Canadian Car and Foundry Helldiver Mk.I

Canadian Car and Foundry · Canada · first flew 1944 · bomber

The Helldiver Mk.I is the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm designation applied to Canadian Car and Foundry-built SBW Helldivers supplied under mutual aid arrangements, distinguishing them from US-sourced aircraft in British service. The aircraft are operationally identical to the SBW series.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, tapered
E — Engines	1 × piston, nose-mounted
F — Fuselage	11.18 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Spot it by:

Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm designation for SBW Helldiver
Wright R-2600 radial mid-wing carrier dive-bomber
Perforated trailing-edge dive brakes under outer wing panels

Identical to other SBW/SBF Helldivers; the only distinguishing detail is British roundels and FAA serial numbers on otherwise standard North American-built airframes.

Specifications

The Canadian Car and Foundry Helldiver Mk.I has a length of 11.18 m (37 ft).
It has a wingspan of 15.16 m (50 ft).
Its maximum speed is 472 km/h (293 mph).
Typical crew: 2.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

The Fleet Air Arm received Canadian-built Helldivers from 1944 onwards, designating them Helldiver Mk.I to align with British mark numbering conventions. They served with FAA squadrons in the British Pacific Fleet and Home Fleet carriers. The type was considered broadly adequate though overshadowed by the Fairey Barracuda in UK media coverage.

Variants

The Mk.I designation covers multiple CCF SBW sub-variants; no separate British modifications were made to the airframe.

Where you'll see it

Operated by the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm from 1944 to the end of World War II; not retained post-war as surplus US types were available.

Related aircraft

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