PLANE TYPE Double seated embarked dive-bomber (SBC-4) The SBC was the last combat biplane built in the USA, but his original project was to be a monoplane fighter with an additional anti-sunspot wing and a retractile landing-gear (XF12C-1). Then it became an exploring plane (XS4C-1) and an exploring-bombing plane (XSBC-1), then it was re-projected as XSBC-2 biplane, before the entering in active duty in July 1937 as exploring / dive bomber SBC-3 with P & W R-1535-94 (615 kW / 836 CV) engine. The 83 SBC-3 built were followed by 224 SBC-4 with a more powerful engine and more payload capacity. Of these planes, 50 were transferred in France in June 1940 and 5 were sent to Royal Air Force as Cleveland Mk I. The "Helldiver" was declarated antiquate short after the Pearl Harbor attack.
LENGTH 8,63 m ; 28,39 Ft
WINGSPAN 10,36 m ; 34,08 Ft
WING AREA 29,45 m2 ; 35,23 Sq Yds
POWERPLANT 1 Wright R-1820-34 Cyclone 9 (708 kW / 962 CV)
WEAPONS 1 7,62 mm machinegun; 1 12,7 mm machinegun; one 225 or 450 kg external bomb
MAX LOADED WEIGHT 3240 Kg ; 7152 Lbs
TOP SPEED 380 Km/h ; 236 MPH
CEILING 8300 m ; 27303 Ft
RANGE 1750 Km ; 1088 Mi