×
Aircraft / Aviation Vehicles & Artillery Infantry Arms Warships & Submarines Military Ranks Military Pay Chart (2024)
HOME
AVIATION INDEX
MODERN AIR FORCES
AIRCRAFT BY COUNTRY
AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURERS
COMPARE AIRCRAFT
AIRCRAFT BY CONFLICT
AIRCRAFT BY TYPE
AIRCRAFT BY DECADE
WWII AIRCRAFT
Aviation / Aerospace

Brewster SB2A Buccaneer


Carrierborne Scout Bomber Aircraft [ 1941 ]



The Brewster SB2A Buccaneer scout bomber led a rather nondescript service life heading into World War 2.



Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 05/14/2018 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

VIEW SPECIFICATIONS [+]
The Brewster Aeronautical Corporation managed to sell the United States Navy (USN) its proposed aircraft design for a new scout bomber requirement during the 1930s. This work eventually produced the Brewster "SBN" line which first flew in 1936, was produced in 30 examples by the Naval Aircraft Factory of Philadelphia, and formally introduced into USN service during 1941. Work began on a more developed form which was also built along the lines of scout-bomber as the Brewster "Model 340". The new aircraft was dimensionally larger than the earlier SBN and fitted with a stronger engine for improved output but retained the same general form and function as the design before it. First flight of an "XSB2A" prototype occurred on June 17th, 1941, months ahead of the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in December to thrust American into war. The type was accepted into USN service as the SB2A "Buccaneer" and went on to live a rather nondescript service life despite the 771 models produced by Brewster.

The final form included mid-mounted monoplane wing assemblies along a tubular fuselage for its crew of two - pilot and rear gunner. The cockpits were under a long, greenhouse style canopy which held a pair of sliding sections that could be left open for excellent viewing out-of-the-cockpit. The pilot sat just behind the engine compartment at front, the engine driving a three-bladed propeller assembly. The undercarriage was only partially retractable and this at the main legs - the tail wheel was fixed during flight. The empennage including the usual single, rounded vertical tail fin and low-set horizontal planes - on the whole the Buccaneer was a very conventional product but consistent for the period.

Only one XSB2A-1 prototype was completed, this known to Brewster as the "Model 340-7". The initial production models, of which 80 were manufactured, were designated as SB2A-2 and differed only in a change of the guns but lacked folding wing assemblies. SB2A-3 became the first version of the series to feature folding wings and an arrestor hook - a must for carrierborne aircraft - and some 60 production examples followed. The SB2A-4 were originally aircraft destined for the Netherlands (Dutch East Indies) but, with the rapid Japanese advance in the Pacific and the German conquests in Europe, this stock was taken on across 162 examples by the USN. Desperate for any manner of capable aircraft, the British (both the Royal Air Force and Fleet Air Arm services) took on the type via Lend-Lease and knew it as the A-34 "Bermuda". 750 of the aircraft were originally on order (as "Bermuda Mk.1") but only 468 of this total were actually realized. British versions included changes such as the original Buccaneer's complex rear-mounted powered turret being replaced by a simpler flexible machine gun mounting. Three Bermuda airframes were evaluated by the Canadians and later used for instruction. The Australians also showed some interest in the line but did not become official operators. Any additional Buccaneers not having made their way to Britain were taken on by the United States Army Air Force (USAAF) under the model number of "R340" and used solely for the ground training role.©MilitaryFactory.com
Aircraft were powered by a single Wright R-2600-8 series radial engine at front, delivering 1,700 horsepower for maximum speeds reaching 275 miles per hour, ranges out to 1,675 miles, and a service ceiling nearing 25,000 feet. Standard armament included 2 x 0.50 caliber M2 Browning heavy machine guns in the engine cowling as well as 4 x M1919 Browning medium machine guns in the wings. The rear gunner managed a 2 x 0.30 caliber machine gun arrangement in the back. A power-operated turret was seen in early forms. The optional bomb load was up to 1,000lb of conventional drop stores held in an internal bay.

Despite its usefulness and relatively high pre-war production numbers, the Buccaneer was another light bomber design that was more less made obsolete by the fast-paced nature of the war. It was replaced by more modern types as soon as possible and the British themselves opted for the Vultee Vengeance to help shore up its light bomber stocks then to continue receiving more Buccaneers.

