The Vought SB2U Vindicator is an American carrier-based dive bomber developed for the United States Navy in the 1930s, the first monoplane in this role. Vindicators still remained in service at the time of the Battle of Midway , but by 1943, all had been withdrawn to training units.

During the interwar years, naval tacticians devoted a great deal of attention to developing dive bombing as an accurate means of attacking maneuvering ships. With the delivery of Vought-Sikorsky’s...

Dec 4, 2020 · Vought XSB2U-2 Vindicator (BuNo. 1326) used for diving tests at Langley Research Center, National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), at Hampton, Virginia (USA) in February 1939. The competition pitted the Vought SB2U against the Brewster XSBA-1, Curtiss XSBC-3, Great Lakes XB2G-1, Grumman XSBF-1 and Northrop XBT-1.

The SB2U-2 was a single engine, two-seat, low-wing airplane with retractable landing gear. It had fabric-covered folding wings and fuselage except for the wing leading edges and engine cowl. The Pratt & Whitney engine drove a two-blade Hamilton Standard constant-speed propeller.

Vought XSB2U-2 Vindicator (BuNo. 1326) used for diving tests at Langley Research Center, National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), at Hampton, Virginia (USA) in February 1939. The competition pitted the Vought SB2U against the Brewster XSBA-1, Curtiss XSBC-3, Great Lakes XB2G-1, Grumman XSBF-1 and Northrop XBT-1.

Feb 21, 2018 · The Vought SB2U "Vindicator" became the first monoplane dive bomber adopted by the United States Navy when it was first taken on in 1937 - signaling a "changing of the guard" over outgoing biplane types.

Vought’s SB2U Vindicator was the U. S. Navy’s first monoplane scout-bomber and was second only to the TBD-1 Devastator as an operational carrier-based monoplane of any type for the Navy.

Feb 5, 2024 · The SB2U was the first monoplane bomber accepted by the United States Navy in 1939. It helped the Navy prepare for the transition from biplanes into monoplanes. The Vindicator lacked dive brakes or enough power for actual dive bombing.

SB2U-2: Second production model similar to the SB2U-1 but with equipment changes that slightly increased the overall weight. A contract was signed on 27 January 1938 for 58 aircraft. The aircraft made its first flight on 11 August 1938 and this was delivered to the Navy on 29 August.

The Vought SB2U series of scout/bombers was manufactured between 1936 and 1941 for both the United States Navy and the Marine Corps. When these aircraft were first introduced, they represented a major transition of naval aviation from the biplane to …