Brewster SB2A Buccaneer

Picture - An SB2A-4 near Vero Beach, Florida, 1942-43

Role: Scout bomber
National origin: United States
Manufacturer: Brewster Aeronautical Corporation
First flight: 17 June 1941
Status: Retired
Primary users: United States Navy United States Army Air Corps Royal Air Force Royal Navy
Number built: 771

The Brewster SB2A Buccaneer was a single-engined mid-wing monoplane scout/bomber aircraft built for the United States Navy during the early 1940s. It was also supplied to the United States Army Air Corps.

Design and development

The SB2A (Brewster Model 340) was a development of Brewster's earlier SBA scout-bomber, sharing the single-engined, mid-winged monoplane layout of the earlier aircraft, but was larger and had a more powerful engine. It carried up to 1,000 lb (454 kg) of bombs in an internal bomb-bay and for defensive purposes was fitted with a power operated turret armed with two .30 in machine guns supplementing a further four forward firing guns.

The US Navy ordered a prototype XSB2A on 4 April 1939, which first flew on 17 June 1941. Large scale orders had already been placed by this time, however, with the United Kingdom ordering 750 aircraft as the Brewster Bermuda and the Netherlands ordering a further 162 to equip the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Air Force. The first US Navy production order, for 140 aircraft, was placed on 24 December 1940.

Operational history

The Royal Air Force purchased a version based on the SB2A-1s which they designated the Bermuda. They were used for training and target towing. Five of the Cyclone powered aircraft under the model number '340' were supplied to the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy for assessment.

Variants

XSB2A-1 Buccaneer
(Model 340-7) Prototype, one built.
SB2A-2
(Model 340-20)Initial production, revised armament - non-folding wings. 80 built.
SB2A-3
(Model 340-26) Fitted with folding wings and arrestor hook for carrier operations. 60 built.
SB2A-4
(Model 340-17) Requisitioned aircraft built for Netherlands. 162 built.
A-34 Bermuda
Designation for an intended Lend Lease production for United Kingdom but none were built.
Bermuda Mk.1
Model 340-14 production for United Kingdom. Turret replaced by flexible gun mounting. Originally 750 ordered, but only 468 were delivered.
R340
United States Army Air Force designation for Bermuda I aircraft not delivered to the United Kingdom and used as ground training airframes.

Operators

Picture - Royal Air Force Bermuda I

Canada

Royal Canadian Air Force three Bermuda Is used for trials then used as ground instructional airframes.

United Kingdom

Royal Air Force
Fleet Air Arm

United States

United States Army Air Corps
United States Navy
United States Marine Corps

Survivors

Picture - The SB2A of the National Museum of Naval Aviation.

A-34 Bermuda (s/n 462-860) has been restored by the National Museum of Naval Aviation at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. It is displayed as a US Navy SB2A Buccaneer.

Another Bermuda (s/n unknown) is in storage at Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona.

Specifications (SB2A-2)

Data from United States Navy Aircraft since 1911

General characteristics

Crew: 2: pilot and gunner
Length: 39 ft 2 in (11.94 m)
Wingspan: 47 ft 0 in (14.33 m)
Height: 15 ft 5 in (4.70 m)
Wing area: 379 ft² (35.2 m²)
Empty weight: 9,924 lb (4,501 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 14,289 lb (6,495 kg)
Powerplant: 1 x— Wright R-2600-8 radial engine, 1,700 hp (1,268 kW)

Performance

Maximum speed: 274 mph (238 kn, 441 km/h)
Range: 1,675 mi (1,455 nmi, 2,696 km)
Service ceiling: 24,900 ft (7,590 m)

Armament

Guns:
2 x— .50 in (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns in fuselage
2 x— .30 in (7.62 mm) M1919 Browning machine guns in wings
2 x— .30 in (7.62 mm) flexible rear-mounted .30 machine guns
Bombs: 1,000 lb (450 kg)

Comparable aircraft

SB2C Helldiver

Bibliography

Donald, David (editor). American Warplanes of World War II. London: Aerospace,1995. ISBN 1-874023-72-7.
March, Daniel J.(editor). British Warplanes of World War II. London: Aerospace,1998. ISBN 1-874023-92-1.
Swanborough, Gordon and Bowers, Peter M. United States Navy Aircraft since 1911. London:Putnam, Second edition 1976. ISBN 0-370-10054-9.

Brewster SB2A Buccaneer Pictures

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Source: WikiPedia