View source for Curtiss SB2C Helldiver

{{Short description|Carrier-based dive bomber aircraft}}
{{Redirect|SBF-1|the earlier XSBF-1|Grumman XSBF|the biplane Helldiver|Curtiss SBC Helldiver|other uses|Curtiss Helldiver (disambiguation){{!}}Curtiss Helldiver}}
{{Use American English|date=October 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}
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{{Infobox aircraft
 |name= SB2C Helldiver<br>A-25 Shrike
 |image= File:Curtiss SB2C col.jpg
 |image_border= 
 |caption= A Curtiss SB2C Helldiver in tricolor scheme and tail markings for VB-80, operating off [[USS Hancock (CV-19)|USS ''Hancock'']], February 1945
 |type= [[Dive bomber]]
 |national_origin= United States
 |manufacturer= [[Curtiss-Wright Corporation|Curtiss-Wright]]
 |builder= {{plainlist|
* [[Fairchild Aircraft Ltd. (Canada)|Fairchild (Canada)]] (SBF)
* [[Canadian Car and Foundry|Canadian Car & Foundry]] (SBW)
}}
 |designer= 
 |first_flight= 18 December 1940
 |introduction= December 1942
 |retired= 1959 (Italy)
 |status=
 |primary_user= [[United States Navy]]
 |more_users= {{plainlist|
* [[United States Marine Corps]]
* [[United States Army Air Forces]]
* [[French Navy]]
}}
 |produced= 1943–1945
 |number_built= 7,140
 |developed_from= 
 |variants= 
 |developed_into= [[Curtiss XSB3C]]
}}

The '''Curtiss SB2C Helldiver''' was a [[dive bomber]] developed by [[Curtiss-Wright]] during [[World War II]]. As a [[aircraft carrier|carrier-based]] bomber with the [[United States Navy]] (USN), in [[Pacific War|Pacific theaters]], it supplemented and replaced the [[Douglas SBD Dauntless]]. A few survivors are extant.

Initially poor handling characteristics and late modifications caused lengthy delays to production and deployment, to the extent that it was investigated by the [[Truman Committee]], which turned in a scathing report. This contributed to the decline of Curtiss as a company. Neither pilots nor aircraft carrier skippers seemed to like it.<ref name="Ethell 1995, p. 221">Ethell 1995, p. 221.</ref> Nevertheless, the Helldiver was faster than the Dauntless, and by the end of the Pacific War, the Helldiver had become the main dive bomber and [[attack aircraft]] on USN carriers.<ref name="Ethell 1995, p. 221">Ethell 1995, p. 221.</ref>

By the time a land-based variant, known as the A-25 Shrike, became available in late 1943, the Western Allied air forces had abandoned dedicated dive-bombers. A majority of A-25s delivered to the [[US Army Air Forces]] were transferred to the [[US Marine Corps]], which used the type only in one side campaign and non-combat roles. The [[Royal Navy|British Royal Navy]] and the [[Royal Australian Air Force]] also cancelled substantial orders,<ref name="Wilson">{{cite book|last1=Wilson|first1=Stewart|title=Military Aircraft of Australia|date=1994|publisher=Aerospace Publications|location=Weston Creek, Australia|isbn=1875671080|page=85}}</ref> retaining only a few aircraft for research purposes.

Nicknames for the aircraft included "Big-Tailed Beast" or just "Beast",<ref name="Proceedings">O'Rourke, G.G, CAPT USN. "Of Hosenoses, Stoofs, and Lefthanded Spads." ''United States Naval Institute Proceedings'', July 1968.</ref> "Two-Cee", and "Son-of-a-Bitch 2nd Class"; the latter nickname was derived from the name SB2C and the aircraft's reputation for having difficult handling characteristics.<ref>Shettle 2001, p. 29.</ref>

==Design and development==
[[File:XSB2C-1 18Dec1940.jpg|thumb|Curtiss XSB2C Helldiver prototype on its maiden flight]]

The Helldiver was developed to replace the [[Douglas SBD Dauntless]]. It was a much larger aircraft, able to operate from the latest aircraft carriers and carry a considerable array of armament. Despite this, the Navy also required two aircraft to fit onto an [[Essex-class aircraft carrier|''Essex''-class carrier]]'s elevators, requiring an exceptionally short airplane. It featured an internal bomb bay that reduced drag when carrying heavy ordnance. The Navy's requirements led to a plane with the contradictory requirements of being larger than any other carrier aircraft on the inside while being sharply size-restricted on the outside. Saddled with demanding requirements set forth by both the U.S. Marines and United States Army Air Forces, the manufacturer incorporated features of a "multi-role" aircraft into the design.<ref>Winchester 2004, p. 63.</ref>

The Model XSB2C-1 prototype initially suffered development issues connected to its Wright R-2600 ''Twin Cyclone'' engine and three-bladed propeller; further concerns included structural weaknesses, poor [[Flying qualities|handling]], directional instability, and bad [[Stall (fluid mechanics)|stall]] characteristics.<ref>[http://www.acepilots.com/planes/helldiver.html "SB2C Helldiver Curtiss dive bomber: "Helldiver!" What a great name!"] ''acepilots.com''. Retrieved: 18 March 2010.</ref><ref name="Historynet p. 3">Guttman, Robert. [http://www.historynet.com/curtiss-sb2c-helldiver-the-last-dive-bomber.htm/3 "Curtiss SB2C Helldiver: The Last Dive Bomber," p. 3.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612000743/http://www.historynet.com/curtiss-sb2c-helldiver-the-last-dive-bomber.htm/3 |date=2011-06-12 }} ''Aviation History'' via ''historynet.com'', July 2000. Retrieved: 18 March 2010.</ref> In 1939, a student took a model of the new Curtiss XSB2C-1 to the [[MIT]] wind tunnel. Professor of Aeronautical Engineering [[Otto C. Koppen]] was quoted as saying, "if they build more than one of these, they are crazy". He was referring to controllability issues with the small vertical tail.<ref>Abzug and Larrabee 1997, p. 92.</ref>

