XBT2C-1

The Curtiss XBT2C-1 was an experimental carrier‑borne torpedo‑bomber developed for the United States Navy in the early 1940s. Derived from the earlier SB2C Helldiver line, the XBT2C-1 incorporated a completely new wing and a more powerful Wright R‑1820‑90 radial engine delivering 1,350 horsepower. First flown in March 1944, the prototype demonstrated a top speed of 285 mph, a service ceiling of 26,000 ft and a range of roughly 1,200 nm, allowing it to strike distant enemy ships and convoys. The aircraft featured a reinforced fuselage with an internal bomb bay capable of carrying a single 2,000‑lb torpedo or an equivalent bomb load, as well as wing‑mounted .50‑caliber machine guns for defensive fire. A two‑person crew – pilot and radioman/gunner – operated from a compact, low‑drag cockpit equipped with the latest navigation and radio gear. Although the XBT2C‑1 showed promising performance, the Navy opted to continue production of the improved SB2C‑5 rather than adopt the new design, and only a handful of prototypes were built. Nonetheless, the program contributed valuable data on high‑power radial engines and high‑speed carrier operations, influencing post‑war carrier attack aircraft such as the AD‑6 Skyraider.