SBD-3 Defensive Armament option for SBD-5

[Nefarious]

It would be super great to have a SBD-3, but I understand the issues involved with adding another airframe.

Instead would it be possible to add the -3 defensive armament option to our -5, making it CM selectable in the weapons control?

This sort of stems from the TBM/TBF debate for special events. While the TBM-3 catches a lot of flak from historical purists and others, the SBD does not.  Although like the TBM-3, the SBD-5 was not at Coral Sea or Midway either. Just like the TBM-3, the SBD-5 features a more powerful engine and defensive armament than the variants seen in 1942.

Thanks!

[Devil 505]

+1

The SBD-3 is much more representative of a typical Dauntless in events where one would be used.

[Greebo]

IIRC the SBD-3 had the same gun setup as the SBD-5, 2 x 0.5s in the front and 2 x 0.3s in the back. The 5 carried more ammo, had better armour and more power. The SBD-2 though had two 0.3s in the front and one 0.3 in the back.

[Nefarious]

IIRC the SBD-3 had the same gun setup as the SBD-5, 2 x 0.5s in the front and 2 x 0.3s in the back. The 5 carried more ammo, had better armour and more power. The SBD-2 though had two 0.3s in the front and one 0.3 in the back.

Looks like you are correct, perhaps the SBD-2 would be a better fit, as both the -2 and -3 were involved in the first CV battles.

[bozon]

if the -3 and -2 have different guns but similar performance, then we can have both as a loadout option. However, performance differences require a separate model.

[BuckShot]

 ....and gun pods!

Lyric has a post showing them on an SBD but I could not find it.

[lyric1]

....and gun pods!

Lyric has a post showing them on an SBD but I could not find it.

http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,355356.0.html

[Krusty]

Looks like you are correct, perhaps the SBD-2 would be a better fit, as both the -2 and -3 were involved in the first CV battles.

No offense meant, but I must ask:

Better fit... for what? The SBD-2s were being replaced before Pearl Harbor. SBD-3s were already replacing them in December 1941. What, exactly, would they fit to put a pre-war model that never saw much (if any?) combat? It would be like saying "Why not put a P-26 in the game? It would be a good fit" -- when you take a look at actual ww2 combat and representative airframes, you find it really isn't.

There's almost no practical difference between the -3 and -5 variants of the SBD. 200hp more but the super draggy airframe kept that from translating into much of a performance boost.

Keep in mind the following, as well: Of the SBD-2 variant that saw almost no actual combat use, only 87 were built. Of the SBD-3 version, over 500 were built. Of the SBD-5 varaint, over 5,000 were built. We have, by far, the most representative version that we can.

[Nefarious]

The SBD-2 on display at the Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola Florida saw service at Midway and is the only aircraft left that actually saw service in the battle.

http://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/attractions/aircraft-exhibits/item/?item=sbd-2_dauntless

Yes, we have the most built version in game, the most representative version. But those 5,000 never saw service in the battles that Special Events uses them in the most. 

Is it a big deal? Nah, this is the wishlist forum and I'm just wishing.

[Mister Fork]

The SBD-2 on display at the Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola Florida saw service at Midway and is the only aircraft left that actually saw service in the battle.

http://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/attractions/aircraft-exhibits/item/?item=sbd-2_dauntless

Yes, we have the most built version in game, the most representative version. But those 5,000 never saw service in the battles that Special Events uses them in the most. 

Is it a big deal? Nah, this is the wishlist forum and I'm just wishing.

Wasn't this the aircraft hauled out of Lake Michigan in the 90's? I remember the find and how well preserved it was in the fresh water. It's not in flying condition, but it's nice to see her back together!

[Nefarious]

Wasn't this the aircraft hauled out of Lake Michigan in the 90's? I remember the find and how well preserved it was in the fresh water. It's not in flying condition, but it's nice to see her back together!

Nope, this could be it though... Complete with story.

http://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/attractions/aircraft-exhibits/item/?item=sbd_sunkentreasures

[Krusty]

The SBD-2 on display at the Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola Florida saw service at Midway and is the only aircraft left that actually saw service in the battle.

http://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/attractions/aircraft-exhibits/item/?item=sbd-2_dauntless

Yes, we have the most built version in game, the most representative version. But those 5,000 never saw service in the battles that Special Events uses them in the most. 

Is it a big deal? Nah, this is the wishlist forum and I'm just wishing.

I disagree with you there. One holdover when most of the planes were already transitioned. Look at pictures of P-51s with bubbletops flying alongside birdcages. They were phased out but some stragglers were kept around simply because it was wartime. Doesn't really make it represent the majority of the other planes doing all the work. It was just there alongside them.

Might I use the same logic and say the Ta-152C-0 was serving alongside the squadron of Ta-152-Hs, because 2 of them saw limited combat in a transitional stage.


I get that folks want to suggest new planes and all, I just think a reality check is warranted on many of these requests. The SBD-2 is a nonentity in terms of WW2. You'll have a hard time proving otherwise. What you might suggest, instead, is an equivelant SBD-3 loadout for scenario use, since that wouldn't "waste" an entire airframe.

[Nefarious]

What you might suggest, instead, is an equivelant SBD-3 loadout for scenario use, since that wouldn't "waste" an entire airframe.

Great, because that was what I originally posted.

Instead would it be possible to add the -3 defensive armament option to our -5, making it CM selectable in the weapons control?

Greebo mentioned that the SBD-3 had the same armament (just less ammo than the 5) so I then added the SBD-2. I know the difficulty of adding new models, and I even mentioned it in my first sentence of my original post.

How about just reading my post before you derail it with your arguing.

[lunatic1]

lol the SBD's are carrier base' d bomber/attack aircraft, with accuracy of the ship's guns nowadays I doubt that it would last long enough to use defensive weapons-

to me SBD's are like a storch on steroids