The first prototype made its maiden flight on 18 December 1940.<ref name="Bowers p424">Bowers 1979, p. 424.</ref> It crashed on 8 February 1941 when its engine failed on approach, but Curtiss was asked to rebuild it. The fuselage was lengthened and a larger tail was fitted, while an [[autopilot]] was fitted to help the poor stability. The revised prototype flew again on 20 October 1941, but was destroyed when its wing failed during diving tests on 21 December 1941.<ref name="Donald p76-7">Donald 1995, pp. 76–77.</ref><ref name="Bowers p424-5">Bowers 1979, pp. 424–425.</ref>

Large-scale production had already been ordered on 29 November 1940, but a large number of modifications were specified for the production model. Fin and rudder area were increased, fuel capacity was increased, [[self-sealing fuel tank]]s were added, and the fixed armament was doubled to four 0.50&nbsp;in (12.7&nbsp;mm) machine guns in the wings, compared with the prototype's two cowling guns. The SB2C-1 was built with larger fuel tanks, improving its range considerably.

The program suffered so many delays that the [[Grumman TBF Avenger]] entered service before the Helldiver, even though the Avenger had begun its development two years later. Nevertheless, production tempo accelerated with production at Columbus, Ohio and two Canadian factories: [[Fairchild Aircraft Ltd. (Canada)]], which produced 300 (under the designations XSBF-l, SBF-l, SBF-3, and SBF-4E), and [[Canadian Car and Foundry]], which built 894 (designated SBW-l, SBW-3, SBW-4, SBW-4E, and SBW-5), these models being respectively equivalent to their Curtiss-built counterparts. A total of 7,140 SB2Cs and equivalent models were produced in World War II.<ref>Taylor 1969, p. 480.</ref>

==Operational history==

===US Navy===
[[File:SB2Cs from USS Yorktown (CV-10) off Iwo Jima.jpg|thumb|SB2C-4 from ''Yorktown'' off Iwo Jima]]

The U.S. Navy would not accept the SB2C until 880 modifications<ref name="Historynet p. 3"/> to the design and the changes on the production line had been made, delaying the Curtiss Helldiver's combat debut until 11 November 1943 with squadron [[VS-24|VB-17]] on {{USS|Bunker Hill|CV-17|2}}, when they attacked the Japanese-held port of [[Rabaul]] on the island of New Britain, north of [[Papua New Guinea]].<ref name="Historynet p. 3"/> The first version of the SB2C-1 was kept stateside for training, its various development problems leading to only 200 being built. The first deployment model was the SB2C-1C.<ref name="Goebel">Goebel, Greg. {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070310195422/http://www.vectorsite.net/avsbd.html#m7 "The Douglas SBD Dauntless & Curtiss SB2C Helldiver."]}} ''Vector site,'' 1 November 2010.</ref> The SB2C-1 could deploy [[Leading edge slats|slats]] mechanically linked with landing gear actuators, that extended from the outer third of the wing leading edge to aid lateral control at low speeds. The early prognosis of the "Beast" was unfavourable; it was strongly disliked by aircrews due to its size, weight, and reduced range compared to the SBD it replaced.<ref>Winchester 2004, p. 62.</ref>
[[File:SB2Cs on USS Yorktown (CV-10) 1943.jpg|thumb|left|SB2C-1s in tricolor scheme (front) on the flight deck of {{USS|Yorktown|CV-10|2}} in 1943.]]
In the [[Battle of the Philippine Sea]], 45 Helldivers, most of which had been launched from extreme range, were lost when they ran out of fuel while returning to their carriers.<ref>{{cite web |title=Curtiss SBW-1B Helldiver (Curtiss SB2C Helldiver) |url=http://www.fleetairarmarchive.net/aircraft/helldiver.htm |website=fleetairarmarchive.net |access-date=18 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100619033645/http://fleetairarmarchive.net/Aircraft/Helldiver.htm |archive-date=2010-06-19 |url-status=usurped}}</ref>

Among its major faults, the Helldiver was underpowered, had a shorter range than the SBD, was equipped with an unreliable electrical system, and its manufacturing quality control was often poor. The Curtiss-Electric propeller and the complex hydraulic system had frequent maintenance problems.<ref name=Tillman>Tillman 1997, p. 61.</ref> One of the faults of the aircraft throughout its operational life was poor longitudinal stability, resulting from a fuselage that was too short due to the necessity of fitting onto aircraft carrier elevators.<ref name="Historynet p. 3"/> The Helldiver's aileron response was also poor and handling suffered greatly under {{convert|90|kn|mph km/h|lk=on|abbr=on}} airspeed; since the speed of approach to land on a carrier was supposed to be {{convert|85|kn|mph km/h|abbr=on}}, this proved problematic.<ref name="Historynet p. 3"/> The 880 changes demanded by the Navy and modification of the aircraft to its combat role resulted in a 42% weight increase, explaining much of the problem.<ref name="Historynet p. 4">Guttman, Robert. [http://www.historynet.com/curtiss-sb2c-helldiver-the-last-dive-bomber.htm/4"Curtiss SB2C Helldiver: The Last Dive Bomber", p. 4.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110113141502/http://www.historynet.com/curtiss-sb2c-helldiver-the-last-dive-bomber.htm/4 |date=2011-01-13 }} ''Aviation History'' via ''historynet.com'', July 2000. Retrieved: 18 March 2011.</ref>
{{check quotation}}
[[File:Curtiss SB2C take off.jpg|thumb|Curtiss SB2C Helldiver during takeoff.]]
The solution to these problems began with the introduction of the SB2C-3 beginning in 1944, which used the R-2600-20 Twin Cyclone engine with {{convert|1900|hp|kW|lk=on|abbr=on}} and Curtiss' four-bladed propeller. This substantially solved the chronic lack of power that had plagued the aircraft.<ref name="Goebel"/> 

The Helldivers would participate in battles over the [[Battle of the Philippine Sea|Marianas]], [[Battle of Leyte Gulf|Philippines]] (partly responsible for sinking the [[battleship]] {{Ship|Japanese battleship|Musashi||2}}), Taiwan, [[Battle of Iwo Jima|Iwo Jima]], and [[Battle of Okinawa|Okinawa]] (in [[Operation Ten-Go|the sinking of the]] battleship {{Ship|Japanese battleship|Yamato||2}}). They were also used in the 1945 attacks on the [[Ryukyu Islands]] and the Japanese home island of [[Honshū]] in tactical attacks on airfields, communications and shipping. They were also used extensively in patrols during the period between the dropping of the [[Nuclear Weapon|atomic bombs]] and the official [[Surrender of Japan|Japanese surrender]], and in the immediate pre-occupation period.

