Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>SBD>HA0165

General Background

The SBD-5 Dauntless was the best variant built with 2,965 aircraft being built. Even with its upgrades there was one major stumbling block for this plane and that was its lack of folding wings. As the USN built more and more carriers for their offensive against Japan this problem became even larger. So after the invasion of the Mariannas the USN SBDs were assigned to secondary land based operations where they spent the rest of WWII.

The Aircraft

USMC VB-16 consisted of 36 Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless operating from the USS Lexington from September 1943 – June 1944. Starting in June 1943 the aircraft carried the new tri-color national insignia with a red surround with false gun ports painted on the wings leading edges. However in mid September 1943 the red surround slowly began to be replaced by Insignia Blue. In November 1943 the U.S. Marines began their assault on the Gilbert Islands and the SBD-5’s of VB-16 took part with some still wearing the red surround.

Specifications :

Manufacturer:	Douglas Aircraft Company
Crew:	2 (pilot, observer/gunner)
Dimension:
Length:	33'1" 10.0m)
Height:	13'7" (4.1m)
Wingspan:	41'6" (12.6m)
Wing area:	325.0 sq. ft. (30.0 sq.m)
Weight:
Empty weight:	6,404 lb (2,905 kg)
Gross weight:	10,676 lb (4,853 kg
Performance:
Powerplant:	1 X Wright R-1820-60 1,200 hp
Range:	1,115 miles (1,795 km)
Cruising speed:	185 mph (298 km/h) (161 kt)
Maximum speed:	255 mph (410 km/h) (221 kt)
Climb rate:	1,700 ft/min (518 m/min)
Ceiling:	25,530 ft (7,780 m)
Armament:	2 X 0.50 inch MGs in upper nose
	2 X 0.30 inch movable MGs rearward firing from rear cockpit
	up to 2,250 lb of bombs – 1 X 1,600 lb
	or 1,000 center-line bomb – 2 X 325 lb under wing