A total of 2,250lb of external ordnance was capable.Ĭapabilities for the SBD were adequate considering the type, with power derived from the single Wright-brand R-1820 series air-cooled engine rated at over 1,000 horsepower (and achieving progressively better returns as new engines were introduced throughout her production life). The real meat and potatoes for the SBD was in her ability to carried a substantial bomb load that could be supplanted by depth charges if need be. The empennage was a traditional assembly with a single vertical tail surface. Wings were of low-wing monoplane types situated under the fuselage and featured the noticeably large perforated dive flaps so consistent with the series. The pilot doubled as the bombardier and also manned fixed-forward gun systems which (eventually) would feature two 12.7mm (.50 caliber) heavy machine guns. The rear cockpit contained a trainable gun position (7.62mm type machine guns) and played a major defensive role in the survival of many an SBD system and crew. The glazed cockpit could accommodate two personnel - the pilot in a forward area and the gunner in a rear cockpit, seated back-to-back. The Douglas SBD would build for itself a history of resilience despite its inherent limitations in design - a history that very few other aircraft of the war would be able to match - and be responsible for the sinking of thousands of tons of Japanese shipping.ĭesign was conventional with the large radial engine mounted in the extreme forward portion of the fuselage, just forward of the cockpit. Despite its classification and appearance, the SBD Dauntless could more than handle its own against the lightly armored Japanese fighters in the Theater. Though a product of the middle-to-late 1930's, the type continued to soldier on even as more advanced warplanes were appearing out of American factories as the war progressed. This is a limited-edition kit and production may be discontinued at any time.The Douglas DBS Dauntless dive bomber was a key cog in the America Navy war effort throughout the Pacific during World War 2. This model comes disassembled and includes complete printed building instructions and comes packaged in a sealed box.
Engine: Wright R-1820-60 radial, 1,200 hpĪdditional information about this Brickmania building kit:.Two American pilot minifigures are also included along with an arrestor hook for landing on aircraft carriers. The Brickmania model features several of the key components on the Dauntless, including the iconic dive brakes, rear-facing machine guns, and three bombs. After releasing a 500- or 1,000-pound bomb, the crew experienced 4–6 G’s as the pilot pulled the aircraft out of its steep dive. If the Dauntless managed to survive harassment from enemy fighters, the warplane would open its dive brakes and descend at 70 degrees toward its target for 30 to 40 seconds, making it vulnerable to antiaircraft fire from the surface. Attacking the Dauntless from behind was difficult because of two rear-facing machine guns operated by the second crewman. The SBD-5 played a critical role at the Battle of Tarawa, supporting the beleaguered Marines as they struggled against the entrenched Japanese.Ĭrewed by two men, the Dauntless was considered “slow, but deadly”. victory at Midway is often considered one of the major turning points of World War II, along with Stalingrad and El Alamein. These dive bombers sank four Japanese carriers at Midway in June 1942 while being relentlessly harassed by Japanese Zeroes.
By the time the SBD-5 was developed in 1943, the Dauntless had already distinguished itself in the Pacific Theater. The fifth iteration of the famed SBD Dauntless, the SBD-5 was the Navy’s primary dive bomber during the Second World War. About the SBD-5 Dauntless - WWII Carrier-Based Scout/Dive Bomber:
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