An oddity of the SB2Cs with 1942 to 1943-style tricolor camouflage was that the undersides of the outer wing panels carried dark topside camouflage because the undersurfaces were visible from above when the wings were folded.

In operational experience, it was found that the U.S. Navy's [[Grumman F6F Hellcat]] and [[Vought F4U Corsair]] fighters were able to carry an equally heavy bomb load against ground targets and were vastly more capable of defending themselves against enemy fighters.<ref name="Historynet p. 6">Guttman, Robert. [http://www.historynet.com/curtiss-sb2c-helldiver-the-last-dive-bomber.htm/6 "Curtiss SB2C Helldiver: The Last Dive Bomber", p. 6.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110113141539/http://www.historynet.com/curtiss-sb2c-helldiver-the-last-dive-bomber.htm/6 |date=2011-01-13 }} ''Aviation History'' via ''historynet.com'', July 2000. Retrieved: 18 March 2010.</ref> The Helldiver, however, could still deliver ordnance with more precision against specific targets and its two-seat configuration permitted a second set of eyes. The Helldiver also had a significant advantage in range over a fighter while carrying a bombload, which is crucial in naval operations.

The advent of air-to-ground rockets ensured that the SB2C was the last purpose-built dive bomber produced.<ref name="Historynet p. 6"/> Rockets allowed precision attack against surface naval and land targets, while avoiding the stresses of near-vertical dives and the demanding performance requirements that they placed on dive bombers.<ref name="Historynet p. 3"/>

[[File:SB2C-5 Helldivers roll into dives during exercise in 1947.jpg|thumb|upright|U.S. Navy Curtiss SB2C-5 Helldivers of Attack Squadron 1A (VA-1A) "Tophatters" roll into dives to support amphibious forces during postwar landing exercise (1947)]] 
The SB2C remained in active postwar service in active duty US Navy squadrons until 1947 and in Naval Reserve aviation units until 1950. Surplus aircraft were sold to the naval air forces of [[France]], [[Italy]], [[Greece]], [[Portugal]], and [[Thailand]]. Greek SB2Cs served in combat in the [[Greek Civil War]] with additional machine guns mounted in wing pods. French SB2Cs flew in the [[First Indochina War]] from 1951 to 1954.

===US Army and US Marine Corps service===
Built at Curtiss' St. Louis plant, 900 aircraft were ordered by the [[USAAF]] under the designation '''A-25A Shrike'''.<ref name="Stern">Stern 1982, p. 15.</ref> The first ten aircraft had [[folding wing]]s, while the remainder of the production order omitted this feature. Many other changes distinguished the A-25A, including larger main wheels, a pneumatic tailwheel, ring and bead gunsight, longer exhaust stubs, and other Army-specified radio equipment. By late 1943, when the A-25A was being introduced, the USAAF no longer had a role for the dive bomber, as fighter aircraft such as the [[Republic P-47 Thunderbolt]] had shown their ability to carry out tactical air support missions with great success.

The USAAF transferred 410 Helldivers to the [[United States Marine Corps|US Marines]]. The A-standard 25As were converted to the USMC variant, '''SB2C-1A''' and one squadron, [[VMSB-151]], based on [[Enjebi]] (a.k.a. Engebi/Enjibe; part of Enewetak Atoll) conducted bombing missions on bypassed Japanese strongpoints nearby. Otherwise, the SB2C-1A variant never saw combat, and was used primarily as a trainer and target tug.<ref name="Stern"/>

===Australian service===
[[File:A-25A Shrike RAAF in flight c1943.jpeg|thumb|A69-4, the only Curtiss Shrike to enter RAAF service]]
At an early stage of World War II, the Australian government noted that the [[Royal Australian Air Force]] (RAAF) lacked dedicated dive bombers and ordered 150 Curtiss Shrikes.<ref name="RAAF Museum Curtiss Shrike">{{cite web|title=A69 Curtiss Shrike|url=https://www.airforce.gov.au/sites/default/files/minisite/static/7522/RAAFmuseum/research/aircraft/series2/A69.htm|publisher=RAAF Museum Point Cook|access-date=26 April 2020}}</ref> These aircraft were paid for by the US Government as [[Lend Lease]] aid.<ref name="Wilson_1994_85">Wilson 1994, p. 85</ref>

By November 1943, when the first shipment of 10 Shrikes arrived in Australia, the RAAF had decided that dive bombing was an outmoded tactic. [[Vultee Vengeance]] dive bombers, which were already [[Vultee Vengeance in Australian service|in service with the RAAF]], were being replaced by light bombers. As a result, the order for the remaining 140 Shrikes was cancelled.<ref name="Wilson_1994_85" />

