SB2C-1C

SB2C-1C

A-20G-25

SB2C-4

360://https://wiki.warthunder.com/images/7/7c/Cockpit_sb2c_1c.jpg

SB2C-1C

A-20G-25

SB2C-4

USA

II Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
3.0	3.0	3.0

Class:

Bomber

Dive bomber

Naval aircraft

Torpedo bomber

Research:11 000

Purchase:22 000

Show in game

This page is about the American naval bomber SB2C-1C. For other uses, see SB2 (Disambiguation).

Description

The SB2C-1C Helldiver is a rank II American naval dive-bomber with a battle rating of 3.0 (AB/RB/SB). This aircraft was introduced in Update 1.51 "Cold Steel".

General info

Flight Performance

Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.

The SB2C-1c has surprisingly good manoeuvrability for a dive-bomber (especially at an airspeed of around 300 kph), although its weight means that acceleration is not outstanding and climb rate is poor. Top speed is also below-average. However, as a primarily air-to-ground attacker, these somewhat lacklustre flight characteristics do not overly hinder the vehicle's utility.

Characteristics
Stock
Max Speed (km/h at 4,084 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
430	415	7700	24.6	25.0	2.6	3.9	300
Upgraded
Max Speed (km/h at 4,084 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
450	?	7700	21.7	23.0	8.7	6.1	300

Details

Features
Combat flap	Take-off flap	Landing flap	Air brakes	Arrestor gear
✓	✓	✓	✓	✓

Limits
Wing-break speed (km/h)	Gear limit (km/h)	Combat flap (km/h)	Max Static G
			+	-
656	333	520	~8	~4

Optimal velocities
Ailerons (km/h)	Rudder (km/h)	Elevators (km/h)	Radiator (km/h)
< 257	< 350	< 380	> 250

Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
1,829 m	1,500 hp	1,665 hp
Setting 2
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
3,962 m	1,350 hp	1,499 hp

Survivability and armour

• 38 mm Bulletproof glass in front of pilot.
• 11.11 mm Steel plate behind pilot.
• 6.35 mm Steel plate on fuselage in front of cockpit.
• 6.35 mm Steel plates on rear machine gun.

The Helldiver is able to sustain moderate amounts of damage, thanks to its adequate armour setup. However, damage to the wings tends to drastically offset the plane's balance and harm controllability. The rear gunner is fairly exposed and is easily knocked out by enemy fire.

Armaments

Offensive armament

The SB2C-1C is armed with:

• 2 х 20 mm AN/M2 cannons, wing-mounted (200 rpg = 400 total)

Suspended armament

The SB2C-1C can be outfitted with the following ordinance:

• 2 х 250 lb AN-M57 bombs
• 1 х 2216 lb Mk.13 torpedo
• 1 х 2216 lb Mk.13/44 torpedo
• 2 х 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs
• 1 х 1000 lb AN-M65A1 bomb

Defensive armament

The SB2C-1C is defended by:

• 2 х 7.62 mm Browning machine guns, dorsal turret (2,000 rpg = 4,000 total)

Usage in battles

Describe the tactics of playing in an aircraft, the features of using vehicles in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).

In Air Realistic battles, the SB2C receives an air start, which means that it is usually able to intercept enemy fighters in their climb path. When this happens, the Helldiver is very effective in a headon role, with 2 powerful 20 mm cannons. If stealth belts are loaded, the enemy may not even realise that they are being shot at, since the SB2C is designated as a dive-bomber. Another way to deal with enemy fighters is in a dogfighting role. The SB2C has a surprisingly good turn rate, especially at around 300 kph, and can turn with such planes as the La-5 and Fw 190 series of fighters. Often, the enemy will be caught off guard by the Helldiver's dogfighting ability and enter into an engagement that they cannot win, allowing the pilot to secure the kill.

