SB2U Vindicator

Infobox Aircraft
name= SB2U Vindicator


caption= A U.S. Navy Vought SB2U Vindicator being tested by NACA
type= Dive bomber
manufacturer= Vought
designer=
first flight= 4 January 1936
introduced= 1937
retired= 1945
status=
primary user= United States Navy
more users= United States Marine Corps
French Navy
Royal Navy
produced=
number built= ~170
unit cost=
developed from=
variants with their own articles=

The Vought SB2U Vindicatorwas 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of World War II, Vindicators still remained in service at the time of the Battle of Midway, but by 1943, all had been withdrawn to training units.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.

Design and development

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. [http://www.microworks.net/PACIFIC/aviation/sb2u_vindicator.htm "Chance-Vought SB2U Vindicator".] ]

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.

Operational history

U.S. Navy

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.

U.S. Marine Corps

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.O'Rourke, G.G, CAPT USN. "Of Hosenoses, Stoofs, and Lefthanded Spads". "United States Naval Institute Proceedings", July 1968.] Spangenburg, Walt, CAPT USN. "Comment and Discussion". "United States Naval Institute Proceedings", October 1968.]

French Navy

Based on the SB2U-2, the V-156-F incorporated specific French equipment. Briefly after the deliveries started in July 1939, V-156-F crews were trained for carrier operations aboard "Béarn", but when the war broke out the old carrier was declared too slow for operational service. As a result V-156-F-equipped units, "escadrilles" AB 1 and AB 3, were based ashore when the Battle of France started. AB 1 sustained heavy losses while attacking bridges and German ground targets in Northern France, while AB 3's V-156-Fs were briefly engaged against the Italians. By the time of the Armistice, there were only a handful of remaining Voughts in French hands, and the type was phased out of service.

Royal Navy

Chesapeakes were obtained by the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm in July 1941, and used to equip a reformed 811 Naval Air Squadron 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 NAS was re-equipped with the Fairey Swordfish.

Variants

* XSB2U-1 - Single prototype.
* SB2U-1 - Initial production version, 54 built.
* SB2U-2 - 58 built
* XSB2U-3 - Single prototype of the extended-range version, converted from the SB2U-1.
* SB2U-3 - 57 built
* V-156B - Export version for the French Navy, 24 built.
* V-156B-1 - Export version for the British Royal Navy. Designated Chesapeake Mk.I; 50 built.

Operators

;FRA
* French Navy Aeronavale;UK
* Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm;USA
* United States Navy
* United States Marine Corps

pecifications (SB2U-2)

aircraft specifications

plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop

crew=Two, pilot and gunner
length main=34 ft 0 in
length alt=10.36 m
span main=42 ft in
span alt=12.80 m
height main=10 ft 3 in
height alt=3.12 m
area main=305 ft²
area alt=28 m²
empty weight main=4,713 lb
empty weight alt=2,138 kg
loaded weight main=6,379 lb
loaded weight alt=2,893 kg
max takeoff weight main=7,332 lb
max takeoff weight alt=3,326 kg
more general=

engine (prop)=Pratt & Whitney R-1535-96 Twin Wasp Jr
type of prop=radial engine
number of props=1
power main=825 hp
power alt=616 kW

max speed main=251 mph
max speed alt=404 km/h
range main=630 mi
range alt=1,014 km
ceiling main=27,500 ft
ceiling alt=8,382 m
climb rate main=1,340 ft/min
climb rate alt=6.8 m/s
loading main=21 lb/ft²
loading alt=103 kg/m²
power/mass main=0.13 hp/lb
power/mass alt=0.21 kW/kg
more performance=

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

ee also

aircontent
related=

similar aircraft=
* SBD Dauntless
* SB2C Helldiver
* Fairey Barracuda

lists=
* List of military aircraft of the United States (naval)

see also=

References

Notes

Bibliography

* Brown, Eric, CBE, DCS, AFC, RN. with William Green and Gordon Swanborough. "Vought Chesapeake". "Wings of the Navy, Flying Allied Carrier Aircraft of World War Two". London: Jane's Publishing Company, 1980, pp. 20-29. ISBN 0-7106-0002-X.
* Doll, Tom. "SB2U Vindicator in Action (Aircraft No. 122)". Carrollton, Texas: Squadron/Signal Publications Inc., 1992. ISBN 0-89747-274-8.
* Mondey, David. "The Hamlyn Concise Guide to American Aircraft of World War II". London: Chancellor Press, 1982. ISBN 1-85152-706-0.
* Taylor, John W.R. "SB2U Vindicator". "Combat Aircraft of the World from 1909 to the Present". New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1969. ISBN 0-425-03633-2.

External links

* [http://www.vought.com/heritage/products/html/sb2u.html SB2U page on Vought official website]
* [http://www.airtoaircombat.com/detail.asp?id=539 AirToAirCombat.Com: Vought SB2U-1 Vindicator]