While the 10 aircraft received were taken on strength, with the RAAF serial prefix A69, only one of these Shrikes officially took to the air in RAAF service.<ref name="Wilson_1994_85" /><ref name="ADF-serials_Shrike">{{cite web|title=RAAF A69 Curtiss A-25A Shrike|url=http://www.adf-serials.com.au/2a69.htm|website=ADF-serials|access-date=14 April 2018}}</ref> A69-4 was assigned to [[Aircraft Research and Development Unit RAAF|No. 1 Air Performance Unit]], for performance testing, between December 1943 and April 1944.  The RAAF and US [[Fifth Air Force]] already operated a joint pool of aircraft types common to both services in the South West Pacific theatre and, by mid-January 1944, the other nine Shrikes had been transferred to USAAF units.<ref name="Wilson_1994_85" />  A69-4 was also transferred to the USAAF in December 1944.<ref name="Wilson_1994_85" /><ref name="ADF-serials_Shrike" />

===British service===
The Helldiver's service with the [[United Kingdom|British]] resembled Australian experience with the type. A total of 26 aircraft, out of 450 ordered, were delivered to the [[Royal Navy]]'s [[Fleet Air Arm]], where they were known as the '''Helldiver I'''. After unsatisfactory tests by the [[Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment|A&AEE]] that pinpointed "appalling handling", none of the British Helldivers were used in action.<ref>Winchester 2004, pp. 62–63.</ref>

===Greek service===
{{Further|Air operations during the Greek Civil War}}
American aid provided the [[Royal Hellenic Air Force]] with 48 Curtiss SB2C-5 Helldivers from surplus U.S. Navy stocks. The aircraft were delivered by the aircraft carrier USS Sicily (CVE-118) in the spring of 1949. From the 48 aircraft, 6 were used for ground instruction or spare parts and 42 were given to 336th Fighter Squadron (<span lang="el" dir="ltr">336 Μοίρα Διώξεως</span>) to replace [[Supermarine Spitfire]]s and the squadron's name was changed to [[336th Bomber Squadron (HAF)|336th Bomber Squadron]] (<span lang="el" dir="ltr">336 Μοίρα Βομβαρδισμού</span>).<ref name="Hellenic Helldivers">{{cite web|url=http://www.haf.gr/eN/mission/weapons/historic/1941_1950/SB2C-5_Helldiver.asp|title=Curtiss SB2C-5 Helldiver|website=Hellenic Air Force|access-date=23 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150628132533/http://www.haf.gr/en/mission/weapons/historic/1941_1950/SB2C-5_Helldiver.asp|archive-date=28 June 2015}}</ref>

Greek SB2C-5 Helldivers had minor changes for their [[COIN operations]]: the hard rubber tailwheel (for carrier use) was replaced by a bigger pneumatic tire for use on landing strips; and the rear gunner station and its twin MGs were deleted, as no aerial opposition existed and weight reduction was used for bombs and extra machine guns.

Curtiss SB2C-5 Helldivers, Supermarine Spitfires, and North American T-6D/Gs were used in ground-attack missions against [[Democratic Army of Greece|Communist ground forces]], camps, and transports during the last stages of the [[Greek Civil War]].<ref>[http://www.haf.gr/en/mission/weapons/historic/1941_1950/spitfire.asp "Supermarine Spitfire Mk VB/VC, Mk IX Lf/HF, Mk XVI."] ''Hellenic Air Force,'' 2012. Retrieved: 9 August 2012.</ref><ref>[http://www.haf.gr/en/mission/weapons/historic/1941_1950/T-6G.asp "North American Aviation T-6G."] ''Hellenic Air Force,'' 2012. Retrieved: 9 August 2012.</ref>

Curtiss SB2C-5 Helldivers saw a relatively brief combat service and were gradually phased out by 1953.<ref name="Hellenic Helldivers"/> A few were in use until 1957 as photographic aircraft. One Curtiss SB2C-5 Helldiver was restored in 1997 and is displayed in the [[Hellenic Air Force Museum]].<ref>[http://www.haf.gr/en/history/museum/exhibition.asp "Hellenic Air Force Museum Exhibits."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120318075955/http://www.haf.gr/en/history/museum/exhibition.asp |date=2012-03-18 }} ''Hellenic Air Force'', 2012. Retrieved: 9 August 2012.</ref>

===French service===
[[File:Arromanches (R95) flight deck 1951.jpg|thumb|Helldivers on the flight deck of the French aircraft carrier ''Arromanches'' in 1951. At this time the ship was operating off Indochina.]]
Between 1949 and 1954, France bought 110 SB2C-5 Helldiver aircraft to replace their aging SBD-5 Dauntless that had been flying in combat in Vietnam.<ref>Sherman, Stephen. [http://acepilots.com/planes/helldiver.html "SB2C Helldiver Curtiss dive bomber."] ''Ace Pilots,'' 23 January 2012. Retrieved: 9 August 2012.</ref> The French ''[[Aeronavale]]'' flew the Helldiver from 1951 to 1958.

Some of these aircraft were allotted to ''flottilles'' 3F and 9F stationed on board the carriers ''[[Arromanches (R95)|Arromanches]]'', ''[[Bois Belleau (R 97)|Bois Belleau]]'', and ''[[La Fayette (R96)|La Fayette]]'', during the [[First Indochina War]]. The Helldivers were used to support French troops on the ground during the [[Battle of Dien Bien Phu]] in 1954.

