| 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.
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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. The first US Navy production order, for 140 aircraft, was placed on 24 December 1940.[1]
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.
Data from United States Navy Aircraft since 1911 [7]
General characteristics
Performance
Armament
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