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Curtiss SB2C Helldiver

The Curtiss SB2C Helldiver was an all-metal monoplane dive bomber with a radial engine and retractable landing gear operated by the US Navy, the US Marine Corp, and the USAAC as the A-25 Shrike.  Per reference [8] it took its first flight on 10 December 1940, and entered operational service in December 1942.  The SB2C was built in several variants, including the SBF series built by Fairchild Canada, the SBW series built by the Canadian Car & Foundry Compnay, and the A-25 which had fixed (non-folding) wings and no arrestor gear.  The primary variants analyzed at this website is the SB2C-5, built by Curtiss.
 During the war the SB2C/A-25 was used primarily by the US Navy, the US Marine Corps, and the USAAC.  Although they were also ordered by the Royal Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force for use, only small numbers were delivered to those services for evaluation during the war, with the majority of the outstanding orders cancelled as land based dive bombers were replaced by light bombers during the mid to late war periods.  Post WWII the SB2C was operated by the Greek Air Force and French Navy.

Per reference [8] a total of 7,140 SB2C/A-25 aircraft of all variants were procured.  

As shown in the images below distinguishing features of this aircraft including;
SB2C
[Image Sources: Public Domain via Ref [8] - as annotated by this site]
The table below summarizes the current data collected on this type aircraft, identifying sources for the data

    SB2C-5
Reference Sources   2, 3, 8
No of Crew   2
Engine:  
   Qty   1
   Model   R-2600-20
   Displacement  (cu in) 2600
   Power  
     Military (HP)
     War Emergency (HP)
    Normal (HP) 1600
    Take Off (HP) 1900
   Eng Dims  
     Length (ft) 5.51
     Width/Dia (ft) 4.51
     Height (ft)
   Base Engine Wt (lb) 2045
Propeller  
   # Blades   4
   Dia (ft) 12
   Manufacturer  
   Type  
Wing  
   Span (ft) 49.7
   Root Thickness (%) 17.0%
  (in) 24.5
   Total Area  (sq ft) 422
     Wing (less Ailerons & Flaps) (sq ft)
     Ailerons (sq ft)
     Flaps (sq ft)
Tail Area (sq ft) 153.1
   V Tail Area (sq ft) 45.7
     Fin (sq ft)  
     Rudder (sq ft)  
   H Tail Area (sq ft) 107.4
     Stabilizer (sq ft)  
     Elevator (sq ft)  
Total Control Surf Area (sq ft)
Length  
   Overall (ft) 33.61
   Fuselage (ft) 32.5
   Body  (ft) 33.6
     Body Depth (ft)
    Body Width (ft)
Fuel Tank Volume (gal)
   Wing Tanks (gal)
    FuselageTanks (gal)
Oil Tank Volume (gal)
Water Injection Fluid Tank Volume (gal)
Wetted Area (sqf) (sq ft) 652
Pwr Ldng (lb/HP) 8.13
Wing Ldng (lb/sq ft) 36.60
Struct. Des. GW  (lb) 17000
Ultimate Load Factor (G's) 12
Design Speed (mph) 540
Not to Exceed Speed (mph)
     
Total Struct Weight   5697
   Total Wing   3018
     Wing    
     Ailerons    
     Flaps    
     Fuselage Carry-Through    
   Tail   390
     H Tail   275
       Stabilizer    
       Elevator    
     V Tail   115
       Fin    
       Rudder    
   Body + Eng Section + LG  
   Body + LG   2257
   Body   1374
     Fuselage    
     Engine Section    
   Landing Gear   883
     Mn Landing Gr   808
     Tail/Nose Aux LG   75
   Tail Hook   32
   Booms  
   Nacelles    
Total Propulsion Weight   3360
   Engine w/ Accessories   2158
   Engine(s) as Installed   2010
     Accessories   148
    Turbocharger(s)  
   Controls   22
   Propeller(s)   523
     2-Blade    
     3-Blade    
     4-Blade   523
   Starting System   40
   Water Injection System  
     Tanks    
     Piping Etc    
   Cooling System  
   Lube System   116
     Tanks    
     Piping Etc    
   Fuel System   501
     Tanks    
     Piping Etc    
Total Sys. & Eqpmt.   1687
   Instruments   61
   Surface Controls    256
   Hydraulics   141
   Electrical Equip   276
Electronics (Purple means incl in Furn/Gray in Useful Ld)   355
   Arm Prov/Equipment & Armor   471
    Furnishings   127
   Anti-Ice (If not in Furn)  
   Other /Misc  
     Hoisting Gear  
     Floatation Gear  
     Armor Plate    
     
Empty Wt   10744
Basic Mission Useful Load   4703
   Crew   400
   Equipment  
   Oil   278
   Fuel   2130
   Fuel & Oil Trapped in Systems  
   Water Solution for Engine Injection  
   Bombs/Torp Etc   1000
   Radio (if Not Included in Empty Wt)  
   Nav Equipment  
   Oxygen System  
   Armament   775
     Guns & Ammo   775
       Guns   365
       Ammo   410
     Pyrotechnics    
     Camera    
     Other    
   Other Useful Load   120
Basic Mission GW   15447

Notes: This website has been developed with a number of low cost or free programs including Hot Metal Pro, KompoZer, MicroSoft Designer and Da Button Factory.com

Rev 3-10-25

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