Time was not good to this Brewster product for only two whole Buccaneer airframes are known to exist today (2014) - one resides on display at the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola, Florida and the other at the Pima Air and Space Museum of Tucson, Arizona.©MilitaryFactory.com
Note: The above text is EXCLUSIVE to the site www.MilitaryFactory.com. It is the product of many hours of research and work made possible with the help of contributors, veterans, insiders, and topic specialists. If you happen upon this text anywhere else on the internet or in print, please let us know at MilitaryFactory AT gmail DOT com so that we may take appropriate action against the offender / offending site and continue to protect this original work.

Specifications



Service Year
1941

Origin
United States national flag graphic
United States

Status
RETIRED
Not in Service.
Crew
2

Production
771
UNITS


Brewster Aeronautical Corporation - USA
(View other Aviaton-Related Manufacturers)
National flag of Canada National flag of the United Kingdom National flag of the United States Canada; United Kingdom; United States
(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
Ground Attack (Bombing, Strafing)
Ability to conduct aerial bombing of ground targets by way of (but not limited to) guns, bombs, missiles, rockets, and the like.
Maritime / Navy
Land-based or shipborne capability for operating over-water in various maritime-related roles while supported by allied naval surface elements.
Intelligence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance (ISR), Scout
Surveil ground targets / target areas to assess environmental threat levels, enemy strength, or enemy movement.


Length
39.2 ft
(11.94 m)
Width/Span
47.0 ft
(14.33 m)
Height
15.4 ft
(4.70 m)
Empty Wgt
9,921 lb
(4,500 kg)
MTOW
14,330 lb
(6,500 kg)
Wgt Diff
+4,409 lb
(+2,000 kg)
(Showcased structural values pertain to the Brewster SB2A-2 Buccaneer production variant)
Installed: 1 x Wright R-2600-8 radial piston engine developing 1,700 horsepower.
Max Speed
273 mph
(440 kph | 238 kts)
Ceiling
24,934 ft
(7,600 m | 5 mi)
Range
1,678 mi
(2,700 km | 5,000 nm)


♦ MACH Regime (Sonic)
Sub
Trans
Super
Hyper
HiHyper
ReEntry
RANGES (MPH) Subsonic: <614mph | Transonic: 614-921 | Supersonic: 921-3836 | Hypersonic: 3836-7673 | Hi-Hypersonic: 7673-19180 | Reentry: >19030


(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the Brewster SB2A-2 Buccaneer production variant. Performance specifications showcased above are subject to environmental factors as well as aircraft configuration. Estimates are made when Real Data not available. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database or View aircraft by powerplant type)
STANDARD:
2 x 0.50 caliber Browning M2 heavy machine guns in fuselage.
4 x 0.30 caliber Browning M1919 medium machine guns in wings (2 per wing).
2 x 0.30 caliber Browning M1919 medium machine guns in power-operated rear turret OR flexible mounting.

OPTIONAL:
Up to 1,000lb of conventional drop stores held in an internal bomb bay.


Supported Types


Graphical image of an aircraft medium machine gun
Graphical image of an aircraft heavy machine gun
Graphical image of an aircraft conventional drop bomb munition


(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)
Hardpoint Mountings: 0


SB2A "Buccaneer" - Base Series Designation
XSB2A-1 - Single Prototype Example
SB2A-2 - Initial production model; fixed wing; modified armament; 80 examples.
SB2A-3 - Folding wings; arrestor hook assembly; 60 examples.
SB2A-4 - Dutch East Indies order; taken on by USN in 162 examples.
A-34 "Bermuda" - British Designation
Bermuda Mk.1 - British RAF/FAA model; power-operated turret replaced with flexible gun mounting; 468 examples.
R340 - USAAF designation for Bermuda Mk.1 not delivered to Britain.


General Assessment
Firepower  
Performance  
Survivability  
Versatility  
Impact  
Values are derrived from a variety of categories related to the design, overall function, and historical influence of this aircraft in aviation history.
Overall Rating
The overall rating takes into account over 60 individual factors related to this aircraft entry.
24
Rating is out of a possible 100 points.
Relative Maximum Speed
Hi: 300mph
Lo: 150mph
This entry's maximum listed speed (273mph).

