SB2C-4 Helldiver

The Curtiss SB2C-4 Helldiver entered service in early 1944 as the United States Navy’s primary carrier‑based dive bomber during World War II. Designed to replace the aging Douglas SBD Dauntless, the Helldiver incorporated a more powerful Wright R-2600‑20 radial engine delivering 1,900 hp, a low‑wing monoplane layout, and an all‑metal stressed‑skin construction that gave it a top speed of 295 mph and a combat radius of 1,100 nautical miles. The -4 variant, the most produced model, featured a taller cockpit canopy for improved visibility, enhanced armor protection for the pilot and fuel tanks, and upgraded hydraulics that allowed a precise 70‑degree dive angle with a pneumatic bomb‑release mechanism. Its armament consisted of two 20 mm cannons, four .50‑caliber machine guns, and a payload of up to 2,000 lb of bombs or a single torpedo. Although initially criticized for handling difficulties and late arrival, the SB2C‑4 proved decisive in the Pacific campaign, striking Japanese shipping, supporting amphibious landings, and contributing to the destruction of the Japanese fleet at the Battle of Okinawa. The aircraft’s advanced design and versatile performance cemented its legacy as a pivotal step toward post‑war carrier attack aircraft.