The SB2C Helldiver was commonly referred to as “The Beast” because of its size and
rather poor handling characteristics. Even with new variants and upgrades the Helldiver
never received the credit and respect it deserved. The most produced variant was the
“4” with the SB2C-4E equipped with an AN/APS-4 radar pod mounted under the
starboard wing for air search. It flew faster and further than the Avenger, except for
range it beat the SBD in every category. Its cruising speed was only 2 mph slower than
the famous Hellcat.

On February 16 1945 as part of a 116 ship task force USS Bunker Hill was anchored 60
miles off shore from Japan and began launching its Helldivers and other aircraft against
airfields and engine factories around Tokyo. Hopefully this would distract the enemy and
make it impossible for Japan to send aircraft to repel the US Marine landing on Iwo Jima
on February 19th. These strikes lasted seven days and destroyed 500 enemy aircraft as
well as factories and several ships. The US lost 88 aircraft of which two were Helldivers
from VB-84.

    Specifications for the Curtiss SB2C-4E Helldiver

First flight – 18/12/1940

Crew – 2 X Pilot and Radio Operator/Gunner

Special Equipment – 1 X AN/APS-4 radar housed in a pod under the right wing.

Dimensions
Length – 36.7ft   (11.18m)
Wingspan – 49.7ft   (15.16m)
Height – 13.2ft   (4.01m)

Performance
Engine – 1 X Wright R-2600-2- Cyclone / 1900hp   (1,417kW)
Speed – Cruise / 158mph   (254km/h)   (137kts)
Maximum Speed – 295mph   (475km/h)   (256kts)
Rate Of Climb – 1,800ft/min   (548m/min)
Service Ceiling – 29,100ft   (8,869m)
Range – 1,165miles   (1,876km)

Weight
Empty – 1,057lbs   (7535kg)
Maximum Take Off – 16,616lbs   (7,537kg)

Armament
2 X 20mm fixed wing cannon or 4 X 0.50 caliber fixed wing machine guns
2 X 0.30 caliber rear cockpit machine guns or 1 X 0.50 caliber flexible rear cockpit
machine gun
Bomb Load- 1 X torpedo or 1,000 pounds of bombs in the bay or 4 X depth charges
Also capable of carry an additional 1,000 pounds of bombs or 8 X 5inch rockets under
the wings.

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