Complex sentence: During the time of its combat service the SBD was an excellent naval scout plane and arguably the world's best dive bomber, because of its long range, good handling characteristics, manueverability, bombload capacity, great diving characteristics, defensive armament and ruggedness.
Split into simpler sentences: During the time of its combat service the SBD was an excellent naval scout plane and arguably the world's best dive bomber. It possessed long range, good handling characteristics, manueverability, potent bombload capacity, great diving characteristics, defensive armament and ruggedness.