SBD-3

SBD-3

TBF-1C

SBD-3

TBF-1C

USA

I Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
1.7	2.0	1.7

Class:

Bomber

Dive bomber

Naval aircraft

Research:3 000

Purchase:6 300

Description

The SBD-3 Dauntless is a Rank I American dive bomber with a battle rating of 1.7 (AB/SB) and 2.0 (RB). It was in the game since the start of the Open Beta Test prior to Update 1.29.

General info

Flight Performance

Stat card

Characteristics
Stock
Max Speed (km/h at 4,500 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
418	407	5,700	26.8	27.4	6.6	7.7	291
Upgraded
Max Speed (km/h at 4,500 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
456	439	5,700	24.3	25.5	14.3	9.8	291

A trio of Dauntlesses in formation.

Details

Features
Combat flap	Take-off flap	Landing flap	Air brakes	Arrestor gear
✓	✓	✓	✓	✓

Limits
Wing-break speed (km/h)	Gear limit (km/h)	Combat flap (km/h)	Max Static G
			+	-
700	450	520	~11	~11

Optimal velocities
Ailerons (km/h)	Rudder (km/h)	Elevators (km/h)	Radiator (km/h)
< 350	< 350	< 380	> 250

Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
1,324 m	950 hp	1,000 hp
Setting 2
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
4,777 m	800 hp	842 hp

Engine performance

Engine
Engine Name			Number present
Wright Cyclone R-1820-52 9-cylinder			1
Engine characteristics
Weight (each)		Type	Cooling
907 kg		Radial	Air
Engine power (Stock)
Mode	Max		Take-off
Arcade	889 hp		939 hp
Realistic/Simulator	879 hp		930 hp
Engine power (Upgraded)
Mode	Max		Take-off
Arcade	1,023 hp		1,074 hp
Realistic/Simulator	950 hp		1,000 hp

WEP Duration
Arcade		Realistic/Simulator
25 seconds		Infinite

Survivability and armour

Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured. Describe the armour, if there is any, also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.

Armaments

Offensive armament

The SBD-3 is armed with:

• 2 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine gun, nose-mounted (180 rpg = 360 total)

Suspended armament

The options available for the SBD-3 are:

• 2 x 100 lb AN-M30A1 bombs + 1 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bomb
• 4 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine gun, wing-mounted (340 rpg = 1360 total)

Defensive armament

The SBD-3 has a defensive armament with:

• 2 x 7.62 mm Browning machine gun, dorsal turret (1,000 rpg = 2,000 total)

Usage in the battles

This plane is good at what it was designed for: Dive Bombing. Start at a high altitude at around 4-5,000 feet, fly directly above the target, invert the plane, cut throttle and deploy airbreaks (h key by default), dive, at 1,000-700 feet release bombs, pull nose up, retract air brakes, push throttle to full, then pitch up in a climb.

Do not rely on fighter support, and if you do get into a firefight with fighter planes, stay at treetop level, so they cannot get to your weak underbelly. If you are caught at high altitude, go into a steep dive until you are at the deck, there is a good chance you may out dive them. If you are in realistic battles, do the same and throw the plane into high G turns while on the deck, it's very likely that your wings will stay intact due to the high G tolerance of the SBD but the fighters attempting to follow, will either break their wings or be forced to break off the attack. At this point, the twin .50 caliber guns in the engine cowling may come in handy.

The small bomb load requires you pick your targets carefully and make your bombs count, choose to attack artillery positions or bases, where you have a higher chance of hitting due to their stationary position. Ships are also prime targets (it is what it was designed for), as the 1000lb bomb is plenty to sink a small ship.

Simulator mode procedures
Hands-off carrier take-off (Auto engine control): Start engine, flaps: raised, elevator trim: 15%, aileron trim: 11%, rudder trim: 6%, WEP throttle, hands off controls until you lift off the carrier.

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer	Pitch	Radiator			Supercharger	Turbocharger
		Oil	Water	Type
Controllable	Controllable Automatic pitch	Controllable	Not controllable	Combined	Controllable	Not controllable

Pros and cons

Pros:

• It has two powerful machine guns compared to its peers, meaning you can effectively hunt down low-tier bombers and in most situations, be a quasi-fighter aircraft.
• Its bombs are powerful enough to destroy packed enemy ground vehicles.
• Its maneuverability is good enough to attack enemy bombers.
• Tail gunner has excellent coverage, almost a perfect 180 degrees on a horizontal plane.
• Can "pullout" from a 60 degree dive quite effectively.
• Tail gun also has plenty of ammunition.
• Can be used as a fighter when needed.
• Can mount two dual .50 Cal gunpods instead of bombs for increased firepower, giving it comparable armament to U.S fighters.

Cons:

• It is still a dive bomber, so it's maneuverability is still poor by definition.
• Low ammo capacity for the nose-mounted machine guns.
• The tail gunner won't do so much, because he is too exposed and the 2x7.62 aren't powerful enough to destroy planes of its tier.
• Limited selection of bombs, only one payload is available to choose from.
• Slow acceleration.
• Poor climb rate.
• Poor energy retention.
• Slow.

Media

Skins for the Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless from live.warthunder.com.
Images of the Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless from live.warthunder.com.

Read also

[Profile] SBD-3 Dauntless - Slow But Deadly

Sources

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

• topic on the official game forum;
• page on aircraft encyclopedia;
• other literature.