Aircrafttotal Encyclopedia

The Vought SB2U Vindicator is an American carrier-based dive bomber developed for the United States Navy in the 1930s, the first monoplane in this role. Vindicators still remained in service at the time of the Battle of Midway, but by 1943, all had been withdrawn to training units.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.

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.

Operational history

U.S. Navy

Deliveries to the US Navy began in December 1937, when four aircraft joined VB-3 aboard the aircraft carrier Saratoga, replacing Curtiss BFC-2 biplanes. As well as Saratoga, Vindicators served on the carriers Lexington, Ranger, and Wasp. Air Group Nine, destined for Essex, trained in Vindicators aboard the escort carrier Charger, but they transitioned to the Douglas SBD Dauntless before Essex joined the war.

During the attack on Pearl Harbor , seven Vindicators from the U.S. squadron VMSB-231 were destroyed at Ewa Field .

Aeromacchi Leonardo

Ling-Temco-Vought

SB2U Vindicator "Chesapeake"

General Info

Crew: 2
Length: 33 ft 11+3⁄4 in (10.357 m)
Wingspan: 41 ft 10+7⁄8 in (12.773 m)
Height: 14 ft 3 in (4.34 m) (tail down, propeller vertical)
Wing area: 305.3 sq ft (28.36 m²)

Powerplant

E Empty weight: 5,634 lb (2,556 kg) Gross weight: 7,474 lb (3,390 kg) Max takeoff weight: (4,273 kg) Fuel capacity: 370 US gal (310 imp gal; 1,400 L) internal fuel Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-1535-02 Twin Wasp Jr 14-cylinder two-row air-cooled radial engine, 825 hp (615 kW) (take-off power) : 750 hp (560 kW) (continuous power) Propellers: 2-bladed Hamilton Standard constant-speed propeller, 11 ft 0 in (3.35 m) diameter

E
Empty weight: 5,634 lb (2,556 kg)
Gross weight: 7,474 lb (3,390 kg)
Max takeoff weight: (4,273 kg)
Fuel capacity: 370 US gal (310 imp gal; 1,400 L) internal fuel
Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-1535-02 Twin Wasp Jr 14-cylinder two-row air-cooled radial engine, 825 hp (615 kW) (take-off power) : 750 hp (560 kW) (continuous power)
Propellers: 2-bladed Hamilton Standard constant-speed propeller, 11 ft 0 in (3.35 m) diameter

Performance

Maximum speed: 211 kn (243 mph, 391 km/h) at 9,500 ft (2,900 m)
Cruise speed: 132 kn (152 mph, 245 km/h) (range cruise)
Range: 970 nmi (1,120 mi, 1,800 km) (main and wing center-section tanks only), 1,000 lb (450 kg) bombload
Ferry range: 2,130 nmi (2,450 mi, 3,940 km) (max internal and external fuel)
Service ceiling: 23,600 ft (7,200 m)
Rate of climb: 1,070 ft/min (5.4 m/s)

Armament

Guns:
- 1 × forward firing 0.50 in (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine gun in starboard wing
- 1 × 0.50 in (12.7 mm) machine gun in flexible mount in rear cockpit
Bombs:
- 1 × 1,000 lb (450 kg) or 500 pounds (230 kg) bomb under fuselage
- 2 × 100 lb (45 kg) and 8 × 30 lb (14 kg) bombs under wings

Special Links Aeromacchi Leonardo

Links to Youtube & Others

The SB2U-3 was a more heavily modified version, intended as a long-range scout bomber, capable of being fitted with a conventional wheeled undercarriage, for operations from aircraft carriers or land airbases.

Ling-Temco-Vought SB2U Vindicator

The SB2U is prominently featured in the 1941 film Dive Bomber.

Youtube Link

There were 260 examples of all Vindicator variants produced, and a single example is preserved at the National Naval Aviation Museum at NAS Pensacola, Florida.

Ling-Temco-Vought
SB2U Vindicator "Chesapeake"