Canadian Car and Foundry SBW-4E Helldiver

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

The Canadian Car and Foundry SBW-4E is the night-attack variant in CCF's Helldiver production run, equivalent to the Curtiss SB2C-4E, carrying an APS-4 radar for nocturnal operations. It corresponds directly to the Fairchild SBF-4E produced at the other Canadian plant.

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:

CCF night-attack Helldiver with APS-4 radar pod under starboard wing
Corresponds to Curtiss SB2C-4E production standard
Perforated dive flaps and rocket rails combined with radar fit

Distinguishable by the APS-4 radar pod under the starboard outer wing panel, otherwise sharing all visual characteristics with other Helldiver variants.

Specifications

The Canadian Car and Foundry SBW-4E Helldiver 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

CCF produced the SBW-4E as part of the broader Allied effort to equip carrier air groups with night-attack capability in the Pacific. The radar pod allowed the two-man crew to detect surface vessels and conduct attacks after dark, an increasingly important capability as Japanese shipping moved under cover of night.

Variants

The SBW-4E precedes the final SBW-5 variant; together with the SBF-4E from Fairchild it forms the night-capable arm of Canadian Helldiver production.

Where you'll see it

Delivered to Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm under mutual aid; British Pacific Fleet carrier squadrons were the primary operators.

Related aircraft

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