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Vought SB2U Vindicator

(Redirected fromVought V-156)

TheVought SB2U Vindicatoris an Americancarrier-baseddive bomberdeveloped for theUnited States Navyin the 1930s, the firstmonoplanein this role. Vindicators still remained in service at the time of theBattle of Midway,but by 1943, all had been withdrawn to training units. It was known as theChesapeakeinRoyal Navyservice.

SB2U Vindicator
General information
TypeDive bomber
National originUnited States
ManufacturerVought
Primary usersUnited States Navy
Number built260
History
Introduction date1937
First flight4 January 1936
Retired1945

Design and development

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In 1934, theUnited States Navyissued 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 amonoplane,and one for abiplane.Voughtsubmitted designs in both categories, which would become theXSB2U-1andXSB3U-1respectively. The biplane was considered alongside the monoplane design as a "hedge" against the U.S. Navy's reluctance to pursue the modern configuration.[1]

The XSB2U-1 was of conventional low-wing monoplane configuration with a retractable conventional tailwheellanding gear,the pilot and tail gunner being seated in tandem under a long greenhouse-style canopy. Thefuselagewas of steel tube construction, covered withaluminumpanels from the nose to the rear cockpit with a fabric-covered rear fuselage, while the folding cantilever wing was of all-metal construction. APratt & Whitney R-1535Twin-Wasp Juniorradial enginedrove a two-bladeconstant-speed propeller,which was intended to act as a dive brake during a dive bombing attack. The use of propeller braking was not entirely successful, and in practice US Navy Vindicators lowered the aircraft's undercarriage to act as a speed brake and dived at shallower angles. A single 1,000 lb (450 kg) bomb could be carried on a swinging trapeze to allow it to clear the propeller in a steep dive, while further bombs could be carried under the wings to give a maximum bombload of 1,500 lb (680 kg).[2][3]

The SB2U was evaluated against theBrewster XSBA-1,Curtiss XSBC-3,Great Lakes XB2G-1,Grumman XSBF-1 andNorthrop XBT-1.All but theGreat LakesandGrummansubmissions were ordered into production. Designated XSB2U-1, one prototype was ordered on 15 October 1934 and was delivered on 15 April 1936. Accepted for operational evaluation on 2 July 1936, the prototype XSB2U-1, BuNo9725,crashed on 20 August 1936.[4]Its successful completion of trials led to further orders,[1]with 56 SB2U-1s ordered on 26 October 1936,[5]and a further 58 of a slightly modified version, the SB2U-2, on 6 October 1938.[6]

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, or with floats. To give the required increased range, the fuselage fuel tank fitted to the SB2U-1 and -2 was supplemented by integral wing tanks, while the aircraft's tail had an increased span. The prototype XSB2U-3, converted from the last SB2U-1, flew in February 1939, and after testing as both a landplane and floatplane, 57 SB2U-3s were ordered on 25 September 1939, mainly for the US Marine Corps.[7][8]

The SB2U is prominently featured in the 1941 filmDive Bomber.

There were 260 examples of all Vindicator variants produced, and a single example is preserved at theNational Naval Aviation MuseumatNAS Pensacola,Florida.

Operational history

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U.S. Navy

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SB2U destroyed at Pearl Harbor
SB2U fromRangerin November 1941.
SB2U-3 of VMSB-241, MAG-21, takes off from Eastern Island shortly before the Battle of Midway.
SB2U-3s on deck ofWaspin June 1942.

Deliveries to the US Navy began in December 1937, when four aircraft joinedVB-3aboard the aircraft carrierSaratoga,replacingCurtiss BFC-2 biplanes. As well asSaratoga,Vindicators served on the carriersLe xing ton,Ranger,andWasp.[9]Air Group Nine, destined forEssex,trained in Vindicators aboard the escort carrierCharger,but they transitioned to theDouglas SBD DauntlessbeforeEssexjoined the war.[1]

During theattack on Pearl Harbor,sevenVindicatorsfrom the U.S. squadron VMSB-231 were destroyed atEwa Field.

