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SB2U Vindicator

The Vought SB2U Vindicator (known as the Chesapeake in Royal Navy service) was a carrier-based dive bomber developed for the US 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of World War II, Vindicators still remained in service at the time of the Battle of Midway, but by 1943 all had been withdrawn to training units.

Development

In 1934, the US 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 SB2U was evaluated alongside 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. Around 170 of all variants were produced, and a single example is preserved at the National Museum of Naval Aviation at NAS Pensacola.

Operational history

US Navy

Vindicators served on five carriers, USS Lexington, USS Saratoga, USS Ranger, USS Wasp, and USS Essex between December 1937 and September 1942.

Royal Navy

Chesapeakes were obtained by the Fleet Air Arm in July 1941, and used to equip a reformed No. 811 Squadron FAA whose crews referred to it as the 'cheesecake'. The squadron was intended to use them for anti-submarine patrols and was earmarked for the escort carrier HMS Archer.

By the end of October that year it had been decided that the Chesapeakes were under-powered for the planned duties and would not be able to lift a sensible warload from the small escort carriers. Accordingly they were withdrawn and 811 re-equipped with the Fairey Swordfish

Description

The SB2U was of conventional low-wing tailwheel monoplane configuration, with the pilot and tailgunner 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.

Variants

• XSB2U-1 - single prototype
  • SB2U-1 - initial production version (54 built)

• SB2U-2 - (58 built)

• XSB2U-3 - single prototype of extended-range version converted from SB2U-1
  • SB2U-3 - (57 built)

Specifications (SB2U-2)

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: 4,713 lb (2,138 kg)
• Loaded: 6,379 lb (2,893 kg)
• Maximum takeoff: 7,332 lb (3,326 kg)
• Powerplant: 1x SBU -

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