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Vought SB2U Vindicator – carrier-based dive bomber designed for the US Navy by Vought in the 30s. SB2U was the first American monoplane of this type. At the outbreak of World War II it was already outdated design.
In 1934, the US Navy announced a competition for new scout bomber aircraft, mono and biplane, which answered six aircraft companies. The company Vought submitted designs in both categories (second project was the Vought XSB3U). The competition stood the aircraft Brewster XSBA-1, Curtiss XSBC-3, Great Lakes XB2G-1, Grumman XSBF-1 and Northrop XBT-1, except for airplanes Grumman and the Great Lakes to the production came all the other planes.
Vindicators served by four aircraft carriers of the US Navy – USS “Lexington” USS “Saratoga” USS “Ranger” and the USS “Wasp” from December 1937 to September 1942. Air Group 9 trained in Vindicators aboard the escort carrier USS Charger CVE-30.
Two squadrons belonging to the Marines were equipped with aircraft of this type from March 1941 to September 1943. VMSB-241 squadron took part in the Battle of Midway.
The French version, the V-156-F, was based on a model SB2U-2 and is equipped with a French instrumentation. Aircraft were delivered in July 1939 and conducted the tests on the French aircraft carrier “Béarn”, but after the war it was decided that this old ship is too slow and two units equipped with these planes escadrilles AB 1 and AB 3 were transferred to the land.AB 1 took part in the fighting in northern France, where he suffered very heavy losses, AB 3 fought against Italian forces.
British Fleet Air Arm, purchased 50 aircraft of this type in June 1941 (serials AL908 – AL957). 14 Chesapeakes were used to equip a reformed 811 Squadron FAA on 14 July 1941. In the nomenclature British aircraft were given the name of “Chesapeake,” and was popularly known as “cheesecake). Initially it was assumed that “cheesecakes” will be used to patrol against submarines and 811 Squadron will be stationed on an escort carrier HMS “Archer”. After the first rehearsals in October it was decided that these aircraft have too little power to be able to soar with a relatively small escort aircraft carrier deck, fully armed and they were replaced by English Fairey Swordfish.
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- SB2U Vindicator training aircraft carrier USS Sable IX-81 Lake Michigan
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- SB2U Vindicator 42-S-17 of VS-42 in flight over the carrier USS Ranger CV-4 October 1941
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- XSB2U-3 in flight
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- XSB2U-3
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- Seaplane with Edo floats
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- XSB2U-3
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- Vought V-167 with Pratt & Whitney R-1830 engine
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- XSB2U-1 right side view
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- XSB2U-3
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- Vought Chesapeake
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- SB2U-3 BuNo 2088 VS-1 near Quantico on 5 July 1941
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- Villers-Saint-Christophe May 1940
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- Vindicators of VB-3 in flight
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- V-156F rear view
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- French V-156F AB-1-12
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- V-156F carrier Bearn
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- USS Long Island (CVE-1) Hangar Deck
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- USMC SB2U-3 2090 1941
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- SB2U-3 VMS-2
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- SB2U-3 VMS-1
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- SB2U-3 VMS-1
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- SB2U-2 USS Saratoga Seattle
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- SB2U-3 VMS-1
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- SB2U-2 1938
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- SB2U-2 1373 on the ground
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- Sb2U-2 1371
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- SB2U-2 with drop tank
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- SB2U-2 1361
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- SB2U-2 1359
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- SB2U-2 1361
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- SB2U-2 1326
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- SB2U-1 VB-3 Top Hatter Squadron over California on 28 June 1938
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- SB2U-1 1937
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- SB2U-1 0739 of the VB-3
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- SB2U-1 0727 of the VB-3
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- SB2U-1 0727 of the VB-3 “Top Hats”
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- SB2U-1 0726 in flight
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- Marine SB2U VMSB-131 formation
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- SB2U VMSB-131 near Quantico, Virginia
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- SB2U VB-3 over California on 28 June 1938
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- SB2U-2
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- Bomber with Neutrality Patrol star on the engine cowling
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- SB2U after Landing on Deck of Carrier
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- Vindicator landing
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- Chesapeake AL912 1941
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- Damaged SB2U-2 USS Charger September 1942
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- French V-156F
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- French V-156F
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- SB2U 1941
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- XSB2U-3
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- XSB2U-3
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- Vindicator 0740 VB-3 over San Joaquin Valley 28jun1938
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- Vindicator 0741 over San Joaquin Valley
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- Overall Light Gray Marine Corps SB2U-3 VMSB-131
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- SB2U-1 cockpit
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- XSB2U-3
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- XSB2U-3
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- Marine Corps Vought SB2U-3 Vindicator December 1940
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- Marine Corps SB2U-3 Vindicator 2044, December 1940
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- British Vought Chesapeake serial AL912 on the ground
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- Vought XSB2U-3 Vindicator 0779
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- Vought SB2U-1 Vindicator 0726 July 1937
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- SB2U-3 Vindicator 1-S-16 of the VS-1 in flight
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- SB2U-1 code 3-B-8 of the VB-3
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- Vought SB2U-1 0726 July 1937 2
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- SB2U-1 Vindicators of the VB-3
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- SB2U 3-B-10 of the VB-3 hanging from a crane USS Saratoga CV-3 1938
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- SB2U-1 Vindicators of the VB-3 in flight 1939 2
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- Floatation gear deployed automatically
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- SB2U-1 Vindicator and F3F-1 of the VF-3 – NAS San Diego
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- SB2U in experimental McClelland Barclay camouflage design No 6 3
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- SB2U Vindicator taking off from USS Saratoga CV-3, 8 February 1938
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- SB2U in experimental McClelland Barclay camouflage design No 6
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- SB2U Vindicator code 71-S-19 Bu 0741 Pilot Ensign E. V. Wedell
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- snow covered SB2U-2 Vindicator on flight deck USS Wasp (CV-7), 1942
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- SB2U in experimental McClelland Barclay camouflage design No 5
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- Vindicator of the VS-72 on elevator USS Wasp CV-7
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- Vought SB2U Vindicators of VB-3 over Sierra Nevada range near Mt. Whitney -11 July 1938
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- SB2U-2 Vindicators code 72-S-9 and 72-S-12 of the VS-72 in flight
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- SB2U-1 Vindicators of the VB-3 in flight 1939
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- SB2U in McClelland Barclay experimental camouflage design No 5
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- SB2U Vindicators on board the aircraft carrier USS Wasp CV-7
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- Crashed Vindicator of VS 42, USS Charger ACV-30, August 1942 pilot Ensign Rohmann
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- SB2U Vindicator in experimental McClelland Barclay camouflage design No 6 2
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- Vought SB2U-1 Vindicator of the VS-71 on the deck of the USS WASP CV-7
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- SB2U Vindicator of the VS-41, 21 November 1941
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- SB2U code 72-S-4 April 1942
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- SB2U Vindicators at Royal Naval Air Station Hatston
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- SB2U with drop tank England April 1942. Vindicator in the two tone paint scheme of Blue Gray and Light Gray.
