How good was the Dauntless dive bomber?

The Douglas SBD Dauntless was sturdy enough for pilots to dive at a near-vertical 80 degrees. The US Navy’s primary dive-bomber at the war’s start, the bomber earned its reputation—and helped earn victory—at the 1942 Battle of Midway, sinking four Japanese carriers.

What plane replaced the Dauntless dive bomber?

Curtiss SB2C Helldiver
The Curtiss SB2C Helldiver, also known as the A-25 Shrike, is a dive bomber developed by Curtiss-Wright during World War II. As a carrier-based bomber with the United States Navy (USN), in Pacific theaters, it supplemented and replaced the Douglas SBD Dauntless. A few survivors are extant.

Did the SBD Dauntless have folding wings?

As an interesting side note, the Douglas SBD Dauntless did not feature folding wings, a common feature among carrier aircraft even to this day. Folding wings make for an economical way to maximize storage space aboard space-strapped aircraft carriers.

Why did Stukas sound like that?

They were equipped with a propeller driven siren fitted on each undercarriage leg for the purpose of damaging enemy morale and causing physiological damage. The sirens were known as “Jericho Trumpet” and gave the Stuka a terrifying reputation.

What is the Douglas SBD Dauntless?

The Douglas SBD Dauntless is a World War II American naval scout plane and dive bomber that was manufactured by Douglas Aircraft from 1940 through 1944.

How many Dauntless dive bombers were built?

A total of 5,936 SBDs were built during its production run. The backbone of the US Navy’s dive bomber fleet at the outbreak of World War II, the SBD Dauntless saw immediate action around the Pacific.

When did the Dauntless come out in WW2?

The Douglas SBD Dauntless was the mainstay of the US Navy’s dive bomber fleet for much of World War II(1939-1945). Produced between 1940 and 1944, the aircraft was adored by its flight crews which praised its ruggedness, dive performance, maneuverability, and heavy armament.

How effective is the Dauntless in combat?

During the Battle of the Coral Sea, the Dauntless proved that it was effective at the job it was designed for—search and strike. In addition to that, though, SBDs in the hands of skilled naval aviators during that battle proved that the aircraft was good at something else too: air-to-air combat.