Douglas SBD-6 Dauntless - Slow but Deadly #6 (Final Variant)

Nostalgistic · July 6, 2024, 11:54pm

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SBD-6 Dauntless

Hello everybody. I’d like to suggest the Douglas SBD-6 Dauntless for War Thunder. The SBD-6 was the ultimate and final variant, featuring a new engine and some changes. It had limited service in the US Navy and was considered quickly obsolete by the time the SB2C Helldiver was introduced to the service. Still, it is worth suggesting since it would be a good addition for the dedicated completionists.

Key Characteristics

Naval dive bomber
Last production variant
New 1,350-hp Wright R-1820-66 Cyclone engine
New self-sealing bladder tanks and enlarged fuel tanks
Retained modern reflector sight
Expanded air-to-ground weaponry

History

While the Douglas had delivered thousands of SBD-5s for the US Navy in 1943, the Douglas wanted to improve its SBD for one last time. With the 1,350-hp Wright R-1820-66 Cyclone engine being available, Douglas fit it into a single SBD-5. It became known as the XSBD-6 with improved fuel tanks running on high-octane fuel. The results showed it raised the top speed to 262 and service ceiling to 28,600 feet.

The US Navy quickly accepted the SBD-6 into production and service in late 1943 with an order of 1,450 SBD-6s. Visually, there are no external differences between the SBD-6 and the SBD-5. The actual deliveries to the US Navy inventory were not made until between March and July of 1944; however, the SB2C Helldivers had already debuted in combat in numbers during early 1944. Realizing they preferred the Helldivers over Dauntlesses, the final 1,000 SBD-6s were canceled as production began to wind down. The last SBD-6s were delivered in August 1944, after carrier combat operations for the Dauntlesses had terminated. Fun fact: these last SBD-6s cost $29,000 in 1944 dollars, which adjusted to $425,000 in modern times.

Most SBD-6s remained stateside for training and were no longer found valuable to be sent to combat zones. Instead, some of them were transferred to the Marine squadrons, which were used for coastal patrols. They would have seen in the Philippines campaign and neutralization of isolated, bypassed garrisons in the Solomons until the end of the war. The final Marine Dauntless squadrons were withdrawn from service on August 1, 1945. Subsequently, all SBD operations were immediately phased out as the war ended. Only 450 SBD-6s were produced by the time the war was over.

Specifications

Douglas SBD-6 Dauntless

General Characteristics

Crew: 2 (Pilot and Gunner)

Dimensions:

Length: 33 ft 0.125 in (10 m)

Height: 13 ft 11 in (4.24 m)

Span: 41 ft 6.3125 in(12.65 m)

Wing Area: 325 sq ft (30 sq m)

Propeller:

Type: 3-bladed Hamilton constant-speed variable propeller

Diameter: 10 ft 10 in (3.3 m)

Powerplant:

Type: Wright R-1820-66 Cyclone 9-cylinder radial engine

Output: 1,350 hp (1,368.72 ps)

Fuel/Oil:

Internal Fuel: 284 US gal. (1,075 L)

Oil: 16.5 US gal. (62.5 L)

Weights:

Empty: 6,554 lb (2,972 kg)

Max. Takeoff: 10,608 lb (4,811 kg)

Engine ratings

Takeoff:

→ 1,350 BHP @ 2,700 RPM @ S.L.

Normal:

→ 1,200 BHP @ 2,500 RPM @ S.L. - 2,700 ft
→ 900 BHP @ 2,500 RPM @ 11,000 - 17,500 ft

Military:

→ 1,300 BHP @ 2,600 RPM @ S.L. - 1,600 ft
→ 1,000 BHP @ 2,600 RPM @ 9,000 - 14,800 ft

General Performance w/ one 1,000-lb bomb

Power-to-Weight Ratio: 0.13 lb/hp (0.28 ks/kg)

Wing Loading: 32.6 lb/sq ft (159.1 kg/sq m)

Airspeeds:

Sea Level Speed: 232 mph (373 km/h)

Critical Altitude Speed: 244 mph @ 18,500 ft (393 km/h @ 5,639 m)

Stall Speed:

Gross Weight: 79.2 mph (127 km/h)

Empty Fuel: 72.5 mph (116 km/h)

Climb Performance:

Rate of Climb: 1,310 fpm (6.7 m/s)

Time to Altitude:

9.0 minutes to 10,000 ft (3,048 m)

23.0 minutes to 20,000 ft (6,096 m)

Takeoff Distance - Calm: 1,181 ft (360 m)

Service Ceiling: 26,600 ft (8,108 m)

Maximum Range: 1,230 miles @ 143 mph (1,979 km @ 230 km/h)

Armament

Guns:

2 x .50-cal. M2 Browning machine guns (360 rounds)

2 x .30-cal. M1919 Browning machine guns in a turret (2,000 rounds)

2 x Douglas DGP-1 Twin .50-cal. Gun Packages (1,360 rounds)

Bombs:

1 x 1,600-lb armor-piercing bomb (fuselage)

1 x 1,000-lb bomb (fuselage)

1 x 500-lb bomb (fuselage)

1 x 650-lb depth bomb (fuselage)

1 x 325-lb depth bomb (fuselage)

2 x 325-lb depth bombs (wings)

2 x 250-lb bombs (wings)

6 x 100-lb bombs (wings)

Rockets:

8 x 5-inch FFARs

Drop Tanks:

2 x 58-gal. drop tanks

SBD Livery Examples - Illustration

Conclusion | Why it should be in the game

I made this suggestion to pursue more WW2 content for War Thunder. This SBD-6 is an improved variant over the previous SBD-5 with a newer engine and more payloads for the ground ordnance. This SBD-6 would make a welcoming addition to the Dauntless family for the dedicated completionists; it could go to the folder with SBD-3 and SBD-5 as optional aircraft available for the research.

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