U.S. Marine Corps

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VMSB-131andVMSB-241were 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.[10]Airmen with experience in more modern aircraft spoke disparagingly of SB2Us as "vibrators" or "wind indicators" in their later combat assignments.[11][12]CaptainRichard E. Flemingpiloted a SB2U-3 Vindicator in an attack on theJapanese cruiserMikumaon 5 June 1942, for which he was posthumously awarded theMedal of Honor.[13]

French Navy

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On 22 February 1939, France placed an order for 20 V-156-Fs for the carrier-based squadrons of theAéronautique Navale(French Naval Aviation), with an order for 20 more V-156-Fs following in May 1939.[14][15]Based on the SB2U-2, the V-156-F incorporated specific French equipment, included 7.5 mm (0.30 in)Darne machine gunsand French radios, while the aircraft were fitted with dive brakes, as tested and rejected by the US Navy.[14]The aircraft were delivered to France in crates and reassembled atOrly,with the first example flying in France on 6 August 1939.[16]On the outbreak of theSecond World Warin September 1939, the French Navy decided that its only aircraft carrier,Béarnwas too slow for operational service, and the ship's squadrons disembarked for land-based service.[17]By mid-October 1939, the firstescadrille,AB 1, had reequipped with the V-156-F,[17]while a secondescadrille,AB 3, was formed in November 1939.[18]In March–April 1940, AB 1's pilots carried out successful deck-landing training aboardBéarn,and were declared carrier qualified.[19][20]

On 10 May 1940, on the opening day of theGerman invasion of France,all 12 of AB 3's aircraft were destroyed in a German air raid onBoulogneairfield.[20][21]AB 1 was ordered up to Northern France fromHyèresas a replacement, sustaining heavy losses while attacking bridges and German ground targets in Northern France, including seven aircraft shot down byMesserschmitt Bf 109sduring an attack on a bridge over theSambre–Oise Canalon 20 May 1940, and later that month provided air cover for theEvacuation of Dunkirk.[20]AB 3, which had had its losses replaced by V-156-Fs taken out of storage,[20]was deployed against the Italians following theItalian invasion of Franceon 10 June and on 14 June, four V-156s attacked theItalian submarineGondar,which was unharmed.[22]By the time of theArmistice,there were only a handful of remaining Voughts in French hands, and the type was phased out of service.[23]

Royal Navy

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France had placed an order for a further 50 V-156-Fs in March 1940, with delivery planned from March 1941. Following thedefeat of France,this order was taken over by the British government for use by theRoyal Navy'sFleet Air Arm,who named the aircraft the Chesapeake.[20]The British required several modifications to the Chesapeake, including the additional fuel tank fitted to the SB2U-3,[20]additional armor and heavier forward firing armament, with four rifle caliber machine guns replacing the single forward-firingDarne machine gunof the French aircraft.[24]Fourteen Chesapeakes were used to equip a reformed811 Naval Air Squadronon 14 July 1941 atRNAS Lee-on-Solent.[25]The squadron, whose crews referred to the aircraft as the "cheesecake", intended to use them foranti-submarinepatrols, and they were earmarked for theescort carrierHMSArcher.

By the end of October that year, it had been decided that the Chesapeakes were underpowered for the planned duties and would not be able to lift a useful payload from the small escort carriers. Accordingly, they were withdrawn from 811 Squadron in November 1941 for use as training aircraft and the unit was re-equipped with the biplaneFairey Swordfish.

