michael rauls
Tech Sergeant
- 1,679
- Jul 15, 2016
Agreed.
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Agreed.Considering that the SBD accounted for 138 kills during it's time in the PTO, that's quite an impressive feat beyond several other dedicated fighter types in the Pacific theater.
The fact that the SBD actually squared off against the A6M on many occasions and bested it, is even more noteworthy.
However, the poll specified fighter and the SBD is disqualified due to the fact that it was acting as a fighter "pro-tem", which is beyond it's mission profile.
For example: a Bv222 encountered a PB4Y, attacked it and shot it down but this does not make the Bv222 a fighter by any stretch of the imagination.
The SBD operated in a target rich environment at a time when the USN was struggling for survival, the 138 has been authenticated from several sources and I understand it's on the conservative side, too.I adore SBDs (two histories, a novel and restored/flew one) but do not believe the 138 victories. Have looked for an air-air loss figure but still ain't found it. However, the fact that it survived the worst year of the war in good shape says a lot, especially in context of Vals when our VF snacked on 'em.
I would concurre with most of that except for the verry last word" slim".The SBD was great plane and a valuable asset to the forces that used it.
However claiming it was a substitute fighter plane of any great ability is pushing things. Until you get to the SBD-5 you don't even have the engine used in the F2A-3 Brewster Buffalo. SBD-3 & 4s used an engine good for 1000hp for take-off and 800hp over 11,000ft in high supercharger gear. You have a plane with about 25% bigger wing than a Wildcat and that weighs around 1000lbs more than a Wildcat (depending on fuel load and other items? if no rear gunner you need to carry ballast) Now maybe (depending on load) you can out turn a Wildcat (briefly) but you can't out run one, you can't outclimb one. You may not be able to out dive one.
I know they were used as fighters at times (or anti-torpedo bomber planes which may not be quite the same thing) but the chances of the SBD against actual fighters flown by equal pilots and without some sort of advantage (height, cloud, fighter/s are concentrating on another target) are pretty slim.
I also have read that it was used by the free french air force right up until VE day but details on this seem to be hard to come by.Interesting how it has a very storied career as the SBD, but I hardly ever hear anything about the A-24....maybe the Army just didn't implement it as much as the Navy did?
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Elvis
The SBD seems to have been unique among ww2 bomber types in that it had a positive kill ratio.
Cool thanks! I thought there might be one or two others out there I was not aware of.Blackburn Skua had a positive kill ratio when operating as a fighter.
In the indian ocean the Vals were occasionally used as fighter and enjoyed some success. After the raid on Trincomallee in April, CarDivs 1 and 2 were attacked by a force of 11 Blenheims, losing 7 of their number to a mixed Zero/ Val defending force. One Val was damaged in these attacks. Vals were lightly armed and unarmoured, but from accounts ive read were more manouverable than an SBD. When bombed up and attacked by SBDs acting as fighters which was the usual scenario the Vals were obviously at a disadvantage. Im not aware of any situations where this was the reverse.I think the Aichi Val also did okay as a fighter but I don't know much about Japanese Naval aircraft
Thanks for posting that. Really enjoyed it.
Ive always loved the SBD. My grandfather who, along with my grandmother, largly raised me worked at Douglas all his adult life and the Dauntless was one of the many planes he worked on. I remember being about 6 or 7 and being fascinated by hearing him extole its virtues.OK then,
I just finished doing a complete work up on the SBD-5 & -6,
great stuff. They could not in any sense of the word be considered
front line fighters, but if consideration is given to their roles of
scout/interceptors, then they did their jobs admirably.
No, unfortunately, the Army didn't use the A-24 to it's fullest abilities.Interesting how it has a very storied career as the SBD, but I hardly ever hear anything about the A-24....maybe the Army just didn't implement it as much as the Navy did?
Elvis