The Helldiver was ordered into large-scale production in 1940, the prototype making its first flight on 18 December of that year. SB2Cs went into action for the first time on 11 November 1943 in a heavy raid on the major Japanese base of Rabaul,  flying from the new Essex Class carrier Bunker Hill.

This large, heavy and powerful dive-bomber was intended as an improvement on the SBD Dauntless, which it was to replace.  However, combat experience with the SB2C,  especially at the Battle of the Philippine Sea, revealed that surprisingly the Dauntless was the superior aircraft - the Helldiver's performance proving a disappointment.  However, it was by then impossible to reverse the changeover to the new 'plane,  and the Philippine Sea battle was the SBD's last major action as a carrier aircraft.

Despite its initial lacklustre showing the SB2C served as the sole shipborne dive-bomber of the US Navy from late 1944 until the end of the war, and inflicted huge damage on enemy shipping and installations.

~ Stats  ~
Type:  Two-seat carrier-based dive-bomber

Dimensions:  Length 36' 8", span 49' 9", height 16' 11".

Weight (typical):  Empty 11,000 lb,  loaded 16,607 lb

Engine:  One 1,700 hp Wright R-2600-8 Cyclone 14-cylinder radial.

Performance:   Maximum speed 281 mph, service ceiling 24,700 feet

Range:  1,110 miles

Armament (later versions):  1,000 lb bomb load in internal bay (later versions also having provision for bombs under wings) .
Two fixed forward-firing 20mm cannon or four fixed forward-firing 0.5-inch Browning machineguns in wings.Twin manually-aimed 0.3-inch or .05-inch Browning machine-guns in rear cockpit.