Helldiver

SB2C-4 Helldiver
Country of Origin: United States
Manufacturer: Curtiss
Crew: 2; 1 pilot, 1 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)
Weight: 10,547 lb (4,794 kg) empty, 16,616 lb (7,553 kg) combat loaded
Powerplant: 1x Turbosupercharged Wright R-2600-20 Duplex Cyclone 14 cylinder air cooled radial piston engine with 1,900 horsepower
Maximum Speed: 295 mph (475 km/h)
Service Ceiling: 29,100 ft (8,870 m)
Range: 1,165 mi (1,876 km)
Armament: 2x 20mm AN-M2 autocannons firing forward, 2x 12.7mm Browning M2 machineguns flexibly mounted, 1x 1,000 pound bomb, 2x 500 pound bombs, 8x 5in High Velocity Aircraft Rockets
Kit Maker and Scale: Accurate Miniatures (re-boxed Monogram), 1:48

Designed to replace the older but ever-reliable SBD Dauntless, the Helldiver was the last aircraft Curtiss built for the U.S. military to enter service, as well as the last purpose built dive bomber to enter service.
Much maligned by a number of teething difficulties during its development, the Helldiver became one of those aircraft that its aircrews either loved or hated, with some despising it so much as to say its alphanumeric designator stood for Son of a Bitch 2nd Class.

Due to its tricky handling, it picked up the nickname of Beast, though this handling did give it good maneuverability. It was one of the fastest purpose built dive bombers ever manufactured, being able to outrace the older Dauntless by nearly 50 mph. Armament was also heavier, it traded the Navy's standard twin 12.7mm machineguns for a pair of 20mm cannons and it carried its bomb load internally for reduced drag. Extra weapons, usually bombs or rockets could also be carried under the wings.

The Helldiver's combat debut was in late 1943 with a raid over Rabaul, a mission that didn't end too well for the Helldiver, although this was due more to the inexperience of the aircrew more so than the aircraft itself. As the war raged on and aircrews became more and more experienced in the handling of the aircraft, the Helldiver went on to build a solid career, participating in some of the largest battles of the war; the culmination of which was when a group of 8 of them destroyed the Japanese battleship Musashi, the largest battleship ever built.

As recounted by one Helldiver pilot: "As we plunged in over the ship, its massive 18 inch guns were staring us right in the face, as if she could fire them at us at any moment...putting that out of my head, I pulled the trigger on my 20mm cannons, using their tracers to get my rockets on target. I let the rockets go in two salvos, taking out as many anti-aircraft gunners as I could get my sights on, then I let the bombs go. As soon as they were gone I pulled out of the dive and raced over the ship, flak everywhere. The rest of the group plunged in after me; we must have scored at least 7 direct hits..."

Severely crippled, the Musashi's captain, Rear Admiral Toshihira Inoguchi attempted to run the battleship aground so it could be used as a stationary gun battery. Unfortunately for him, the Musashi didn't make it close enough to shore and sank several minutes later, having been overwhelmed by at least 17 direct hits by bombs.

In the Atlantic Fleet, the Helldiver joined the Avenger in the submarine hunting and convoy escort role, racing out over the ocean looking for U-Boats and other German vessels, although it was a rather "rare beast" as the Avenger was the machine of choice. None the less, the Helldiver put in its share of work, and more than a few U-Boats found themselves conquering the bottom of the ocean due to The Beast.

More Pics:

Up Yours!
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Tail Guns:
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Head On:
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Underside:
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Bomb Bay:
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Top:
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7 o'clock:
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Aft:
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Underwing Weapons:
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