==Variants==
;XSB2C-1
:Prototype powered by a 1,700&nbsp;hp (1,268&nbsp;kW) R-2600-8 engine
;SB2C-1
:Production version for United States Navy with four 0.50&nbsp;in (12.7&nbsp;mm) wing guns and one 0.30&nbsp;in (7.62&nbsp;mm) dorsal gun, 200 built.
;SB2C-1A
:Original designation for United States Army Air Corps version which became A-25A later used for 410 A-25As transferred to the [[United States Marine Corps]].
;SB2C-1C
:SB2C-1 with two 20&nbsp;mm (0.79&nbsp;in) wing-mounted cannons and hydraulically operated flaps, 778 built. First to see combat.
;XSB2C-2
:One SB2C-1 fitted with twin floats in 1942.
;SB2C-2
:Production float plane version, 287 cancelled and not built.
;XSB2C-3
:One SB2C-1 re-engined with a 1,900&nbsp;hp (1,417&nbsp;kW) R-2600-20.
;SB2C-3
:As SB2C-1c re-engined with a 1,900&nbsp;hp (1,417&nbsp;kW) R-2600-20 and four-bladed propeller, 1,112 built.
;SB2C-3E
:SB2C-3s fitted with [[APS-4]] radar.
;SB2C-4
:SB2C-1c but fitted with wing racks for eight 5&nbsp;in (127&nbsp;mm) rockets or 1,000&nbsp;lb (454&nbsp;kg) bombs, 2,045 built.
;SB2C-4E
:SB2C-4s fitted with APS-4 radar.
;XSB2C-5
:Two SB2C-4s converted as prototypes for -5 variant.
;SB2C-5
:SB2C-4 with increased fuel capacity, frameless sliding canopy, tailhook fixed in extended position, and deletion of the ASB radar, 970 built (2,500 cancelled).
;XSB2C-6
:Two SB2C-1Cs fitted with 2,100&nbsp;hp (1,566&nbsp;kW) R-2600-22 engine and increased fuel capacity.
;SBF-1
:Canadian built version of the SB2C-1, 50 built by Fairchild-Canada
;SBF-3
:Canadian built version of the SB2C-3, 150 built by Fairchild-Canada.
;SBF-4E
:Canadian built version of the SB2C-4E, 100 built by Fairchild-Canada.
;SBW-1
:Canadian built version of the SB2C-1, 38 built by Canadian Car & Foundry company.
;SBW-1B
:Canadian built version for lend-lease to the [[Royal Navy]] as the '''Helldiver I''', 28 aircraft built by Canadian Car & Foundry company.
;SBW-3
:Canadian built version of the SB2C-3, 413 built by Canadian Car & Foundry company.
;SBW-4E
:Canadian built version of the SB2C-4E, 270 built by Canadian Car & Foundry company.
[[File:USAF Curtis A-25A-5-CS Shrike in flight, Serial Number 41-187187.jpg|thumb|U.S. Army Air Force A-25 Shrike (AAF Ser. No. 41-18787) in flight.]]
;SBW-5
:Canadian-built version of the SB2C-5, 85 built (165 cancelled) by the Canadian Car & Foundry company.
;A-25A Shrike
:United States Army Air Corps version without arrester gear or folding wings and equipment changed, 900 built
;Helldiver I
:Royal Navy designation for 28 Canadian-built SBW-1Bs
;B.J.3
:({{langx|th|บ.จ.๓}}) [[Royal Thai Air Force]] designation of the SB2C-5.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Thai Military Aircraft Designations |url=https://designation-systems.net/non-us/thailand.html |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=designation-systems.net}}</ref>

==Operators==
;{{AUS}}
* [[Royal Australian Air Force]]
;{{FRA}}
* [[French Navy]] [[Aviation Navale]]
[[File:Curtiss SB2C-5 Helldiver at the Athens War Museum on 30 July 1992.jpg|thumb|A preserved Greek SB2C-5.]]
;{{flag|Greece|royal}}
* [[Royal Hellenic Air Force]]
;{{ITA}}
* [[Italian Air Force]] operated 42 aircraft from 1950 until 1959<ref>[http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/waf/italy/af/ital-af2-all-time.htm aeroflight]</ref>
;{{PRT}}
* [[Portuguese Navy]] (until 1952)
* [[Portuguese Air Force]] (after 1952)
;{{THA}}
* [[Royal Thai Air Force]]<ref name="worldairforces.com" />
* [[Royal Thai Navy]]<ref name="worldairforces.com">{{citation|url=http://www.worldairforces.com/countries/thailand/thl.html|title=World Air Forces – Historical Listings Thailand (THL)|access-date=30 August 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125054737/http://www.worldairforces.com/Countries/thailand/thl.html|archive-date=25 January 2012}}</ref>

[[File:B.J3-4-94 (4) (14568831439).jpg|thumb|Curtiss SB2C-5 Helldiver at the Royal Thai Air Force Museum.]]
;{{UK}}
* [[Royal Navy]] [[Fleet Air Arm]]
;{{flag|United States|1912}}
* [[United States Army Air Forces]]
* [[United States Marine Corps]]
* [[United States Navy]]

==Surviving aircraft==
[[File:Curtiss SB2C Helldiver CAF.jpg|thumb|Curtiss SB2C-5 Helldiver (Commemorative Air Force)]]
NOTE: All surviving aircraft identified by original US Navy Bureau of Aeronautics (BuAer) Bureau Numbers (BuNo).

===Greece===
;On display
;;SB2C-5
*83321 - [[Hellenic Air Force Museum]], [[Tatoi Airport|Decelea Air Base]].<ref>[http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=118578 "Curtiss SB2C Helldiver/83321."] ''aerialvisuals.ca'' Retrieved: 18 August 2017.</ref>

===Thailand===
;On display
;;SB2C-5
*83410 - [[Royal Thai Air Force Museum]], [[Don Muang Royal Thai Air Force Base]], [[Bangkok]].<ref>[http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=140075 "Curtiss SB2C Helldiver/83410"] ''aerialvisuals.ca.'' Retrieved: 18 August 2017.</ref>

