CURTISS SB2C HELLDIVER
HELLDIVER SERVICE
| Manufacturers: | The Curtiss-Wright Corp., Airplane Division,
Buffalo, New York, USA Fairchild Aircraft Ltd., Longueuil, P.Q., Quebec, Canada Canadian Car & Foundry Co. Ltd., Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Model: | Model 84 (Developed from the 1933 Curtiss SBC Helldiver biplane) |
| Designations: | SB2C; A-25, SBF, SBW |
| Names: | Helldiver; Shrike (A-25A) |
| First official flight: | (XSB2C-1) 18/12/1940 |
| Factory production period: | 1940 - 1945 |
| Primary service period: | 1943 - 1946 |
| Last official flight: | (RA-25A) 04/1949 |
HELLDIVER VARIANTS
| 1940 | Model 84 | XSB2C-1 | 1 | |
| 1942 | Model 84 | SB2C-1 | 200 | |
| ? | Model 84 | A-25A | 900 | |
| ? | Model 84 | SB2C-1C | 778 | |
| 1944 | Model 84 | SB2C-3 | 1112 | |
| ? | Model 84 | SB2C-4 | 2045 | |
| ? | Model 84 | SB2C-5 | 970 | Total: 6006 |
| Foreign built - Canada: | ||||
| 1943 | Model 84 | SBF-1 | 50 | |
| ? | Model 84 | SBF-3 | 150 | |
| ? | Model 84 | SBF-4E | 100 | Total: 0300 |
| 1943 | Model 84 | SBW-1 | 38 | |
| 1943 | Model 84 | SBW-1B | 28 | |
| ? | Model 84 | SBW-3 | 413 | |
| ? | Model 84 | SBW-4E | 270 | |
| ? | Model 84 | SBW-5 | 85 | Total: 0834 |
|
Grand Total: 7140 |
HELLDIVER PRODUCTION
XSB2C-1
Prototype single-engined, 2-seater Scout Bomber.
Produced
Curtiss Columbus, Ohio (C)
| BuNo.1758 | ? |
Total: 0001 |
SB2C-1
As XSB2C-1, design and armament upgrade.
Produced
Curtiss Columbus, Ohio (C)
| BuNo.00001 / 00200 | ? |
Total: 0200 |
A-25A Shrike
As SB2C-1, version for USAAF, carrier features deleted.
Redesignated as RA-25A in 1943 for target tow
and trainer duties.
Produced
Curtiss St. Louis, Missouri (CS)
| 41-18774 / 41-18873 | ? | |
|
42-79663 / 42-80462 - 10 to RAAF as A69-1 / A69-10. - 270 diverted to USN as SB2C-1A. - 410 diverted later as SB2C-1A to USMC: BuNo.75218 / 75588 BuNo.76780 / 76818 |
? |
Total: 0900 |
| 2200 additional airframes cancelled. | ||
SB2C-1C
As SB2C-1, four wing cannons, redesigned flaps.
Produced
Curtiss Columbus, Ohio (C)
| BuNo.00201 / 00370 | ? | |
| BuNo.01008 / 01208 | ? | |
| BuNo.18192 / 18598 | ? |
Total: 0778 |
| 7 additional airframes cancelled. | ||
SB2C-2 - Floatplane based on the XSB2C-2 conversion,
production for 287 cancelled.
SB2C-3
As SB2C-1, engine upgrade, 4-bladed prop.
Produced
Curtiss Columbus, Ohio (C)
| BuNo.18599 / 19710 | ? |
Total: 1112 |
SB2C-4
As SB2C-3, wing mounted rockets / bombs.
Produced
Curtiss Columbus, Ohio (C)
| BuNo.19711 / 21191 | ? | |
| BuNo.64993 / 65286 | ? | |
| BuNo.82858 / 83127 | ? |
Total: 2045 |
| 110 additional aircraft cancelled. | ||
SB2C-5
As SB2C-4, greater fuel capacity, minor changes.
