Page 348 - (DK) Smithsinian - Military History: The Definitive Visual Guide to the Objects of Warfare

346 CARRIER AND MARITIME Pilot’s, wireless operator’s, and

1914–1945 STRIKE AIRCRAFT gunner’s positions all open

to the elements
Initially, the planes borne on aircraft carriers were
no different to those that operated from terrestrial fields,

ARS but, by the mid-1920s, deliveries of aircraft modified for
shipboard performance had begun. From that point on, the
designs of carrier- and land-based aircraft began to diverge,
although the latter were still useable on ships. As well as
ORLD W fighters, whose primary role was to defend the mother ship Wings could be folded Torpedo carried
and other ships in the fleet, long-range reconnaissance aircraft
and specialist attack aircraft armed with torpedoes or bombs
below fuselage
were also commissioned. The latter were dominated by dive
back for storage
THE W bombers during this period. ▲ FAIREY SWORDFISH

Date 1936 Origin UK
1
Wingspan 45 ⁄2ft (13.87m)
3
Length 35 ⁄4ft (10.87m)
Top speed 140mph (225kph)
Engine 690hp (514.5kW) Bristol
Pegasus IIIM.3 radial
Though considered obsolete even before
the start of World War II, the “Stringbag”
Narrow-track landing gear made (so called because of wide variety of
take-off and landing difficult equipment it was cleared to carry) scored
some notable successes, sinking an Italian
▲ GRUMMAN F4F WILDCAT When it came to developing a monoplane battleship and damaging two more at Taranto
Date 1940 Origin US fighter, Grumman adapted the F3F biplane in November 1940. Six months later a
to create the F4F Wildcat, adding an improved Swordfish disabled the German battleship
Wingspan 38ft (11.6m)
tail and mid-mounted wing, and specifying a Bismarck, allowing her to be sunk.
3
Length 28 ⁄4ft (8.8m) more powerful engine. Although capable, it
Top speed 320mph (515kph) was never a match for the Japanese Zero.
Engine 1,200hp (895kW) Pratt &
Whitney R-1830-86 Twin Wasp radial

Radio antenna
▶ DOUGLAS SBD DAUNTLESS Rear gunner sat facing aft,
with one or two flexibly
Date 1942 Origin US
mounted machine-guns
Wingspan 41 ⁄2ft (12.66m)
1
Length 33ft (10.09m)
Top speed 255mph (410kph)
Engine 1,200hp (895kW) Wright
R-1820-60 Cyclone radial
The “Slow But Deadly” (SBD)
Dauntless was the US Navy’s
primary dive bomber until 1943.
Rugged and dependable, it sank
more Japanese ships than any
other American aircraft, and later
evolved into the A-1 Skyraider
employed in Korea and Vietnam.
Perforated trailing-
edge dive brakes
Bomb ready for release
Large tail fin

◀ CURTISS SB2C HELLDIVER Intended as a replacement for the
Date 1943 Origin US Dauntless, the Helldiver suffered from
a vast number of design flaws that
3
Wingspan 49 ⁄4ft (15.17m) had to be corrected before it could
3
Length 38 ⁄4ft (11.81m) enter service. It had poor handling
Top speed 295mph (475kph) characteristics, but it ended the war
with an admirable combat record.
Engine 1,900hp (1,416.8kW) Wright
R-2600-20 Twin Cyclone radial