===United States===
;Airworthy
;;A-25A Shrike/SB2C-1A
*75552 - based at the National Museum of World War II Aviation in [[Colorado Springs, Colorado]].<ref>[https://www.worldwariiaviation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Aircraft-Collection-List-7-10-2024.pdf "Curtiss A-25 Shrike/75552"] ''Complete Aircraft List.'' Retrieved: 12 August 2024.</ref><ref>[https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=75552"FAA Registry: N75552."] ''FAA.gov'' Retrieved: 12 August 2024.</ref>
;;SB2C-5
*83393 - based at the [[Fagen Fighters WWII Museum]] in [[Granite Falls, Minnesota]].<ref>[https://vintageaviationnews.com/warbird-restorations/fagen-fighters-helldiver-soars-again.html "Fagen Fighters Helldiver Soars Again"] ''Vintage Aviation News.'' Retrieved: 24 July 2024</ref><ref>[http://www.fagenfighterswwiimuseum.org/aircraft/aircraft.html "Curtiss SB2C Helldiver/83393"] ''Fagen Fighters & Warhawks, Inc.'' Retrieved: 18 August 2017.</ref><ref>[https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=48HD "FAA Registry: N48HD."] ''FAA.gov'' Retrieved: 25 July 2024.</ref>
*83589 -  based at the [[Commemorative Air Force]] (West Texas Wing) in Houston, [[Graham, Texas|Texas]]. This late-production Helldiver, built in 1945, makes frequent airshow appearances. In 1982, it experienced engine failure and a hard emergency landing that caused extensive damage; volunteers of the CAF put in thousands of hours and spent in excess of $200,000 to restore the aircraft to flying condition once more.<ref>[http://sb2chelldiver.com/ "Curtiss SB2C-5 Helldiver/83589."] ''Commemorative Air Force.'' Retrieved: 18 August 2017.</ref><ref>[https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=92879 "FAA Registry: N92879."] ''FAA.gov'' Retrieved: 15 July 2021.</ref>
;On display
;;SB2C-5
[[File:Curtiss SB2C-5 Helldiver 83479 at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, 10 February 2024.jpg|thumb|SB2C-5 Helldiver 83479 on display at the [[Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center]]]]
*83479 - [[Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center]] of the [[National Air and Space Museum]] in [[Chantilly, Virginia]].<ref>[https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/curtiss-sb2c-5-helldiver/nasm_A19610118000 "Curtiss SB2C-5 Helldiver/83479"] ''Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center'' Retrieved: 14 July 2021.</ref>
;Under restoration or in storage
;;A-25A Shrike/SB2C-1A
*76805 - in storage at the [[USS Midway Museum]] in [[San Diego, California]].<ref>[https://vintageaviationnews.com/restorations/curtiss-sb2c-4-helldiver-project-arrives-at-uss-midway-museum.html "Curtiss A-25 Shrike/76805"] ''Vintage Aviation News.'' Retrieved: 22 April 2025.</ref>
;;SB2C-3
*19075 - to airworthiness at the [[Yanks Air Museum]] in [[Chino, California]]<ref>[https://yanksair.org/exhibition/curtiss-sb2c-3-helldiver/ "Curtiss SB2C Helldiver/19075"] ''Yanks Air Museum'' Retrieved: 12 August 2024.</ref>
;;SB2C-4
*19866 - to display at the [[USS Midway Museum]] in [[San Diego, California]].  It crashed on 28 May 1945 in [[Lower Otay Reservoir]], near [[San Diego, California]] after engine failure during a training exercise. Both pilot E.D. Frazer and his passenger escaped uninjured, but the Helldiver sank in 90&nbsp;ft. of water. The aircraft was discovered in February 2010 by a fisherman and recovered on 20 August 2010 for restoration.<ref>[https://goodall.com.au/warbirds-directory-v6/curtiss.pdf "Curtiss SB2C Helldiver/19866."] ''Warbird Directory: Curtiss Page 2'' Retrieved: 21 September 2022.</ref><ref>[https://vintageaviationnews.com/restorations/curtiss-sb2c-4-helldiver-project-arrives-at-uss-midway-museum.html "Curtiss A-25 Shrike/76805"] ''Vintage Aviation News.'' Retrieved: 22 April 2025.</ref>
;Wrecks
*A SB2C-4E Helldiver belonging to the United States Navy crashed and burned in foul weather on 9 October 1945, while en route from [[New Cumberland, Pennsylvania]] to its base at [[Naval Air Station Grosse Ile]], Michigan after participating in Nimitz Day celebrations held in Washington, D.C. Pilot Frank Campbell and gunner George Cohlmia, both [[World War II]] veterans, were killed in the crash. The remains of the plane are still located at the crash site on [[Laurel Hill (Pennsylvania)|Laurel Hill]] in [[Ligonier Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania|Ligonier Township]], Pennsylvania, three miles southeast of the village of Waterford.<ref>[http://geocaching.gpsgames.org/cgi-;;SB2C-1C]{{dead link|date=February 2018|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>
*18400 - In January 2010, a scuba diver discovered a SB2C-1C Helldiver that was ditched in [[Maalaea Bay]] off South Maui in August 1944.<ref>Dyer, Sean. [http://www.bbscuba.com/maui-scuba-dive-sites/maui-helldiver-dive-bomber-wreck-dive-sb2c1c "Maui Helldiver dive bomber wreck dive SB2C-1C."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813004453/http://www.bbscuba.com/maui-scuba-dive-sites/maui-helldiver-dive-bomber-wreck-dive-sb2c1c |date=2018-08-13 }} ''bbscuba.com''. Retrieved: 23 April 2010.</ref> The Helldiver was covered in coral and was missing its tail section. The aircraft experienced problems with its empennage after dive bombing maneuvers which forced pilot Lieutenant William Dill to ditch.<ref>[http://www.bbscuba.com/images/bbscubahelldiverfinal.pdf "Accident report."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303202520/http://www.bbscuba.com/images/bbscubahelldiverfinal.pdf |date=2016-03-03 }} ''US Navy'' via ''bbscuba.com''. Retrieved: 23 April 2010.</ref> It lies in 50&nbsp;ft of water facing east. The site, which is protected under state and federal law, is in the process of being marked with a plaque by the U.S. Navy. A mooring may be installed at a later point in time to facilitate dives on the site.<ref>Loomis. Ilima. [http://www.mauinews.com/page/content.detail/id/530164.html "WWII-era plane ID’d."] ''mauinews.com'', 4 April 2010. Retrieved: 23 April 2010.</ref>
*On 19 December 2011 scuba divers discovered an SB2C Helldiver off the coast of Jupiter, Florida. The aircraft was mostly intact and was found inverted with the landing gear retracted. In May 2012, the US Navy conducted a survey of the aircraft, recovering a data plate from the horizontal stabilizer. The [[Naval History and Heritage Command]]'s [[Underwater Archaeology Branch]] were attempting to determine if the numbers stamped on the data plate were readable to identify the aircraft.<ref>[http://www.navalhistory.org/2012/05/24/nhhc-underwater-archaeology-branch-and-mdsu2-survey-sb2c-helldiver-wreck "NHHC Underwater Archaeology Branch and MDSU2 Survey SB2C Helldiver Wreck."] 24 May 2012. Retrieved: 7 May 2013.</ref>
;;SB2C-5
*83414 - On 25 March 2010, the Oregon State Police, Tillamook County Sheriff's Office, and the United States Navy announced that during a logging operation near Rockaway Beach, Oregon, the wreck of an SB2C Helldiver was located. The wreckage was determined to be the remains of a 31 March 1948 crash. The plane had taken off from NAS Tillamook with a destination of Corpus Christie, Texas and the cause of the crash is unknown.  The crash killed the pilot, Robert Smedley, whose remains were recovered shortly after the original crash. The remains of the aircraft are displayed at the Tillamook Air Museum as of 2025.<ref>[https://pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/sb2c/83414.html "SB2C-5 Helldiver Bureau Number 83414"] Retrieved: 24 July 2024.</ref><ref>[http://www.oregon.gov/OSP/NEWSRL/news/03_25_2010_found_wwii_aircraft.shtml "Navy WWII Aircraft Found in Tillamook County, Oregon."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100328153423/http://www.oregon.gov/OSP/NEWSRL/news/03_25_2010_found_wwii_aircraft.shtml |date=2010-03-28 }} ''oregon.gov''. Retrieved: 25 March 2010.</ref><ref>Tobias, Lori. [http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2010/03/former_mechanic_remembers_62-y.html "Former mechanic at the Navy Air Base in Tillamook remembers 62-year-old crash near Rockaway Beach."] ''oregonlive.com,'' 26 March 2010. Retrieved: 23 August 2010.</ref>