Produced
Curtiss Columbus, Ohio (C)
| BuNo.83128 / 83751 | ? | |
| BuNo.89120 / 89465 | ? |
Total: 0970 |
| 2500 additional airframes cancelled. | ||
Foreign built - Canada:
SBF-1
Fairchild-Canada version of the SB2C-1.
Produced
Fairchild Aircraft Ltd., Longueuil, P.Q.,
Quebec, Canada (F)
| BuNo.31636 / 31685 | ? |
Total: 0050 |
SBF-2 - Not used.
SBF-3
Fairchild-Canada version of the SB2C-3.
Produced
Fairchild Aircraft Ltd., Longueuil, P.Q.,
Quebec, Canada (F)
| BuNo.31686 / 31835 | ? |
Total: 0150 |
SBF-4 - Not used.
SBF-4E
Fairchild-Canada version of the SB2C-4E.
Produced
Fairchild Aircraft Ltd., Longueuil, P.Q.,
Quebec, Canada (F)
| BuNo.31836 / 31935 | ? |
Total: 0100 |
SBW-1
CCF version of the SB2C-1.
BuNo. 21198 later converted to an SBW-3.
Produced
Canadian Car & Foundry Co. (CCF),
Fort William, Ontario, Canada (W)
| BuNo.21192 / 21200 | ? | |
| BuNo.21203 / 21231 | ? |
Total: 0038 |
| 1 (21232), additional airframe cancelled. | ||
SBW-1B
As SB2C-1C, for Lend-Lease to the Royal Navy.
Produced 1943 - 1944
Canadian Car & Foundry Co. (CCF),
Fort William, Ontario, Canada (W)
| BuNo.60011, 60012 | ? | |
| 26 delivered as Helldiver DB.Mk. I to the Royal Navy: | ||
|
BuNo.21201, 21202 (RN) JW101, JW102 |
? | |
| BuNo.60010 (RN) JW100 |
? | |
|
BuNo.60013 / 60035 (RN) JW103 / JW125 |
? |
Total: 0028 |
SBW-2 - Not used.
SBW-3
CCF version of the SB2C-3.
Produced
Canadian Car & Foundry Co. (CCF),
Fort William, Ontario, Canada (W)
| BuNo.21233 / 21645 | ? |
Total: 0413 |
SBW-4 - Not used.
SBW-4E
CCF version of the SB2C-4E.
Produced
Canadian Car & Foundry Co. (CCF),
Fort William, Ontario, Canada (W)
| BuNo.21646 / 21741 | ? | |
| BuNo.60036 / 60209 | ? |
Total: 0270 |
SBW-5
CCF version of the SB2C-5.
Produced
Canadian Car & Foundry Co. (CCF),
Fort William, Ontario, Canada (W)
| BuNo.60211 / 60295 | ? |
Total: 0085 |
| 165 additional airframes cancelled. | ||
|
Grand Total: 7140 |
HELLDIVER CONVERSIONS
US Navy
| XSB2C-2 | 1 | SB2C-1(00005), 1942, prototype floatplane conversion. |
| XSB2C-3 | 1 | SB2C-1(00008), engine upgrade. |
| SB2C-3E | 1+ | SB2C-3, APS-4 radar pod fitted. |
| SB2C-4E | 1+ | SB2C-4, APS-4 radar pod fitted. |
| XSB2C-5 | 3 | 2 SB2C-4(65286, 83127) / 1 SB2C-1C(18308), prototype to SB2C-5. |
| XSB2C-6 | 2 | SB2C-3(18620, 18621), engine upgrade, higher fuel load. |
| XSBF-1 | 1 | SBF-1, conversion for development tests. |
FOREIGN MILITARY SERVICE
- Surplus Helldivers in service post WW2 with Australia, France, Greece,
Italy, Portugal and Thailand.