Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>SBD>HA0171

General Background

The Douglas “Dauntless” was the workhorse for the US Navy during the WWII. This “Slow but Deadly” dive-bomber was the only plane that had fight in every major Pacific conflicts. Although it had been considered obsolete in 1941 already, the Dauntless was used until 1944 and undertook the last major conflict in the Battle of Philippine Sea. A total of 5,936 SBDs were produced in WWII.

The Aircraft

The new Douglas SBD-1 Dauntless was found to be unacceptable by the USN because they didn't have self-sealing fuel tanks, no crew armor protection, poor fuel capacity limiting its range. The SBD-1 was disposed of in the usual way, sent to the USMC. The SBD-1 was the first mono- plane in Marine Corps service with Marine VMB-2 "Red Devils" being the first unit to receive them in late 1940. In July 1941 VMB-2 became VMSB-232. SBD-1 BuNo. 1597 entered service in 1940 and was withdrawn from use on March 15, 1944.

Specifications :

Crew:	Scout/Dive Bomber
Producion:	57
Operator :	USMC
Dimension:
Length:	32 ft., 2 in.
Height:	13 ft., 7 in.
Wingspan:	41ft., 6 in.
Weight:
Empty:	5,9003 lb.
Gross:	9,790 lb.
Performance:
Powerplant:	1 x R-1820-32, 1,000 hp
Rate Of Climb:	1,730 fpm
Service Ceiling :	29,600 ft
Speed:
Cruising:	142 mph
Maximum:	253 mph
Range:
Bombing:	860 miles
Scouting :	1,165 miles
Armament:
Gun:	Fixed – 2 x .30 Cal
	Flexible – 1 x .30 Cal
Bombs	Maximum 1,200 lb