==Specifications (SB2C-4 Helldiver)==
[[File:Curtiss SB2C-3 Helldiver 3-view line drawing.svg|thumb|Curtiss SB2C Helldiver 3-view drawing]]
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=United States Navy Aircraft since 1911<ref name="Swanborough">{{cite book |last1=Swanborough |first1=Gordon |last2=Bowers |first2=Peter M. |title=United States Navy aircraft since 1911 |date=1990 |publisher=Putnam |location=London |isbn=0870217925 |pages=166–168 |edition=3rd}}</ref>
|prime units?=imp
<!--
        General characteristics
-->
|crew=2
|capacity=
|length ft=36
|length in=8
|length note=
|span ft=49
|span in=9
|span note=
|height ft=13
|height in=2
|height note=
|wing area sqft=422
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=<!-- sailplanes -->
|airfoil='''root:''' [[NACA airfoil|NACA 23017]]; '''tip:''' [[NACA airfoil|NACA 23009]]<ref name="Selig">{{cite web |last1=Lednicer |first1=David |title=The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage |url=https://m-selig.ae.illinois.edu/ads/aircraft.html |website=m-selig.ae.illinois.edu |access-date=16 April 2019}}</ref>
|empty weight lb=10547
|empty weight note=
|gross weight lb=16616
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight lb=
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity=
|more general=
<!--
        Powerplant
-->
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=[[Wright R-2600-20 Twin Cyclone]]
|eng1 type=14-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine
|eng1 hp=1900

|prop blade number=4
|prop name=constant-speed propeller
|prop dia ft=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia in=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia note=
<!--
        Performance
-->
|max speed mph=295
|max speed note=at {{cvt|16700|ft}}
|max speed mach=<!-- supersonic aircraft -->
|cruise speed mph=158
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed mph=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed mph=
|never exceed speed note=
|minimum control speed mph=
|minimum control speed note=
|range miles=
|range note=
|combat range miles=1165
|combat range note=with {{cvt|1000|lb}} bomb-load
|ferry range miles=
|ferry range note=
|endurance=<!-- if range unknown -->
|ceiling ft=29100
|ceiling note=
|g limits=<!-- aerobatic -->
|roll rate=<!-- aerobatic -->
|glide ratio=<!-- sailplanes -->
|climb rate ftmin=1800
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude=
|sink rate ftmin=<!-- sailplanes -->
|sink rate note=
|lift to drag=
|wing loading lb/sqft=
|wing loading note=
|disk loading lb/sqft=
|disk loading note=
|fuel consumption lb/mi=
|power/mass=
|thrust/weight=

|more performance=
<!--
        Armament
-->
|guns=
**2 × {{cvt|20|mm|3}} [[AN/M2 cannon]] in the wings
**2 × {{cvt|0.30|in}} [[M1919 Browning machine gun]]s in the rear cockpit
**4 X {{cvt|0.50|in}} [[M2 Browning machine gun]]s, two each in gunpods mounted on underwing hardpoints (optional)
|bombs=in internal bay: {{cvt|2000|lb}} of bombs or 1 × [[Mark 13-2 torpedo]]<ref name="Donald p80-1">Donald 1995, pp. 80–151.</ref><br>on underwing hardpoints: {{cvt|500|lb}} of bombs each
|rockets= 8 × {{cvt|5|in|0}} [[High Velocity Aircraft Rocket]]s
|avionics=
}}

