s and SBD-3s Dauntless:	Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless:	Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless:
Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless:	Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless:

Design

The Douglas SBD Dauntless was designed by Jack Northrop and Ed Heinemann.¹

The Dauntless started out as the BT-1 that had a fixed undercarriage.³ It then evolved into the BT-2 that had a retractable undercarriage.³ This became the redesigned XBT-2.³

There was a telescopic bombsight that went through the windshield but would sometimes fog up during the dive.¹

The bomb was swung forward by a cradle that kept the bomb clear of the propeller.¹

The dive brakes had large holes and were named "Swiss cheese".¹

The radio operator sat in the rear of the cockpit and once entered a combat area the rear canopy was stored in the fuselage and gave the gunner a large field of fire.¹

Army Air Corps Interest

In 1940 the United States Army Air Corps became interested in the SBD after seeing the success of the Junkers Ju 87 Stuka.³ It ordered denavalized A-24, A-24A, and A-24B.³

Prototype

The first test flight was on April 22, 1938.¹

Production

In April 1939 57 SBD-1s and 87 SBD-2s were ordered.²

SBD-1: 57³
SBD-2: 87³
SBD-3: 584³
SBD-4: 780^2,3
- Produced at El Segundo, California.²
SBD-5: 2,409², 3,025³
- Produced at Tulsa, Oklahoma.²
SBD-6: 451^2,3
A-24: 168³
A-24A: 170³
A-24B: 615³
Total: 5,321², 5,937³

The last SBD-6 was produced on July 22, 1944.¹

Variants

BT-1: Prototype.³
BT-2: Prototype.³
XBT-2: Prototype.³
SBD-1: Initial version for the Marines.³
SBD-1P: Photo reconnaissance.^2,3
SBD-2: Initial version for the United States Navy.³ Had additional armament and fuel.³
SBD-2P: Photo reconnaissance.^2,3
SBD-3: Added two 12.7 mm MGs in nose and self sealing fuel tanks.² Added armor, self sealing fuel tanks, and heavier guns in the nose.³
SBD-3P: Photo reconnaissance.^2,3
SBD-4: Had 24 volt system.^2,3
SBD-5:
SBD-6:
A-24: US Army version of the SBD-3.^1,3 Was used on Java with little success.¹ Used for training.¹ 168 SBD-3As were delivered the Army.²
A-24A: US Army version of the SBD-4.³ 170 SBD-4As delivered to Army.²
A-24B: US Army version of the SBD-5.³ 615 SBD-5As delivered to Army.²

Usage

Britain, France, Mexico, New Zealand, and the United States used the SBD Dauntless.³

The Dauntless entered service in late 1940.³

The dive attack usually occurred from 15,000' - 20,000' / 4,500 m - 6,000 m and reached 70°.¹

The famous saying "Scratch one flat-top" was said by Pilot Lieutenant Robert Dixon in his attack in a SBD Dauntless on the carrier Shoho.¹

The SBD sank more ships in the Pacific than any other plane.^1,2

Scouting Missions

Typically if 18 scouts were launched, pairs would search out 200 miles and then turn 20 - 50 miles when they would then fly to where the carrier was supposed to be.⁴

Pearl Harbor

By the time of Pearl Harbor 584 SBD-3s had been delivered.²

Midway

The Douglas SBD Dauntless was critical in the destruction of the Japanese carriers.¹

"Fighter"

One SBD Dauntless gunner shot down seven Mitsubishi Zero fighters in two days.¹

United States Army

The SBD was sent to the Philippines in 1941.³ When the Japanese took over, they were moved to Australia.³

Britain's Fleet Air Arm

The FAA were supplied with SBD-5s but weren't used operationally.³

France

A-24Bs and SBD-5s were supplied to France which used them against the Germans along the Atlantic Coast.³ The Free French received about 40 - 50 A-24Bs in 1943.⁴ Training was conducted in Morocco and Algeria.⁴

Mexico

The Mexicans used A-24Bs on anti-submarine patrols in the Caribbean.³

New Zealand

The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) used the SBD-2s in the No 25 Squadron from 1943 - 1944.⁴ They were commanded by Squadron Leader T. J. MacLean de Lange.⁴

	Douglas SBD Dauntless³	Douglas SBD-1 Dauntless³	Douglas SBD-2 Dauntless³	Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless³	Douglas SBD-4 Dauntless³	Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless^1,2,3	Douglas SBD-6 Dauntless³
Type	Dive bomber³					Carrier based scout^1,2 Carrier based dive-bomber^1,2
Crew	2³					2¹ Pilot, radio operator/gunner.¹
Engine (Type)		Wright R-1820-32/52 Cyclone³	Wright R-1820-32/52 Cyclone³	Wright R-1820 Cyclone¹ Wright R-1829-52² Wright R-1820-32/52 Cyclone³	Wright R-1820 Cyclone¹ Wright R-1820-32/52 Cyclone³	Wright R-1820-60 Cyclone piston^1,2 Wright R-1820-60 piston^2,3	Wright R-1820-66^2,3
Cylinders						Radial^1,2
Cooling						Air¹
HP				1,000¹	1,000¹	1,200^1,2
Propeller blades	3³
Dimensions
Span	41' 6"³ 12.65 m³					41' 6.25"², 42'¹ 12.65 m², 12.66 m¹
Length	33'³ 10.06 m³					33'¹, 33' 1/8"² 10.06 m², 10.09 m¹
Height	12' 11"³ 3.94 m³					12' 11"², 14'¹ 3.94 m², 4.14 m¹
Wing area						325 ft² ^1,2 30.19 m² ^1,2
Weight
Empty						6,675 lb^2,3 3,028 kg^2,3
Loaded						10,855 lb^2,3 4,924 kg², 4,937 kg³
Performance
Speed @ 10,000' / 3,050 m						254 mph¹ 410 kph¹
Speed @ 15,800' / 4,815 m						245 mph^2,3 394 kph^2,3
Cruising speed						144 mph³ 232 kph³
Climb						1,190'/minute^2,3, 1,700'/minute¹ 363 m/minute^2,3, 518 m/minute¹
Service ceiling						24,275'¹, 24,300'^2,3 7,400 m¹, 7,405 m², 7,406 m³
Range bombing						453 miles¹, 456 miles³ 730 km¹, 734 km³
Range scouting						771 miles¹ 1,244 km¹
Range						1,100 miles^2,3 1,770 km^2,3
Armament
Nose	1 or 2: 0.5" MG³					2: 12.7 mm MG^1,2
Rear cockpit	1 or 2: 0.3" MG³					2: 7.62 mm Browning MG¹ 2: 7.62 mm MG²
Bombs under fuselage	1,600 lb³ 726 kg³					1,600 lb^1,2 725 kg¹, 726 kg²
Bombs under wings	650 lb³ 295 kg³					650 lb^1,2 294 kg², 295 kg¹

Sources:

Aircraft of WWII, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Editor: Karen Leverington, 1995
Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
SBD Dauntless Units of World War 2, Barrett Tillman, 1998

United States' Douglas SBD Dauntless1,2,3,4