page_title: Curtiss SB2C Helldiver
section_title: Variants
hierarchical_section_title: Curtiss SB2C Helldiver / Variants
caption_attribution_description: English: Curtiss A-25A-5-CS Shrike (Serial Number: 41-18787).
context_page_description: The Curtiss SB2C Helldiver, also known as the Curtiss A-25 Shrike, was a dive bomber developed by Curtiss-Wright during World War II. As a carrier-based bomber with the United States Navy, in Pacific theaters, it supplemented and replaced the Douglas SBD Dauntless. A few survivors are extant.
  Initially poor handling characteristics and late modifications caused lengthy delays to production and deployment, to the extent that it was investigated by the Truman Committee, which turned in a scathing report. This contributed to the decline of Curtiss as a company. Neither pilots nor aircraft carrier captains seemed to like it. Nevertheless, the type was faster than the Dauntless, and by the end of the Pacific War, the Helldiver had become the main dive bomber and attack aircraft on USN carriers.
  By the time a land-based variant, known as the A-25 Shrike became available, in late 1943, the Western Allied air forces had abandoned dedicated dive-bombers. A majority of A-25s delivered to the US Army Air Forces were transferred to the US Marine Corps, which used the type only in one side campaign and non-combat roles.
context_section_description: XSB2C-1
  Prototype powered by a 1,700 hp (1,268 kW) R-2600-8 engine
  SB2C-1
  Production version for United States Navy with four 0.50 in (12.7 mm) wing guns and one 0.30 in (7.62 mm) dorsal gun, 200 built.
  SB2C-1A
  Original designation for United States Army Air Corps version which became A-25A later used for 410 A-25As transferred to the United States Marine Corps.
  SB2C-1C
  SB2C-1 with two 20 mm (0.79 in) wing-mounted cannons and hydraulically operated flaps, 778 built. First to see combat.
  XSB2C-2
  One SB2C-1 fitted with twin floats in 1942.
  SB2C-2
  Production float plane version, 287 cancelled and not built.
  XSB2C-3
  One SB2C-1 re-engined with a 1,900 hp (1,417 kW) R-2600-20.
  SB2C-3
  As SB2C-1c re-engined with a 1,900 hp (1,417 kW) R-2600-20 and four-bladed propeller, 1,112 built.
  SB2C-3E
  SB2C-3s fitted with APS-4 radar.
  SB2C-4
  SB2C-1c but fitted with wing racks for eight 5 in (127 mm) rockets or 1,000 lb (454 kg) bombs, 2,045 built.
  SB2C-4E
  SB2C-4s fitted with APS-4 radar.
  XSB2C-5
  Two SB2C-4s converted as prototypes for -5 variant.
  SB2C-5
  SB2C-4 with increased fuel capacity, frameless sliding canopy, tailhook fixed in extended position, and deletion of the ASB radar, 970 built (2,500 cancelled).
  XSB2C-6
  Two SB2C-1Cs fitted with 2,100 hp (1,566 kW) R-2600-22 engine and increased fuel capacity.
  SBF-1
  Canadian built version of the SB2C-1, 50 built by Fairchild-Canada
  SBF-3
  Canadian built version of the SB2C-3, 150 built by Fairchild-Canada.
  SBF-4E
  Canadian built version of the SB2C-4E, 100 built by Fairchild-Canada.
  SBW-1
  Canadian built version of the SB2C-1, 38 built by Canadian Car & Foundry company.
  SBW-1B
  Canadian built version for lend-lease to the Royal Navy as the Helldiver I, 28 aircraft built by Canadian Car & Foundry company.
  SBW-3
  Canadian built version of the SB2C-3, 413 built by Canadian Car & Foundry company.
  SBW-4E
  Canadian built version of the SB2C-4E, 270 built by Canadian Car & Foundry company.
  SBW-5
  Canadian-built version of the SB2C-5, 85 built (165 cancelled) by the Canadian Car & Foundry company.
  A-25A Shrike
  United States Army Air Corps version without arrester gear or folding wings and equipment changed, 900 built
  Helldiver I
  Royal Navy designation for 28 Canadian-built SBW-1Bs
caption: U.S. Army Air Force A-25 Shrike (AAF Ser. No. 41-18787) in flight.
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