How Accurate Was Dive Bombing

[Denniss]

not only low speed but also low alt was required for early airborne torps. Both not nice if you have to fly through a wall of Flak

 

[pops-paolo]

Although the "very fast" part is not all that true - Stukas, SBDs, A-36s, Vals, etc. all deployed dive-brakes that limited their dive speed.
The SBD's massive dive-brakes held it steady at 250mph in it's 70-80 degree dive.
The Stuka was about 350mph in it's near-vertical dive.
The A-36 Mustang was about 390mph and the D3A 273mph.

it is compared to torpedo bombers that were almost at stall speed when releasing the torpedo so obviously diving is much faster

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

At the beginning of WW2 torpedoes had to be dropped at a relatively low speed, but a lot of work was done during the war to increase the permitted water impact speed, so they could be dropped at high aircraft speeds.

Indeed, even the Mk13 by the end of the war could be dropped at up to 1200 ASL and 200+mph. In the early war that hadn't been tried and tested. Fair point, and thanks for the correction.