Variants

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XSB2U-1
Single prototype, powered by a 750 hp (560 kW) R-1535-78 engine.
SB2U-1
Initial production version powered by an 825 hp (615 kW) R-1535-96 engine, 54 built.
SB2U-2
Same as SB2U-1 but with minor equipment changed, 58 built.
XSB2U-3
Single prototype of the extended-range version with twin floats, converted from the SB2U-1.
SB2U-3
Similar to the SB2U-2 but fitted with an 825 hp (615 kW) R-1535-102 engine, crew armor and two 0.5 in (12.7 mm) guns, 57 built
V-156F-3
Export version for the French Navy, 40 built.
V-156B-1
Export version similar to the SB2U-3 and powered by a 750 hp (560 kW) R-1535-SB4-G engine for the British Royal Navy. DesignatedChesapeake Mk.I;50 built.
V-167
The V-156 company demonstrator was fitted with a more powerful Pratt & Whitney R-1830 engine and redesignated V-167. It remained a one-off.[26][27][28]

Operators

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SB2U-2 of VB-9 from theNational Museum of Naval Aviation
France
United Kingdom
United States

Surviving aircraft

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Only one known survivor exists today:

Specifications (SB2U-3)

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Vought SB2U-1 Vindicator

Data fromThe Annals of Sugar Baker Two Uncle[30]

General characteristics

  • Crew:2
  • Length:33 ft11+3⁄4in (10.36 m)
  • Wingspan:41 ft10+7⁄8in (12.77 m)
  • Height:14 ft 3 in (4.34 m) (tail down, propeller vertical)
  • Wing area:305.3 sq ft (28.36 m2)
  • Empty weight:5,634 lb (2,556 kg)
  • Gross weight:7,474 lb (3,390 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight:9,421 lb (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-cooledradial engine,825 hp (615 kW) (take-off power): 750 hp (560 kW) (continuous power)
  • Propellers:2-bladed Hamilton Standardconstant-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)
  • Time to altitude:17.5 min to 15,000 ft (4,600 m)

Armament

  • Guns:
    • 1 × forward firing 0.50 in (12.7 mm)M2 Browning machine gunin starboard wing
    • 1 × 0.50 in (12.7 mm) machine gun in flexible mount in rear cockpit
  • Bombs:
    • 1 × 1,000 lb (450 kg)or500 lb (230 kg) bomb under fuselage
    • 2 × 100 lb (45 kg) and 8 × 30 lb (14 kg) bombs under wings

See also

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Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

Notes

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  1. ^abcMcKillop, Jack."Chance-Vought SB2U Vindicator".microworks.net.Archived fromthe originalon 9 October 2007.
  2. ^Green and Swanborough 1978, pp. 2–3.
  3. ^Wixey 2000, pp. 64–65.
  4. ^Larkins, William T., "U.S. Navy Aircraft 1921-1941, U.S. Marine Corps Aircraft 1914-1959", Orion Books, New York, 1988, Library of Congress card number 88-17753,ISBN0-517-56920-5,page 196.
  5. ^Green and Swanborough 1978, p. 3.
  6. ^Green and Swanborough 1978, p. 6.
  7. ^Green and Swanborough 1978, p. 76.
  8. ^Wixey 2000, pp. 67–68.
  9. ^Green and Swanborough 1978, pp. 5–6.
  10. ^"Midway 1942: Documents: Commanding Officer Marine Scout-Bombing Squadron 241. Action report. June 12, 1942".Archived fromthe originalon 1 February 2014.Retrieved20 June2013.
  11. ^O'Rourke, G.G, CAPT USN. "Of Hosenoses, Stoofs, and Lefthanded Spads".United States Naval Institute Proceedings,July 1968.
  12. ^Spangenburg, Walt, CAPT USN. "Comment and Discussion".United States Naval Institute Proceedings,October 1968.
  13. ^Hill Goodspeed (May 2003),Always Faithful(PDF),Naval Aviation News,retrieved10 March2016
  14. ^abGreen and Swanborough 1978, p.7.
  15. ^Ledet September 1997, pp. 37–38
  16. ^Ledet September 1997, pp. 38–39
  17. ^abMorareau February 1997, p. 42
  18. ^Morareau March 1997, p. 42
  19. ^Morareau February 1997, p. 45
  20. ^abcdefGreen and Swanborough 1978, p.8.
  21. ^Morareau March 1997, p. 44
  22. ^Morareau March 1997, p. 45
  23. ^Morareau February 1997, p. 54
  24. ^Green and Swanborough 1978, p.74.
  25. ^abThetford 1978, p.340.
  26. ^"SB2U Quantities".Vought Heritage and Education Web Site.Archived fromthe originalon 29 May 2012.Retrieved8 April2013.
  27. ^"Photo Gallery: V-167".Vought Heritage and Education Web Site.Archived fromthe originalon 9 November 2007.Retrieved8 April2013.
  28. ^"Archived copy".Archived fromthe originalon 1 February 2014.Retrieved8 April2013.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  29. ^"SB2U Vindicator/Bu. 1383".National Naval Aviation Museum.Archived fromthe originalon 13 March 2014.Retrieved9 April2012.
  30. ^Green and Swanborough 1978, pp. 8, 77.

