Douglas SBD Dauntless

E73113

The Douglas SBD Dauntless was a U.S. Navy World War II carrier-based dive bomber best known for its decisive role in sinking Japanese carriers at the Battle of Midway.


Statements (49)
Predicate Object
instanceOf World War II military aircraft
carrier-based aircraft
dive bomber
alliedCodename Banshee (RNZAF informal use)
armament forward-firing 0.50 in machine guns
rear 0.30 in machine guns
up to 1600 lb of bombs
countryOfOrigin United States
crew 2
designFeature dive brakes with perforated flaps
folding wings for carrier storage
tailhook for carrier operations
emptyWeight 4013 kg
engineType air-cooled radial piston engine
firstFlight 1940-05-01
grossWeight 6491 kg
height 4.14 m
introduced 1940
length 10.09 m
manufacturer Douglas Aircraft Company
maximumSpeed 255 kn
473 km/h
nickname Dauntless
notableEngagement Battle of Midway
Battle of the Coral Sea NERFINISHED
Battle of the Eastern Solomons NERFINISHED
Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands NERFINISHED
Guadalcanal Campaign NERFINISHED
notableFor sinking four Japanese carriers at the Battle of Midway
numberBuilt 5936
operator Free French Air Forces
Royal New Zealand Air Force
United States Marine Corps
United States Navy
powerplant 1 × Wright R-1820 radial engine
predecessor Northrop BT
primaryUser United States Navy
productionEnd 1944
productionStart 1940
range 1770 km
retired 1959
role dive bomber
scout bomber
serviceBranch U.S. Marine Corps aviation
U.S. Navy carrier air groups
serviceCeiling 8200 m
successor Curtiss SB2C Helldiver
usedInConflict World War II
wingspan 12.65 m


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