Graph average of 225 miles-per-hour.
City-to-City Ranges
NYC
 
  LON
LON
 
  PAR
PAR
 
  BER
BER
 
  MOS
MOS
 
  TOK
TOK
 
  SYD
SYD
 
  LAX
LAX
 
  NYC
Brewster SB2A-2 Buccaneer operational range when compared to distances between major cities (in KM).
Max Altitude Visualization
Small airplane graphic
Design Balance
The three qualities reflected above are altitude, speed, and range.
Aviation Era Span
Pie graph section
Pie graph section
Showcasing era cross-over of this aircraft design.
Unit Production (771)
771
36183
44000
Compared against Ilyushin IL-2 (military) and Cessna 172 (civilian).
>>

Military lapel ribbon for Operation Allied Force
Military lapel ribbon for the Arab-Israeli War
Military lapel ribbon for the Battle of Britain
Military lapel ribbon for the Battle of Midway
Military lapel ribbon for the Berlin Airlift
Military lapel ribbon for the Chaco War
Military lapel ribbon for the Cold War
Military lapel ribbon for the Cuban Missile Crisis
Military lapel ribbon for pioneering aircraft
Military lapel ribbon for the Falklands War
Military lapel ribbon for the French-Indochina War
Military lapel ribbon for the Golden Age of Flight
Military lapel ribbon for the 1991 Gulf War
Military lapel ribbon for the Indo-Pak Wars
Military lapel ribbon for the Iran-Iraq War
Military lapel ribbon for the Korean War
Military lapel ribbon for the 1982 Lebanon War
Military lapel ribbon for the Malayan Emergency
Military lapel ribbon representing modern aircraft
Military lapel ribbon for the attack on Pearl Harbor
Military lapel ribbon for the Six Day War
Military lapel ribbon for the Soviet-Afghan War
Military lapel ribbon for the Spanish Civil War
Military lapel ribbon for the Suez Crisis
Military lapel ribbon for the Ukranian-Russian War
Military lapel ribbon for the Vietnam War
Military lapel ribbon for Warsaw Pact of the Cold War-era
Military lapel ribbon for the WASP (WW2)
Military lapel ribbon for the World War 1
Military lapel ribbon for the World War 2
Military lapel ribbon for the Yom Kippur War
Military lapel ribbon for experimental x-plane aircraft


Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods.

Images Gallery



1 / 15
Image of the Brewster SB2A Buccaneer
Image copyright www.MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.
2 / 15
Image of the Brewster SB2A Buccaneer
Image copyright www.MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.
3 / 15
Image of the Brewster SB2A Buccaneer
Image copyright www.MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.
4 / 15
Image of the Brewster SB2A Buccaneer
Image copyright www.MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.
5 / 15
Image of the Brewster SB2A Buccaneer
Image copyright www.MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.
6 / 15
Image of the Brewster SB2A Buccaneer
Image copyright www.MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.
7 / 15
Image of the Brewster SB2A Buccaneer
Image copyright www.MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.
8 / 15
Image of the Brewster SB2A Buccaneer
Image copyright www.MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.
9 / 15
Image of the Brewster SB2A Buccaneer
Image copyright www.MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.
10 / 15
Image of the Brewster SB2A Buccaneer
Image copyright www.MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.
11 / 15
Image of the Brewster SB2A Buccaneer
Image copyright www.MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.
12 / 15
Image of the Brewster SB2A Buccaneer
Image copyright www.MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.
13 / 15
Image of the Brewster SB2A Buccaneer
Image copyright www.MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.
14 / 15
Image of the Brewster SB2A Buccaneer
Image copyright www.MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.
15 / 15
Image of the Brewster SB2A Buccaneer
Image copyright www.MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.

Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Cookies

2024 Military Pay Chart Military Ranks DoD Dictionary Conversion Calculators Military Alphabet Code Military Map Symbols

The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com. No A.I. was used in the generation of this content; site is 100% curated by humans.

Part of a network of sites that includes GlobalFirepower, a data-driven property used in ranking the top military powers of the world, WDMMA.org (World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft), WDMMW.org (World Directory of Modern Military Warships), SR71blackbird.org, detailing the history of the world's most iconic spyplane, and MilitaryRibbons.info, cataloguing military medals and ribbons. Special Interest: RailRoad Junction, the locomotive encyclopedia.


©2023 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • Content ©2003-2023 (20yrs)