Bibliography

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  • Brown, Eric; Green, William; Swanborough, Gordon (1980). "Vought Chesapeake".Wings of the Navy, Flying Allied Carrier Aircraft of World War Two.London: Jane's Publishing Company. pp. 20–29.ISBN0-7106-0002-X.
  • Doll, Tom (1992).SB2U Vindicator in Action (Aircraft No. 122).Carrollton, Texas: Squadron/Signal Publications Inc.ISBN0-89747-274-8.
  • Green, William;Swanborough, Gordon (October 1978 – January 1979). "The Annals of Sugar Baker Two Uncle".Air Enthusiast.No. Eight. Bromley, UK: Fine Scroll. pp. 1–8, 74–79.
  • Ledet, Michel (July 1997). "Le Vought SB2U" Vindicator "(1ère partie)".Avions: Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire(in French). No. 52. pp. 22–29.ISSN1243-8650.
  • Ledet, Michel (August 1997). "Le Vought SB2U" Vindicator "(2ème partie)".Avions: Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire(in French). No. 53. pp. 9–13.ISSN1243-8650.
  • Ledet, Michel (September 1997). "Le Vought SB2U" Vindicator "(3ème partie)".Avions: Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire(in French). No. 54. pp. 37–41.ISSN1243-8650.
  • Ledet, Michel (October 1997). "Le Vought SB2U" Vindicator "(4ème et dernière partie)".Avions: Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire(in French). No. 55. pp. 14–18.ISSN1243-8650.
  • Mondey, David (1982).The Hamlyn Concise Guide to American Aircraft of World War II.London: Chancellor Press.ISBN1-85152-706-0.
  • Morareau, Lucien (February 1997). "Histoire de l'Aviation Embarquée en France, De la torpille......à la bombe (Deuxième partie)".Le Fana de l'Aviation(in French). No. 327. pp. 42–54.
  • Morareau, Lucien (March 1997). "Histoire de l'Aviation Embarquée en France, De la torpille......à la bombe (Troisième partie et fin)".Le Fana de l'Aviation(in French). No. 328. pp. 42–47.
  • Rivière, Pierre (May 1983). "Les malheureux" Helldiver "français de 1940" [The Unlucky French "Helldivers" of 1940].Le Fana de l'Aviation(in French). No. 162. pp. 27–29.ISSN0757-4169.
  • Taylor, John W. R.(1969). "SB2U Vindicator".Combat Aircraft of the World from 1909 to the Present.New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons.ISBN0-425-03633-2.
  • Thetford, Owen (1978).British Naval Aircraft since 1912(Fourth ed.). London: Putnam.ISBN0-370-30021-1.
  • Wixey, Ken (March–April 2000). "'Flying Fuel Cans': Vought's SB2U Vindicator ".Air Enthusiast.No. 86. Stamford, UK: Key Publishing. pp. 62–69.ISSN0143-5450.
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