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SBD Dauntless
Statistics for SBD Dauntless
type
Two-seat Carrier-based scout and dive-bomber
bureau number
36173
nmna id
2005.075.001
manufacturer
Douglas
powerplant
One 895-kW (1200-hp) Wright R-1820-60 Cyclone air-cooled radial piston engine
maximum speed
410 km/h (254 mph) at 3050 m (10,000 ft)
initial climb rate
518 m (1700 fpm) per minute
range
730 km (453 miles) on a bombing mission; 1244 km (771 miles) as a scout
service ceiling
7400 m (24,275 ft)
Armament
Two 12.7-mm (.50-cal) fixed machine guns in the nose and two 7.62-mm (.30- cal) manually aimed machine guns in the rear crewman’s position, plus up to 725 kg (1600 lb) of bombs under the fuselage and 295 kg (650 lb) of bombs under the wings
dimensions
Span: 12.66 m (42 ft) Length: 10.09 m (33 ft) Height: 4.14 m (14 ft) Wing area: 30.19 m2 (325 sq ft)
The Douglas SBD Dauntless was involved in the WWII Pacific theater from day one. In service for roughly six months prior to Pearl Harbor, the SBD Dauntless was the Navy's primary dive bomber in the early years of the war and has been credited with sinking one of the first enemy ships of WWII. The aircraft's greatest performance may have come during the pivotal Battle of Midway in June, 1942. SBD dive bombers helped sink four Japanese aircraft carriers and heavily damage two enemy cruisers.
