Douglas SBD Dauntless / A-24

The SBD entered production in 1940.

Crewed by a pilot and an observer/gunner the SBD-3, which appeared in March 1941, was powered by a l000hp R-1820-52. In contrast to the earlier models, the SBD-3 had 0.50 armour in the cowling, self-sealing tanks, and protective armour, 584 had been built by December 1941. Seven hundred and eighty SBD-4 models were built at El Segundo, California while 2,409 of the SBD-5s were built at the Douglas plant at Tulsa, Oklahoma.

SBD-3
Max speed: 275 mph
Max range: 875 miles
Crew: 2
Armament: 2 x .50 mg
Bombload: 1 x 500 lb bomb

SBD-4
Engine: Wright R1820-60 Cyclone, l200hp.
Max speed: 245mph at 15,800ft.
Initial rate of climb: 1190 ft/min.

SBD-5
Engine: Wright R1820-60 Cyclone, l200hp.
Length: 33.005 ft / 10.06 m
Height: 12.927 ft / 3.94 m
Wingspan: 41.503 ft / 12.65 m
Wing area: 324.965 sqft / 30.19 sq.m
Max take off weight: 9521.2 lb / 4318.0 kg
Weight empty: 6535.6 lb / 2964.0 kg
Max speed: 221 kts / 410 km/h / 245mph at 15,800ft.
Cruising speed: 161 kts / 298 km/h
Service ceiling: 25197 ft / 7680 m
Cruising altitude: 14000 ft / 4265 m
Wing loading: 29.32 lb/sq.ft / 143.00 kg/sq.m
Range: 672 nm / 1244 km
Initial rate of climb: 1190 ft/min.
Crew: 2
Armament: 2x MG 0.5cal (12,7mm), 2xMG 0.3cal (7,62mm), 726kg + 295kg bomb.

SBD-6
Crew: 2
Engine: 1 x Wright R-1820-6 Cyclone 9, 1007kW
Max take-off weight: 4318 kg / 9520 lb
Empty weight: 2964 kg / 6535 lb
Wingspan: 12.65 m / 41 ft 6 in
Length: 10.06 m / 33 ft 0 in
Height: 3.94 m / 12 ft 11 in
Wing area: 30.19 sq.m / 324.96 sq ft
Max. speed: 410 km/h / 255 mph
Cruise speed: 298 km/h / 185 mph
Ceiling: 7680 m / 25200 ft
Range: 1244 km / 773 miles
Armament: 2 x 12.7mm machine-guns, 2 x 7.62mm machine-guns, 725kg of bombs