Douglas A-1 Skyraider

Douglas A-1 Skyraider

During World War II the Navy began looking for a new dive-bomber torpedo aircraft to meet its changing tactical and operational requirements. Several planes, among them the AD's direct predecessor, the SB2D/BTD, were developed by the Bureau of Aeronautics. Design difficulties and over-weight problems, however, ultimately led to a decision not to produce the SB2D/BTD. This in turn led to a new design which incorporated the good features of the SB2D/BTD while overcoming its inherent difficulties. The AD series (later redesignated A-1) that emerged from the combined efforts of the Bureau of Aeronautics and Douglas, who was the contractor, had two particularly significant design aspects. First, great emphasis was placed on the importance of the stringent weight control policy. Secondly, the standard bulky, heavy bomb displacing gear was replaced by a light, explosive device which literally blew the bomb clear. In comparison with the most advanced operational dive-bombers in 1945, the AD's initial design compared most favorably with a 27 percent greater top speed and a capability of carrying up to 4,000 pounds of either bombs or torpedoes. For the next 12 years there was constant improvement in the airplane up through the AD-7, and 3,180 Skyraiders were delivered to the Navy, many of which were used during the Korean Conflict and Vietnam War also.

General characteristics A-1H

Primary function : Attack aircraft, dive-bomber

Power plant: One Wright R-3350-26WA engine
Thrust: 2,700 HP _ 2,013 kW
Wingspan: 50 ft _ 15.25 m
Length: 38.85 ft _ 11.84 m
Height: 15.7 ft _ 4.78 m
Wingarea: 400.3 sq ft _ 37.193 sq m
Weight: empty: 11,970 lb _ 5,429 kg max. 25,000 lb _ 11,340 kg
Speed: max. 322 mph _ 518 km/h cruising: 240 mph _ 386 km/h
Ceiling: 28,500 ft _ 8,685 m
Range: 1,315 miles _ 2,116 km
Armament: 4x 20mm cannon, up to 3,630 kg external weapons
Crew: One
First flight: March 18, 1945
Date deployed: 1945
Cost: $414,000
Number built: 3,180

Douglas SB2D

Intended as a successor to the SBD Dauntless, the XSB2D-1 was an unspectacular aircraft. It was large, complicated and heavy, with a R-3350 radial engine, an inverted gull, laminar flow wing, two remote controlled gun turrets, and nosewheel landing gear. Two were built. The USN changed its policy, and the SB2D design was modified to become the single-seat BTD.

General characteristics XSB2D-1
Primary function: dive bomber
Power plant: One Wright R-3350-14 engine
Thrust: 2,200 HP _ 1,641 kW
Wingspan: 44.6 ft _ 13.60 m
Length: 38.5 ft _ 11.75 m
Height: 16.9 ft _ 5.16 m
Wingarea: 375 sq ft _ 34.84 sq m
Weight: empty 12,460 lb _ 5,651 kg . max.: 19,140 lb _ 8,682 kg
Speed: 357 mph _ 574 km/h
Ceiling: 27,395 ft _ 8,350 m
Armament: 6x 12.7mm machine gun, 2x 726 kg bombs
Crew: Three
Date deployed: 1943
Number built: 2

Douglas SBD Dauntless

Nicknamed "Barge" or "Clunk" the SBD also went by the nickname "Slow but Deadly." The SBD was the U.S. Navy's principal dive bomber until 1944. It was underpowered, obsolete, and slow but it might be one of the most influential planes in history.
Carrier-based dive bomber, a development of the Northrop BT. The SBD was a small aircraft, slow and vulnerable, and already considered obsolete when it entered service (army version named A-24 Banshee). Nevertheless it sparheaded the early offensives in the Pacific and served throughout WWII. If anything, it was an accurate dive-bomber and got ample opportunity to show it. Its largest success was the destruction of four Japanese carriers in the Battle of Midway.

General characteristics SBD-5
Primary function: Dive bomber
Power plant: One Wright R-1820-60 radial engine
Thrust: 1,200 HP _ 895 kW
Wingspan: 41.5 ft _ 12.66 m
Length: 33.1 ft _ 10.09 m
Height: 13.6 ft _ 4.14 m
Wingarea: 325 sq ft _ 30.19 sq m
Weight: empty: 6,530 lb _ 2,963 kg max: 10,700 lb _ 4,854 kg
Speed: 253 mph _ 407 km/h
Ceiling: 24,280 ft _ 7,400 m
Range: 1,296 miles _ 2,085 km
Armament: 2x 12.7mm and 2x 7.7mm machine guns, 1x 725 kg bomb, 2x 45kg bombs.
Crew: Two
Date deployed: 1940

Douglas A-24 Banshee

Army version of the SBD Dauntless dive-bomber. The USAF used 948 of the 5937 Dauntlesses built. The A-24, A-24A and A-24B corresponded to the SBD-3, SBD-4, and SBD-5.