Brewster SB2A Buccaneer

SB2A Buccaneer
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.[1] 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.[2] The first US Navy production order, for 140 aircraft, was placed on 24 December 1940.[1]

The RAAF had plans to order approximately 240 Bermudas in mid-1941 to re-equip 11 squadrons, but problems with the plane led the RAAF to cancel the order in November 1941, opting instead for the Vultee Vengeance.[2]

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 - four as dive bombers and one as a target towing tug.[3]

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 Lend Lease production for United Kingdom (see below)[4][5]
Bermuda Mk.1
Model 340-14 production for United Kingdom. Powered gun mounting replaced by flexible gun mounting. Only 468 of 750 ordered were delivered.[4][5]
R340
United States Army Air Force designation for Bermuda 1 aircraft not delivered to the United Kingdom and used as ground training airframes.

Operators

Royal Air Force Bermuda I
 Canada
 United Kingdom
 United States

Survivors

The SB2A of the National Museum of Naval Aviation.
A-34

Specifications (SB2A-2)

Data from United States Navy Aircraft since 1911[9]

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Brewster SB2A.
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
Related lists

References

Notes

  1. 1 2 Swanborough and Bowers 1976, p.73.
  2. 1 2 Birkett, Gordon. "Brewster Bermuda: Almost in Australian Service" (PDF). www.adf-serials.com. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
  3. ↑ Drucker, Graham. "Brewster Bermuda (Brewster SB2A Buccaneer)". www.fleetairarmachive.net. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  4. 1 2 March 1998, p.38.
  5. 1 2 Factsheet: Brewster A-34 Archived January 23, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.. National Museum of the USAF. Retrieved 24 July 2008
  6. ↑ "A-34 Bermuda." National Museum of the United States Air Force. Retrieved: 9 April 2012.
  7. ↑ Air Classics, July 1973. "British Boneyard in the Tennessee Hills", author Pony Maples
  8. ↑ "A-34 Bermuda." Pima Air & Space Museum. Retrieved: 4 August 2015.
  9. ↑ Swanborough and Bowers 1976, p.74.

References

  • Donald, David (editor). American Warplanes of World War II. London: Aerospace,1995. ISBN 1-874023-72-7.
  • Gemeinhardt, F., J. Lucasbaugh and R. Martin. "The Bellicose Brewster: Part One". Aeroplane Monthly, November 1989, Vol. 17, No. 11. pp. 674–678.
  • 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.
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