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- SB2U Vindicator and pilots of VS-72 April 1942
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- SB2U Vindicators England April 1942
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- SB2U Vindicator 41-S-15 of VS-41 in flight. September 5, 1942
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- Vought Chesapeake at Royal Naval Air Station Stretton March 1943
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- Vought Chesapeake at Royal Naval Air Station Stretton March 1943
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- XSB2U-3 Vindicator with twin floats April 1939
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- Seaplane version of the XSB2U-3 Vindicator February 25, 1940
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- SB2U Vindicators of VS-41 in flight over the Atlantic September 7, 1942
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- XSB2U-1 Vindicator prototype with wings folded on January 2 1936
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- SB2U-2 Vindicator on the ground, NACA February 1939
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- Vought SB2U landing on escort aircraft carrier USS Charger CVE-30
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- Vought SB2U Vindicator landing on carrier
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- SB2U Vindicator 9-S-18 of the VS-9 USS Charger CVE-30
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- SB2U Vindicators 41-S-12 and 41-S-10 of VS 41 in formation over USS Ranger CV-4 1942
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- Vought Chesapeake in flight
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- SB2U Vindicator VMSB 241 Midway
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- SB2U Vindicators of VS-42 VS-41 aboard USS Ranger CV-4, November 1941
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- SB2U Vindicator VS-41 USS Ranger 1941
Vought SB2U Vindicator – carrier-based dive bomber designed for the US Navy by Vought in the 30s. SB2U was the first American monoplane of this type. At the outbreak of World War II it was already outdated design.
In 1934, the US Navy announced a competition for new scout bomber aircraft, mono and biplane, which answered six aircraft companies. The company Vought submitted designs in both categories (second project was the Vought XSB3U). The competition stood the aircraft Brewster XSBA-1, Curtiss XSBC-3, Great Lakes XB2G-1, Grumman XSBF-1 and Northrop XBT-1, except for airplanes Grumman and the Great Lakes to the production came all the other planes.
Vindicators served by four aircraft carriers of the US Navy – USS “Lexington” USS “Saratoga” USS “Ranger” and the USS “Wasp” from December 1937 to September 1942. Air Group 9 trained in Vindicators aboard the escort carrier USS Charger CVE-30.
Two squadrons belonging to the Marines were equipped with aircraft of this type from March 1941 to September 1943. VMSB-241 squadron took part in the Battle of Midway.
The French version, the V-156-F, was based on a model SB2U-2 and is equipped with a French instrumentation. Aircraft were delivered in July 1939 and conducted the tests on the French aircraft carrier “Béarn”, but after the war it was decided that this old ship is too slow and two units equipped with these planes escadrilles AB 1 and AB 3 were transferred to the land.AB 1 took part in the fighting in northern France, where he suffered very heavy losses, AB 3 fought against Italian forces.
British Fleet Air Arm, purchased 50 aircraft of this type in June 1941 (serials AL908 – AL957). 14 Chesapeakes were used to equip a reformed 811 Squadron FAA on 14 July 1941. In the nomenclature British aircraft were given the name of “Chesapeake,” and was popularly known as “cheesecake). Initially it was assumed that “cheesecakes” will be used to patrol against submarines and 811 Squadron will be stationed on an escort carrier HMS “Archer”. After the first rehearsals in October it was decided that these aircraft have too little power to be able to soar with a relatively small escort aircraft carrier deck, fully armed and they were replaced by English Fairey Swordfish.
Bibliography:
- Thomas Doll: SB2U Vindicator in Action, Squadron/Signal Publications, Aircraft Number 122, 1992
- Dana Bell: Aircraft Pictorial 2 – SB2U Vindicator
- R. Johnson: United States Naval Aviation, 1919-1941: Aircraft, Airships and Ships Between the Wars
- Peter C. Smith: Dive Bomber!: Aircraft, Technology, and Tactics in World War II; Stackpole Military History Series, 2008
- Barrett Tillman, Robert L. Lawson: U.S. Navy Dive and Torpedo Bombers of WW II
- John P Condon: U.S. Marine Corps Aviation, 2012
- R. Johnson: American Attack Aircraft Since 1926
- Craig L. Symonds: The Battle of Midway
- Jonathan Parshall, Anthony Tully: Shattered Sword – The Untold Story of the Battle of Midway
- Mark Stille, Howard Gerrard: Midway 1942 – Turning point in the Pacific; Osprey Campaign