What dive bombers did the US use?

The main American dive bomber, the Douglas SBD Dauntless, had similar performance to the D3A Val. From December 1942, the Dauntless was replaced with the faster, but more complex and trouble-prone Curtiss SB2C Helldiver. Both American aeroplanes were ubiquitous, with 6,000 Dauntlesses and over 7,000 Helldivers built.

What is a helldiver?

helldiver. / (ˈhɛlˌdaɪvə) / noun. US informal a small greyish-brown North American grebe, Podilymbus podiceps, with a small billAlso called: pied-billed grebe, dabchick.

What is a grebe duck?

Part bird, part submarine, the Pied-billed Grebe is common across much of North America. These small brown birds have unusually thick bills that turn silver and black in summer. Rarely seen in flight and often hidden amid vegetation, Pied-billed Grebes announce their presence with loud, far-reaching calls.

What is a BTD destroyer WW2?

Douglas BTD Destroyer. The Douglas BTD Destroyer is an American dive/torpedo bomber developed for the United States Navy during World War II. A small number had been delivered before the end of the war, but none saw combat.

What is the difference between Helldiver and Dauntless?

The Helldiver’s maximum range was 1,100 miles, and its combat radius was 276 miles. By comparison, the SBD-5, which carried the same bombload, had a top speed of 253 mph and could climb at 1,620 feet per minute. The Dauntless’ maximum range was 1,100 miles, and its combat radius was 285 miles.

What was a Dauntless dive-bomber?

Marine and Navy bomber pilots made history in the Douglas SBD Dauntless dive-bomber, fondly known as ‘Slow But Deadly.’ World War II gave us many stories of aerial warfare, men and their machines fighting their way to victory and glory in the name of humanity.

Did the Curtiss SB2C Helldiver ever see combat?

A small number had been delivered before the end of the war, but none saw combat. On 20 June 1941, the United States Navy placed an order with the Douglas Aircraft Company for two prototypes of a new two-seat dive bomber to replace both the Douglas SBD Dauntless and the new Curtiss SB2C Helldiver, designated XSB2D-1.