![]() The new design has entered production with the U.S. The system has been revised with a larger tail surface, increased offensive armament and self-sealing, and increased fuel tank capacity. The only XB2C-1 prototype crashed shortly after its maiden flight in November 1940, the accident occurred in February 1941. Standard armament consists of a pair of fixed forward-firing 20mm cannons on the wings (4 x 12.7mm machine guns in early production models) and a pair of 7.62mm M1919 Browning air-cooled machine guns in the rear cockpit. Ordnance can be placed in the internal bomb bay (including a torpedo) as well as in the two underwing hardpoints. The system will eventually move to using high-explosive unguided missiles under the wings as well as its traditional arsenal to load bombs. USN Helldiver with reinforced and retractable landing gear and brake hooks for carrier operation. ![]() A large-area rear unit has been specially developed for the design to improve handling. The torpedo-shaped hull became the hallmark of the series and a clearly recognizable design feature. The fuselage features straight wings with tapered trailing edges and rounded tips. The aircraft was equipped with a Wright-powered engine at the very forward end of the fuselage, driving a three-bladed propeller. ![]() Incidentally, the SB2C became the third of many aircraft to be nicknamed the "Hell Diver" and set a respectable combat record during the war. The Helldiver was envisioned as a metallic low-wing monoplane designed to deploy two crew members sitting side by side in a long cockpit - a pilot in the front and a tail gunner in the rear. ![]() The SB2C replaces the aging Douglas SBD Dauntless serving in the U.S. Originally developed as a replacement for the aging SBC biplane series, the SB2C competed with Brewster's XSB2A Buccaneer, with the SB2C emerging as the eventual winner. The Curtiss SB2C Helldiver was a rather unremarkable dive bomber/reconnaissance aircraft that entered service during World War II in 1943. ![]()
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