Windindicator |
Vought SB2U-1 Vindicator
VB-3 USS Saratoga
The Vought SB2U Vindicator was a carrier-based dive bomber developed for the United States Navy in the 1930s, the first monoplane in this role. Obsolescent at the outbreak of World War II, Vindicators still remained in service at the time of the Battle of Midway, but by 1943, all had been withdrawn to training units. It was known as the Chesapeake in Royal Navy service. In 1934, the United States Navy issued a requirement for a new Scout Bomber for carrier use, and received proposals from six manufacturers. The specification was issued in two parts, one for a monoplane, and one for a biplane. Vought submitted designs in both categories, which would become the XSB2U-1 and XSB3U-1 respectively. The biplane was considered alongside the monoplane design as a "hedge" against the U.S. Navy's reluctance to pursue the modern configuration.
The XSB2U-1 was of conventional low-wing tailwheel monoplane configuration, with the pilot and tail gunner seated in tandem under a long greenhouse-style canopy. Its only remarkable design feature was a propeller with reversible pitch, allowing it to be used to brake the aircraft during a dive bombing attack.
The SB2U was evaluated against the Brewster XSBA-1, Curtiss XSBC-3, Great Lakes XB2G-1, Grumman XSBF-1 and Northrop XBT-1. All but the Great Lakes and Grumman submissions were ordered into production. Designated XSB2U-1, one prototype was ordered on 15 October 1934 and was delivered on 15 April 1936. Used for operational evaluation, its successful completion of trials led to further orders.
Around 170 of all Vindicator variants were produced, and a single example is preserved at the National Museum of Naval Aviation at NAS Pensacola. Vindicators served on four carriers, USS Lexington, USS Saratoga, USS Ranger, and USS Wasp between December 1937 and September 1942. Air Group Nine, destined for USS Essex, trained in Vindicators aboard the auxiliary carrier USS Charger but transitioned to the SBD Dauntless before Essex joined the war.
VMSB-131 and VMSB-241 were the only two USMC squadrons that fielded the Marine-specific SB2U-3 between March 1941 and September 1943. VMSB-241's Vindicators saw combat at the Battle of Midway in June 1942. Airmen with experience in more modern aircraft spoke disparagingly of SB2Us as "vibrators" or "wind indicators" in their latter combat assignments.
General characteristics: Crew: Two, pilot and gunner, Length: 34 ft 0 in (10.36 m), Wingspan: 42 ft in (12.80 m), Height: 10 ft 3 in (3.12 m), Wing area: 305 ft² (28 m²), Empty weight: 4,713 lb (2,138 kg), Loaded weight: 6,379 lb (2,893 kg), Max takeoff weight: 7,332 lb (3,326 kg), Powerplant: 1× Pratt & Whitney R-1535-96 Twin Wasp Jr radial engine, 825 hp (616 kW). Performance: Maximum speed: 251 mph (404 km/h), Range: 630 mi (1,014 km), Service ceiling 27,500 ft (8,382 m), Rate of climb: 1,340 ft/min (6.8 m/s), Wing loading: 21 lb/ft² (103 kg/m²), Power/mass: 0.13 hp/lb (0.21 kW/kg). Armament: 1 × forward firing . 30 cal machine gun in starboard wing (.50 cal in SB2U-3), 1 × .30 cal machine gun in flexible mount for tail gunner (.50 cal in SB2U-3), 1 × 1,000 lb (454 kg) or 500 lb (227 kg) bomb.
USN 09 René Hieronymus Scale 1:72 Building time 14 hrs.
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