The Scout Bomber Douglas is the naval scout plane and dive bomber well known for bombing the Japanese carriers at the Battle of Midway in June 1942. Marines nicknamed the plane Slow But Deadly. Being designed as a scout plane, it had good long range capabilities.
Table of Contents
- Specifications
- Photo Gallery
- Description
- Manufacturer:
- Douglas Aircraft Co.
- Country:
- United States
- Manufactured:
- 1940 to: 1944
- ICAO:
- SBD
- Price:
- Performance
- Weights
- Dimensions
- Avionics:
- Engine:
- 1x Wright R-1820-60 Cyclone
Piston - Power:
- 1,200 horsepower
- Max Cruise Speed:
- 222 knots
411 Km/h - Approach Speed (Vref):
- 66 knots
- Travel range:
- 1,360 Nautical Miles
2,519 Kilometers - Fuel Economy:
- Service Ceiling:
- 25,530 feet
- Rate of Climb:
- 1700 feet / minute
8.64metre / second - Take Off Distance:
- 330 metre - 1,082.66 feet
- Landing Distance:
- Max Take Off Weight:
- 4,853 Kg
10,699 lbs - Max Landing Weight:
- Max Payload:
- 1,200 Kg
2,646 lbs - Fuel Tank Capacity:
- 260 gallon
984 litre - Baggage Volume:
- Seats - Economy / General:
- 2 seats
- Seats - Business Class:
- Seats - First Class:
- Cabin Height:
- Cabin Width:
- Cabin Length:
- Exterior Length:
- 10.09 metre - 33.10 feet
- Tail height:
- 4.24 metre - 13.91 feet
- Fuselage Diameter:
- 1.25 metre - 4.10 feet
- Wing Span / Rotor Diameter:
- 12.66 metre - 41.53 feet
- Wing Tips:
- No Winglets
click / tap to open full screen gallery
Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless.
credit: Tomás Del Coro
Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless.
credit: Tomás Del Coro
Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless.
credit: Tomás Del Coro
Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless.
credit: Tomás Del Coro
Douglas SBD Dauntless
credit: Tomás Del Coro
Douglas SBD Dauntless
credit: Tomás Del Coro
Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless
credit: Tomás Del Coro
Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless
credit: Tomás Del Coro
Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless
credit: Alan Wilson
Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless
credit: Alan Wilson
A World War II Douglas SBD Dauntless
credit: U.S. Department of Agriculture
A World War II Douglas SBD Dauntless
credit: U.S. Department of Agriculture
U.S. Navy Douglas SBD-2 Dauntless of Scouting Squadron 6. 1941
credit: U.S. Navy
U.S. Navy Douglas SBD-2 Dauntless of Scouting Squadron 6. 1941
credit: U.S. Navy
Douglas SBD-1 Dauntless dive bombers.
credit: U.S. Navy
Douglas SBD-1 Dauntless dive bombers.
credit: U.S. Navy
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Development and Production
In 1997, the Douglas SBD Dauntless returned to fly in the patterns of more copious naval variants, the SBD. The same year, it got Reserve Grand Champion at Oshkosh and earned the “Golden Wrench” medal for its perfect restoration.
The Douglas SBD Dauntless was considered as the main cog in the US Navy war effort all through the Pacific during WW2. Even if this is the masterpiece during the 1930s, this aircraft continued to persevere even as more cutting-edge fight planes were developed by US industries as the war proceeded. Regardless of its appearance and classification, this aircraft could more than manage its own in contrast to the careless armored Japanese warriors.
co*ckpit / Flight Deck
This aircraft had a good handling characteristic, long-range, potent bomb load capacity, reliable maneuverability, defensive armament, excellent diving characteristics, and ruggedness. Its two rear flexible-based and front-firing machine guns were effective against the nonchalantly-built Japanese rebels.
Engines
The design was traditional, with a huge radial engine attached to the extreme front part of the fuselage. Its glazed arena could occupy at least two personnel, usually the pilot and a gunner. The rear co*ckpit confined a trainable firearm spot and played a crucial defensive role in the subsistence of the crews. The pilot acts as the manned fixed-forward gun system as well and the bombardier.
The wings of the Douglas SBD Dauntless were low-wing types located under the fuselage. They highlighted the noticeably huge pricked dive flaps so reliable with the sequences. The empennage, on the other hand, was a customary assembly with a sole vertical tail area.
Versions / Variants
The Douglas SBD Dauntless has several variants. One of these is the XBT-2, popularly known as the prototype and modified as the XSBD-1. Another variant is the SBD-1. This is a Marine Corps type with no self-sealing energy tank. Other variants include SBD-1P, SBD-2, SBD-2P, SBD-3, SBD-4, SBD-4P, SBD-5, and a lot more.
Applications
The Douglas SBD Dauntless played a huge role in the 6-month long Guadalcanal movement. They were fatal to Japanese vessels that failed to unblemished the slot by daytime. Losses caused, including the carrier named Ryugo as it sunk near the Solomon Islands. The other three carriers were also damaged.
Notable Accidents and Incidents
In 1943, the US Navy pilot of SBD-5 initiated a minor right-hand turn and installed dive brakes in preparation for an explosive run. But, this aircraft was stuck by the next VB-10 SBD-5, which have not deployed a dive brake. Two aircraft were crashed, and a bomb bumped loose in the middle of a group of detonated and marines. This incident happened during a joint US Marine, and US Navy simulated close air support application in Hawaii.
All Douglas Aircraft Co. Aircraft
- Douglas A-1 Skyraider |
- Douglas A-1 Skyraider |
- Douglas A-26 Invader |
- Douglas A-3 Skywarrior |
- Douglas A-4 Skyhawk |
- Douglas AC-47 Spooky |
- Douglas B-66 Destroyer |
- Douglas C-124 Globemaster II |
- Douglas C-133 Cargomaster |
- Douglas C-47 Skytrain |
- Douglas C-54 Skymaster |
- Douglas C-74 Globemaster |
- Douglas DC-1 |
- Douglas DC-2 |
- Douglas DC-3 |
- Douglas DC-4 |
- Douglas DC-6 |
- Douglas DC-7 |
- Douglas DC-8 |
- Douglas DC-8-51 |
- Douglas DC-8-53 |
- Douglas DC-8-61 |
- Douglas DC-8-62 |
- Douglas DC-8-63 |
- Douglas F3D Skyknight |
- Douglas F4D Skyray |
- Douglas SBD Dauntless |
- McDonnell Douglas DC-9-10 |