Canadian Car and Foundry SBW Helldiver
Canadian Car and Foundry · Canada · first flew 1943 · bomber
The Canadian Car and Foundry SBW Helldiver is a licence-built variant of the Curtiss SB2C produced in Canada for Allied naval aviation, intended primarily to supply the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm with carrier-borne dive-bombers. It is functionally and structurally equivalent to the US SB2C-3.
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:
- Canadian Car and Foundry licence-built Helldiver
- Wright R-2600 radial, perforated dive brakes
- Fleet Air Arm primary user of Canadian Helldivers
Identical in appearance to the Curtiss SB2C and Fairchild SBF Helldivers — wide mid-wing, large radial engine, gull-less wing, and prominent perforated split dive flaps.
Specifications
- The Canadian Car and Foundry SBW 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's Fort William, Ontario plant produced SBW Helldivers as part of a trilateral licence-production scheme alongside Fairchild Canada. The SBW series provided the Fleet Air Arm with modern dive-bombers from 1944, equipping several carrier squadrons in the British Pacific Fleet.
Variants
The SBW family includes multiple sub-variants (SBW-1 through SBW-5) corresponding to successive Curtiss SB2C production blocks; the SBW-4E and SBW-5 are the final variants.
Where you'll see it
Served with the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm and to a lesser extent the Royal Canadian Navy; the Fleet Air Arm operated Helldivers from carriers including HMS Victorious.
Related aircraft
- Canadian Car and Foundry Helldiver Mk.I
- Canadian Car and Foundry SBW-4E Helldiver
- Canadian Car and Foundry CBY-3 Loadmaster
- Canadian Car and Foundry SBW-5 Helldiver
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