SBD ord load.

[Tec]

Pretty much everything I can find online lists the loadout of the -5 as 1x1,600lb bomb on the center line, and 2x325lb on the wings.  What we have in game is 1x1000lb and 2x100lb and this is the loadout for the earlier models.  Does anyone have any more info on this?  Only being able to carry 1,200lbs of ords make it hardly worth the time to use as a bomber, but upping that load to 2,250 makes it a bit more competitive.  She's due for a remodel anyways so how about you guys get on that, replace the tail gun with a single .30 cal and designate it as an older model, then give us a -5 with the twin .30 cal tail gun and the improved capacity.

[Soulyss]

Out of curiosity where did you see the 1600lb reference? Not that I've done a lot of research on that plane but I've always seen 1000lbs carried on the center line.

[Tec]

Just google Dauntless SBD and click on any link lol.  Everything online lists 1,600lbs including the little blurb they have about it on Boeing's website. 

[Ack-Ack]

It does seem like our SDB-5 is using the orndance packages for the -3.

ack-ack

[Soulyss]

Just google Dauntless SBD and click on any link lol.  Everything online lists 1,600lbs including the little blurb they have about it on Boeing's website. 

Whoops... I had checked the wiki and just did the math wrong in my head (one of those days). 

[Mongoose]

<Some Deleted> 
Only being able to carry 1,200lbs of ords make it hardly worth the time to use as a bomber,
<Some Deleted>

Since it was designed as a dive bomber to attack ships, this isn't necessarily so.  A flight of SBD's dive bombing your carrier or cruiser could ruin your day.  Of course, a heavier punch is better, but that doesn't mean the 1k bomb isn't worth it. A team of SBD's hitting a base or task force can still inflict some serious damage.

[Muzzy]

SBD's can definitely render ships useless for all intents and purposes.  It's interesting to note however that while capable of wrecking warships, SBD's usually didn't do enough damage to the hull to actually sink them.  At Midway three of the Japanese carriers and a cruiser were scuttled by destroyers (it's possible the fourth carrier was also scuttled), and I don't think there was any other incidence of a major Japanese warship sinking due to dive bombing alone. Of course, when your flight deck gets blown off it's pretty much a done deal anyways.

[TOMCAT21]

SBD-5 was the most numerous model built of the 5700+ built( roughly 2800 were built). The bombload was increased to a 1600 lb bomb under the belly with 2 x 325lb bombs(one under each wing).

[Muzzy]

SBD-5? Why does we not haz?

[Saxman]

SBD's can definitely render ships useless for all intents and purposes.  It's interesting to note however that while capable of wrecking warships, SBD's usually didn't do enough damage to the hull to actually sink them.  At Midway three of the Japanese carriers and a cruiser were scuttled by destroyers (it's possible the fourth carrier was also scuttled), and I don't think there was any other incidence of a major Japanese warship sinking due to dive bombing alone. Of course, when your flight deck gets blown off it's pretty much a done deal anyways.

Actually, the only weapon in the Pacific that sunk more Japanese tonnage of all types than the Dauntless was the submarine. I'd say that speaks volumes for just how effective the "Speedy D" was.

[Ack-Ack]

SBD-5? Why does we not haz?

Are you being serious? 


ack-ack

[Muzzy]

Actually, the only weapon in the Pacific that sunk more Japanese tonnage of all types than the Dauntless was the submarine. I'd say that speaks volumes for just how effective the "Speedy D" was.

I was referring to warships rather than ships of all types, although given the "mixed strike" nature of combat operations, it's probably difficult to determine which plane type deserves the credit for a sinking, i.e. was it the SBD's, the Avengers or the B25's?  Certainly transports and cargo vessels would be much more vulnerable to dive bombers than warships.

[tmetal]

where the bombs normally carried by the SBD's armor peircing or where they the standard bomb most commonly used?  I remeber reading somewhere that the IJN would make armor peircing bombs by modifying the warheads used in their naval guns.

[Muzzy]

I do know that for Pearl Harbor the IJN snagged a few 14 inch shells and put stabilizing fins on them, but I don't think that was common practice later in the war.

[TOMCAT21]

gp or general purpose bombs I do believe they carried most of the time.