United States' Vought SB2U Vindicator dive bomber

Photos

Design

The Naval Bureau of Aeronautics (BUAER) ordered the XSB2U-1 protypes in October 1934.⁴ At the same time two other monoplane (XBT-1 and XSBA-1) and four biplane (XB2G-1, XSBC-2, XSBF-1, XSB3U-1) were also considered as the Navy wanted to know if monoplanes could be operated better from carriers than biplanes.⁴

The Vought SB2U Vindicator was the United States Navy's first monoplane scout / bomber designed in 1935.^1,2,4

The SB2U was also all metal, which was an innovation for an aircraft of the 1930s.^1,2

The SB2U was fabric covered.^3,4

Competition

The SB2U beat out the SB3U biplane in tests at the Anacostia Naval Station in 1936.¹

Given Its Name

The name Vindicator wasn't used until the SB2U-3 model was being delivered to the United States Navy.¹

Bombs Away

There was a device that held the bomb and pulled it clear of the plane when released.¹ This was called the "trapeze."¹

Landing Gear

The undercarriage would rotate 90° and retract rearward into the wing.¹

There was an arrestor hook for carrier landing.¹ The Royal Navy used a different arrestor hook on their aircraft.¹

Prototype

The XSB2U-1 first flew on January 4, 1936.^1,4

During the summer of 1936 the Navy conducted trials that showed that the monoplanes were superior than the biplanes.⁴

Production

The SB2Us were produced in Stratford, Connecticut at the Vought Sikorsky plant.¹

An order was placed for 54 SB2U-1s in October 1936.^2,4

An order for 58 SB2U-2s was placed in January 1938.⁴

The SB2U-3s were ordered in September 1939.⁴

• XSB2U-1: 1²
• SB2U-1: 54^2,4
• SB2U-2: 58^2,4
• SB2U-3: 57^2,4
• SB2U Total: 170⁴
• V-156 / Chesapeake: 74²
• Total: 244²
  • Manufacturer: Change Vought Division of United Aircraft Corporation⁴
  • Manufacturing location: Stratford, Connecticut⁴

Variants

• XSB2U-1: Prototype.¹
• XSB2U-3: Prototype with floats added in 1939.^1,4
• SB2U-1: First delivered in December 1937.^2,4
• SB2U-2: First delivered in late 1938.^2,4
• SB2U-3: First delivered in late 1940.² Carried more fuel.^2,4 It could carry external fuel tanks.² Gun armament was heavier.² Additional armor protection.² First model to be called Vindicator.²
• V-156: Version sold to France and the United Kingdom.¹ Had four forward firing machine guns and could cary 1,500 lb / 680 kg of bombs.¹
• V-156-F3: French version.⁴
• V-156-B1: Sold to Britain.⁴

Usage

The SB2U Vindicators were used by Britain, France, and the United States.^2.4

First Assignment

The VB-3 squadron, of the USS Saratoga, was the first to receive the SB2Us on December 20, 1937.^1,4

Aircraft Carriers

SB2U-1s and SB2U-2s equipped seven United States Navy squadrons by 1940 on the carriers Lexington, Saratoga, Ranger, and Wasp.^2,4

United States Marine Corps

The United States Marines had two squadrons of Vindicators in combat.¹ These were the SB2U-3s.^2,4

Battle of Midway

The Battle of Midway was one of the few campaigns that the Vindicator saw combat in.^1,2,4

Training

As the SB2U was replaced in front line units by the Douglas SBD Dauntless it became a very capable training aircraft.¹

France

The French received 20⁴ / 24 of the 40 ordered Vought V-156s and some of these were captured by the Germans.^1,2 It is reported that they may have been used to bomb Dover but it wasn't confirmed.¹

United Kingdom

The Royal Navy received 50 of the SB2Us and called them the Vought V-156 Chesapeake.^1,2,3,4 They were unable to be used on escort carriers because of their long take off.¹ The V-156s became land based trainers.^1,2