However, the SB2C is certainly not the perfect fighter aircraft: it has a poor climb rate, poor acceleration, and is quite heavy. Therefore, it struggles against experienced enemy fighters, and the best way to fly this plane in an anti-air role is by supporting teammates and working with a group. If there is an enemy on your tail, luring them towards friendlies may be the best option. Since the Helldiver is heavy and sluggish, it can be hard to shake a tail. There is a rear gunner, but they are only armed with 2 7.62 mm machine guns, and are not very well protected from enemy fire. As such, it would be unwise to rely on them in every sticky situation.

Another possible way to use this vehicle is in a ground-attack role. This can be done in Ground, Air, or Naval battles, since the Helldiver is able to carry both bombs and torpedoes. For attacking ground targets, it is recommended to use a diving attack (the vehicle is equipped with an airbrake for just this purpose) and drop ordnance when directly over the enemy. Keep in mind that this vehicle does not carry much ordnance, so it is important to make each drop count. If the bombs have been used up, then it is possible to use the 2 20 mm cannons against lightly armoured ground targets as well, although more heavily-armoured tanks and pillboxes will be difficult to crack. In naval battles, this plane is one of few to receive a torpedo for use against ships.

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer	Pitch	Radiator			Supercharger	Turbocharger
		Oil	Water	Type
Controllable	Controllable	Not controllable	Controllable	Combined	Controllable	Not controllable

Modules

Tier	Flight performance		Survivability	Weaponry
I	Fuselage Repair	Radiator			Turret 7 mm	ITC mk.III
II		Compressor	Airframe	Offensive 20 mm		Improved torpedo
III	Wings Repair	Engine			New 7 mm MGs (turret)	SBC mk.I
IV		Engine Injection	Cover	New 20 mm cannons		MBC mk.I

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Has the ability to dive bomb and level bomb.
• Armed with a powerful pair of 20mm AN/M2 cannons.
• Access to air brakes.
• Similar play style as the the SBD-3 and the TBF-1c.
• Decent durability.
• Next to no performance penalty when carrying bombs.
• Air frame can withstand high speed.
• Defensive gunner has a wide coverage.
• Internal payload.
• Pinpoint dive bomb accuracy.
• Can be an effective bomber hunter.

Cons:

• Wing mounted armaments tend to be inaccurate sometimes.
• Maximum payload is lower than both the SBD-3 and the TBF-1c.
• Suffers from huge performance penalty when carrying a torpedo.
• Slow.
• Elevator tend to wildly sway after a maneuver, a trait shared by the TBF-1c.
• Defensive armament is ineffective against armored foes.
• Payload is ineffective against bases.

History

The SB2C-1c Helldiver was a carrier-based dive bomber made by the Curtiss company. The aircraft had been produced from 1943-1945. It was meant to replace the Douglas SBD Dauntless as a much faster alternative to the SBD Dauntless though it sacrificed mobility. Many of the crews of the SB2C-1c Helldiver nicked named this aircraft "Big-Tailed Beast", "Two-Cee", and Son of a Bitch Second Class due to the horrible turning capabilities of the aircraft. The aircraft mainly saw service in the United States Navy, United States Army Air Forces, French Air Force, and Royal Thai Air Force. It was a much larger version of the SBD Dauntless but many of the pilots that flew the SB2C-1c were disappointed with the turning capability which led many pilots to go back to the outdated SBD Dauntless as it had better turning but less speed but many pilots preferred it rather than the SB2C-1c. A total of 7,140 aircraft were produced in total from 1943-1945.

Media

The Shooting Range #164 - Pages of History section at 04:12 discusses the SB2C Helldiver.

The Shooting Range #200 - Pages of History section at 06:03 discusses the Curtiss SB2C Helldiver.

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

• reference to the series of the aircraft;
• links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

• SB2 (Disambiguation)
• SB2C-4, successor to the 1c variant
• SBD-3, the SB2C-1c's precessor

External links

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

• topic on the official game forum;
• encyclopedia page on the aircraft;
• other literature.

• SB2C-1c Helldiver: Official Devblog
• SB2C-1c: MilitaryFactory.com
• SB2C-1c: Official Forum thread