==See also==
{{aircontent|
|related= 
* [[Curtiss SBC Helldiver]]
* [[Curtiss XSB3C]]
* [[Curtiss XBT2C]]
|similar aircraft=
* [[Aichi B7A]]
* [[Brewster SB2A Buccaneer]]/Bermuda
*[[Douglas A-33]]
* [[Douglas BTD Destroyer]]
* [[Fairey Barracuda]]
* [[Fairey Fulmar]]
* [[Junkers Ju 187]]
* [[Mitsubishi Ki-51]]
* [[Saab 17]]C
* [[Sukhoi Su-2]]
* [[Supermarine Type 322]]
* [[Vultee A-31 Vengeance]]
* [[Yokosuka D4Y]]
|lists=
* [[List of aircraft of World War II]]
* [[List of United States Navy aircraft designations (pre-1962)]]
* [[List of military aircraft of the United States]]
|see also=
}}

==References==

===Notes===
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
{{Refbegin}}
* Abzug, Malcolm J. and E. Eugene Larrabee. ''Airplane Stability and Control: A History of the Technologies that Made Aviation Possible'' (Cambridge Aerospace Series). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 1997. {{ISBN|978-0-521-55236-3}}.
* Andrews, Harald. ''The Curtiss SB2C-1 Helldiver, Aircraft in Profile 124''. Windsor, Berkshire, UK: Profile publications Ltd., 1967, reprinted 1971 and 1982. No ISBN.
* Bowers, Peter M. ''Curtiss Aircraft 1907-1947''. London: Putnam & Company Ltd., 1979. {{ISBN|0-370-10029-8}}.
* Brown, Eric, CBE, DCS, AFC, RN., William Green and Gordon Swanborough. "Curtiss Helldiver". ''Wings of the Navy, Flying Allied Carrier Aircraft of World War Two''. London: Jane's Publishing Company, 1980, pp.&nbsp;90–99. {{ISBN|0-7106-0002-X}}.
* Crosnier, Alain and Jean-Pierre Dubois. ''Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless & Curtiss SB2C-5 Helldiver: Bombardiers en piqué de l’Aéronautique Navale'' (in French). Clichy-la-Garenne, France: DTU sarl., 1998. {{ISBN|2-912749-01-8}}.
* Donald, David, ed. ''American Warplanes of World War II''. London: Aerospace Publishing, 1995. {{ISBN|1-874023-72-7}}.
* Drendel, Lou. ''U.S. Navy Carrier Bombers of World War II''. Carrollton, Texas: Squadron/Signal Publications, Inc., 1987. {{ISBN|0-89747-195-4}}.
* Ethell, L. Jeffrey. ''Aircraft of World War II''. Glasgow: HarperCollins Publishers, 1995. {{ISBN|0-00-470849-0}}.
* Forsyth, John F. ''Helldivers, US Navy Dive-Bombers at War''. St. Paul, Minnesota: Motorbooks International, 1991. {{ISBN|0-87938-493-X}}.
* Kinzey, Bert. ''SB2C Helldiver in Detail & Scale, D&S Vol.52''. Carrollton, Texas: Squadron/Signal Publications, 1997. {{ISBN|1-888974-04-4}}.
* Ociepka, Paweł P. "Curtiss SB2C Helldiver" (in Polish). ''Skrzydła w miniaturze 12''. Gdańsk, Poland: Avia-Press, 1995. ISSN 1234-4109.
* Shettle, M.L. Jr. ''United States Marine Corps Air Stations of World War II''. Bowersville, Georgia: Schaertel Publishing Co., 2001. {{ISBN|0-9643388-2-3}}.
* Smith, Peter C. ''SB2C Helldiver''. Ramsbury, Marlborough, Wiltshire, UK: The Crowood Press Ltd., 1998. {{ISBN|1-86126-710-X}}.
* Stern, Robert. ''SB2C Helldiver in Action, Aircraft Number 54''. Carrollton, Texas: Squadron/Signal Publications inc., 1982. {{ISBN|0-89747-128-8}}.
* Swanborough, Gordon and Peter M. Bowers. ''United States Navy Aircraft since 1911''. London: Putnam, Second edition, 1976. {{ISBN|0-370-10054-9}}.
* Taylor, John W. R. "Curtiss SB2C/A-25 Helldiver." ''Combat Aircraft of the World from 1909 to the present''. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1969. {{ISBN|0-425-03633-2}}.
* [[Barrett Tillman|Tillman, Barrett]]. ''Helldiver Units of World War 2''. London: Osprey Publishing, 1997. {{ISBN|1-85532-689-2}}.
* Tillman, Barrett and Robert L. Lawson. ''U.S. Navy Dive and Torpedo Bombers of WWII''. St. Paul, Minnesota: Motor Books Publishing, 2001. {{ISBN|0-7603-0959-0}}.
* {{cite book|last1=Wilson|first1=Stewart|title=Military Aircraft of Australia|date=1994|publisher=Aerospace Publications|location=Weston Creek, Australian Capital Territory|isbn=1-875671-08-0}}
* Winchester, Jim. "Curtiss SB2C Helldiver." ''Aircraft of World War II: The Aviation Factfile''. Kent, UK: Grange Books plc, 2004. {{ISBN|1-84013-639-1}}.
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*[https://books.google.com/books?id=AyEDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA131 "I Ride 'The Beast'." by J. Runyan], ''[[Popular Science]]'', February 1945
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20040402201814/http://www.sb2chelldiver.org/ The Commemorative Air Force's flying SB2C Helldiver]
*[http://ww2db.com/aircraft_spec.php?aircraft_model_id=29 WW2DB: SB2C Helldiver]
*[http://www.cv6.org/company/accounts/bbarnes/ ENS Bob Barnes: Helldivers of the Big E]
*{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20040205080049/http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_294.shtml "The Greek Civil War, 1944-1949"]}}
*[http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1943/1943%20-%200707.html ''Flight'' 1943 article]
*{{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20130222033239/http://i-ota.net/SB2CHelldiver/ Interior and exterior spherical panoramas of Commemorative AF flying museum]}}
*[https://digitalcollections.museumofflight.org/nodes/view/2836 Pilot's handbook : model SB2C-1, 1942] – [https://digitalcollections.museumofflight.org/ The Museum of Flight Digital Collections]

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