SBD-5 and SB2C

[Krusty]

No, it was a 1937 prototype, but the D3A1 wasn't even ordered into production until Dec 1939, and saw service starting in 1940.

Saying the D3A2 is a contemporary to the SBD-5 is misleading as they really weren't competitors per se, just opposite sides.

The thing is that the SBD-5 is nearly the same as the SBD-3. It did have 1200hp (SBD-3 had 1000hp) but the top speed was only 5mph more and the bombs load was the same.

The primary differences would be less 50cal ammo for the nose guns and a slower climb rate. It's as capable a stand-in as you can get.

The D3A2 on the other hand had 300hp more, the engine burned fuel faster and as a result they changed the aircraft to carry even more fuel (extending its range with the higher fuel burn). The top speed was up to 267mph.

That's a significant leap over the plane that started the war. According to Wiki the D3A2 was pushed aside rather readily by the Judy and relegated to escort carriers and land fields.

Not really useful in, say, Coral Sea, or Midway scenarios.

Just for comparison:

[Babalonian]

+1 x2 @OP 

[hawkeye61]

Ah, thanks for posting the link to the other thread, Tec. That's where my confusion on the -3/-5 thing came in. Yes, we have the -5, but for some reason it uses the bombload of the -3.

In any event, it matters not that IRL the SBD didn't typically carry the heavy load for CV ops. It should be here in game to make the SBD a more competitive choice for dive-bomber. Update the Val if you must, but the Dauntless could use a little love.

I'm all for adding both the Helldiver and the Judy.

[Karnak]

In any event, it matters not that IRL the SBD didn't typically carry the heavy load for CV ops. It should be here in game to make the SBD a more competitive choice for dive-bomber.

That would be fine, so long as the heavier load was not available when launching from a CV.

[Krusty]

It was only in use by marine close air support on islands where they were only flying to another part of the same island. When such a load was in use, the fuel had to be limited to only about a 50mi range.

It's a rare, specialized, loadout that requires the removal of most of the fuel onboard. I don't expect you'll see it any time soon in AH.

This from the very informative thread from 2002 on the same subject that I quoted Widewing on the previous page.

[Tec]

Been doing a bit of searching and believe the 1600lb bomb is AP and the 325lbers are depth bombs.  The depth bombs do have a contact fuse though so they can still be used for anti shipping and ground targets.  Of course it would be sweet if they worked as depth charges as well, and we had some subs to sink. .

I think this is probably the model in question but not positive.  http://www.flickr.com/photos/franmoff/5546695111/sizes/o/in/photostream/