Prototype Introduction:

Chinese Name SBD Dauntless Dive Bomber                 Foreign Name SBD Dauntless

Design Date May 1940                                Nation United States

Type Carrier-based Dive Bomber                                Service Period 1940 to 1953

Manufacturer Douglas Aircraft Company, USA                        Alternative Name A-24

The SBD Dauntless dive bomber (English: SBD Dauntless) is a three-seat, single-engine carrier-based dive bomber developed by the Douglas Aircraft Company. It first flew on January 23, 1938, and entered service with the U.S. Navy and other units after being officially adopted in May 1940. The aircraft features a low-wing configuration with a honeycomb lattice wing structure, retractable landing gear, and perforated dive brakes ("Swiss cheese" flaps). Its standard model could carry a 726-kilogram bomb and, alongside the F4F Wildcat fighter and TBD torpedo bomber, was considered one of the three primary U.S. carrier-based aircraft during the early stages of World War II. Between 1940 and July 1944, Douglas produced a total of 5,936 SBD/A-24 aircraft, making it the U.S. carrier-based aircraft with the lowest loss rate.

The prototype XBT-1 was designed by Northrop Corporation and upgraded in 1939 into the XSBD-1, which entered production. The SBD-3 model entered service in 1941, featuring self-sealing fuel tanks, armor protection, and an upgraded R-1820-52 engine. The SBD-5 variant further improved performance by installing a 1,200-horsepower engine. During the Battle of the Coral Sea, this aircraft sank the Japanese carrier Shōhō, while in the Battle of Midway it participated in sinking the carriers Akagi, Kaga, Sōryū, and Hiryū. In total, its squadrons destroyed 18 enemy ships, including one battleship and six aircraft carriers. Starting in 1944, the SBD was gradually replaced by the SB2C dive bomber. The final model, the SBD-6, made its maiden flight on March 18, 1944, but was primarily used for training and secondary patrol missions. Some variants were designated A-24 and assigned to the U.S. Army Air Forces, while others served with the Royal Navy in anti-submarine operations. Additionally, the French Navy began operating the SBD at the end of 1944 and retired it by 1949.