![]() The size of the fin and rudder was enlarged, fuel capacity was increased, self-sealing fuel tanks added and the fixed armament was doubled to four 0.50 caliber machine guns in the wings, compared with the prototype's two cowling guns. Large-scale production had already been ordered on 29 November 1940, but a large number of modifications were specified for the production model. ![]() This second prototype version was also lost when in December 1941 the Helldiver pulled out of a dive and the starboard wing and tailplane failed catastrophically. After the prototype crashed in February 1941, Curtiss was asked to rebuild it with revised structures and shapes. The first prototype flew in December 1940. The Model XB2C-1 prototype initially suffered teething problems connected to its R-2600 engine and 3-bladed propeller further concerns included structural weaknesses, poor handling, directional instability and bad stall characteristics. Marines and United States Army Air Forces, the manufacturer incorporated features of a "multi-role" aircraft into the design. Saddled with demanding requirements set forth by both the U.S. The Helldiver was developed to replace the Douglas SBD Dauntless it was a much larger aircraft able to operate from the latest aircraft carriers of the time and carry a considerable array of armament and featured an internal bomb bay that reduced drag when carrying heavy ordnance. Īlthough production problems persisted throughout its combat service, pilots soon changed their minds about the potency of the Helldiver. "Of Hosenoses, Stoofs, and Lefthanded Spads." "United States Naval Institute Proceedings", July 1968.] "Two-Cee" and "Son-of-a-Bitch 2nd Class" (after its designation and partly because of its reputation for having difficult handling characteristics). ![]() Crew nicknames for the aircraft included the "Big-Tailed Beast" (or just the derogatory "Beast"), O'Rourke, G.G, CAPT USN. Despite its size, the SB2C was much faster than the SBD it replaced. It replaced the Douglas SBD Dauntless in US Navy service. The Curtiss SB2C Helldiver was an carrier-based dive bomber aircraft produced for the United States Navy during World War II. More users = United States Army Air Force French Air Force Royal Thai Air Force Manufacturer = Curtiss Fairchild (Canada) (SBF) Canadian Car & Foundry (SBW) ![]()
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