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. Despite its size, the SB2C was much faster than the SBD it replaced. It was a much larger aircraft, able to operate from the latest aircraft carriers and carry a considerable array of armament. It featured an internal bomb bay that reduced drag when carrying heavy ordnance. Saddled with demanding requirements set forth by both the U.S. Marines(USMC) and United States Army Air Corps(USAAC), the manufacturer incorporated features of a "multi-role" aircraft into the design to be designated "SB2C", the "SB" standing for "Scout Bomber" and the 'C' for 'Curtiss', though pilots and crew had their own nickname for it, being: The Big-Tailed Beast (or just the derogatory Beast), Two-Cee and Son-of-a-Bitch 2nd Class. The SB2C was the U.S. Navy's main carrier-borne dive bomber and was also flown by the U.S. Marine Corps, both from land air bases and aircraft carriers, from mid-1944 through to the end of the war and then flew for other coutries such as France and Greece.
Back to Top
Development
Designed in response to a 1938 U.S. navy spec for a dive bomber, to replace the original SBC biplane, also known as 'Helldiver', the SB2C was built around the Wright R-2600-8 engine. The Navy required a modern dive bomber to replace the Douglas SBD, so it gambled on Curtiss' reputation and placed an order for 200, even before the prototype flew on Dec. 18, 1940. The prototype crashed on Feb. 8, 1941, when its engine failed on approach. With the pressure to keep moving, Curtiss had to rebuild the plane. They lengthened the fuselage, enlarged the tail, added an autopilot, incorporated self-sealing gas tanks, added more armor, and replaced the two .30 calibers above the cowling with four wing-mounted .50 calibers. Curtiss opened a new facility in Columbus, Ohio, just for the Helldiver. Curtiss also arrange for two Canadian companies to license-build the plane. The first 'production' 'Helldivers' rolled off the line in June, 1942. The Navy request 880 changes to be made resulting in substantial changes made to the original A25 Shrike (USAAC designation). The changes made from the prototype (larger tail, self-sealing tanks, more guns, etc.) increased the weight of the plane by 40%, from 7,122 lb. to 10,220 lb. Introduced in 1943, the SB2C-1C incorporated several changes from the original, including the ability to carry a torpedo, replacement of wing guns with two 20mm cannon and auxiliary gas tanks (45 gal.) in the wings. The solution to these problems began with the introduction of the SB2C-3 beginning in 1944, which used the R-2600-20 Twin Cyclone engine with 1,900 hp (1,400 kW) and Curtiss' four-bladed propeller. This substantially solved the chronic lack of power that had plagued the aircraft.
Back to Top
In Action
Introduction of the new Curtiss dive bomber met a lot of resistance. On the USS Yorktown, there were numerous problems, including instances when planes broke in half - the tail grabbed by the arrester wire, while the rest of the plane smashed into the barrier. One Carrier Squadron Commander refused to accept the new plane and even recommended scrapping the whole program! The first Navy squadron, VS-9, to be equipped was in December, 1942. Lieutenant Commander James Vose's VB-17, operating with the USS Bunker Hill, was the first squadron to successfully operate the SB2C Helldiver when they attacked the Japanese-held port of Rabaul on the island of New Britain, north of Papua New Guinea.
In the Helldiver's first combat, VB-17 launched 23 airplanes from USS Bunker Hill in the early morning of November 11, 1943. For the next four months, the Helldivers of VB-17 took part in strikes against Tarawa, Nauru, New Ireland, Truk, and the Marshalls. By June 20, 1944, five VB squadrons, operating from USS Yorktown, USS Hornet, USS Bunker Hill, USS Wasp, and USS Essex,(Task Force 58) were equipped with Helldivers. In the Battle of the Marianas, Task Force 58 launched 52 Curtiss dive bombers toward the 300-mile distant Japanese fleet. 43 of the Helldivers didn't return. While only 4 were lost in combat, 35 ditched for lack of fuel, and 4 more crashed onto US Navy ships. Most of the crewmen survived; 104 men took off in Helldivers that day with only 18 lost crew. In the Battle of Leyte Gulf in October 1944, the Helldivers big success in this battle was the sinking of the super-battleship IJNS Musashi. Starting with VB-18 from Intrepid, Helldivers and TBF 'Avengers' attacked it and its supporting ships. Lt. Cdr. George Ghesquiere led VB-18 in the first strike at 10:25AM. The aerial onslaught continued all day, as one Air Group after another struck. Around 7:30PM, the IJNS Musashi finally sank. The next morning Oct 25, 1944 more aircraft were launched before daylight with 12 VB-20 Helldivers with CDR Riera leading the group of VF and VT aircraft. Their target was the Northern Japanese Task Group. A search plane over this Japanese Force described "Four carriers with cruiser and destroyer escorts heading north at high speed". Continued attacks by other Air Groups during the day eventually finished the Japanese carriers which included the final carrier of the Pearl Harbour attack to be sunk: The IJNS Zuikaku. Over those few days, Helldivers claimed 44 air-to-air kills, with 17 SB2C's being downed by Japanese fighters. Late in the war, Helldivers flew many missions against Japanese bases on Formosa.
In operational experience, it was found that the U.S. Navy's Grumman F6F 'Hellcat' and Vought F4U 'Corsair' fighters were able to carry an equally heavy bomb load against ground targets and were vastly more capable of defending themselves against enemy fighters. With the advent of air-to-ground rockets, it ensured that the SB2C was the last purpose-built dive bomber to be produced.
Back to Top
Non-USN Service
Between 1949 and 1954, France bought 110 SB2C-5 'Helldiver' aircraft to replace their aging SBD-5 'Dauntless' that had been flying in combat in Vietnam. The French Aeronavale flew the 'Helldiver' from 1951-1958.
In the spring of 1949, American Aid provided the Hellenic Air Force with 42 Curtiss SB2C-5 Helldivers from surplus U.S. Navy stocks. The aircraft were given to 336 Fighter Squadron to replace Supermarine Spitfires and the squadron's name was changed to 336 Bomber Squadron.
The Royal Navy received 26 of some 450 when the rest of the order was cancelled due to its unsatisfactory tests that pinpointed "appalling handling" with none of the British 'Helldivers' ever used in action.
A total of 7,140 were produced from 1943-1945 with the last of the SB2C 'Helldivers; being retired in 1958.
Back to Top
F2A Buffalo
F4F Wildcat
F6F Hellcat
F4U Corsair
SBD Dauntless
TBF Avenger
PBY Catalina
