Editing Vought SB2U Vindicator (section)

==Design and development==
In 1934, the [[United States Navy]] issued a requirement for a new Scout Bomber for carrier use, and received proposals from six manufacturers. The specification was issued in two parts, one for a [[monoplane]], and one for a [[biplane]]. [[Vought]] submitted designs in both categories, which would become the '''XSB2U-1''' and [[Vought XSB3U|XSB3U-1]] respectively. The biplane was considered alongside the monoplane design as a "hedge" against the U.S. Navy's reluctance to pursue the modern configuration.<ref name="McKillop">{{cite web|last1=McKillop|first1=Jack|url=http://www.microworks.net/PACIFIC/aviation/sb2u_vindicator.htm|title=Chance-Vought SB2U Vindicator|website=microworks.net|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071009020949/http://www.microworks.net/PACIFIC/aviation/sb2u_vindicator.htm|archive-date=2007-10-09}}</ref>

The XSB2U-1 was of conventional low-wing monoplane configuration with a retractable conventional tailwheel [[landing gear]], the pilot and tail gunner being seated in tandem under a long greenhouse-style canopy. The [[fuselage]] was of steel tube construction, covered with [[aluminum]] panels from the nose to the rear cockpit with a fabric-covered rear fuselage, while the folding cantilever wing was of all-metal construction. A [[Pratt & Whitney R-1535]] Twin-Wasp Junior [[radial engine]] drove a two-blade [[constant-speed propeller]], which was intended to act as a dive brake during a dive bombing attack. The use of propeller braking was not entirely successful, and in practice US Navy Vindicators lowered the aircraft's undercarriage to act as a speed brake and dived at shallower angles. A single {{cvt|1000|lb}} bomb could be carried on a swinging trapeze to allow it to clear the propeller in a steep dive, while further bombs could be carried under the wings to give a maximum bombload of {{cvt|1500|lb}}.<ref name="AE p2-3">Green and Swanborough 1978, pp. 2–3.</ref><ref name="Wixey p64-5">Wixey 2000, pp. 64–65.</ref>

The SB2U was evaluated against the [[Brewster SBA|Brewster XSBA-1]], [[Curtiss SBC|Curtiss XSBC-3]], [[Great Lakes XB2G]]-1, [[Grumman XSBF]]-1 and [[Northrop BT|Northrop XBT-1]]. All but the [[Great Lakes Aircraft Company|Great Lakes]] and [[Grumman]] submissions were ordered into production. Designated XSB2U-1, one prototype was ordered on 15 October 1934 and was delivered on 15 April 1936. Accepted for operational evaluation on 2 July 1936, the prototype XSB2U-1, BuNo ''9725'', crashed on 20 August 1936.<ref>Larkins, William T., "U.S. Navy Aircraft 1921-1941, U.S. Marine Corps Aircraft 1914-1959", Orion Books, New York, 1988, Library of Congress card number 88-17753, {{ISBN|0-517-56920-5}}, page 196.</ref> Its successful completion of trials led to further orders,<ref name="McKillop"/> with 56 SB2U-1s ordered on 26 October 1936,<ref name="AE p3">Green and Swanborough 1978, p. 3.</ref> and a further 58 of a slightly modified version, the SB2U-2, on 6 October 1938.<ref name="AE p6">Green and Swanborough 1978, p. 6.</ref>

The SB2U-3 was a more heavily modified version, intended as a long-range scout bomber, capable of being fitted with a conventional wheeled undercarriage, for operations from aircraft carriers or land airbases, or with floats. To give the required increased range, the fuselage fuel tank fitted to the SB2U-1 and -2 was supplemented by integral wing tanks, while the aircraft's tail had an increased span. The prototype XSB2U-3, converted from the last SB2U-1, flew in February 1939, and after testing as both a landplane and floatplane, 57 SB2U-3s were ordered on 25 September 1939, mainly for the US Marine Corps.<ref name="AE p76">Green and Swanborough 1978, p. 76.</ref><ref name="Wixey p67-8">Wixey 2000, pp. 67–68.</ref>

The SB2U is prominently featured in the 1941 film [[Dive Bomber (film)|''Dive Bomber'']].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jesse |first= |date=2020-10-15 |title=The SB2U Vindicator: the Forgotten Bird in 24 Images - I Love WWII Planes |url=https://www.ilovewwiiplanes.com/2020/10/15/sb2u/ |access-date=2025-02-24 |website=ilovewwiiplanes |language=en}}</ref>

There were 260 examples of all Vindicator variants produced,<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2020-12-04 |title=Vought SB2U Vindicator (1936) |url=https://naval-encyclopedia.com/naval-aviation/ww2/us/vought-sb2u-vindicator.php#google_vignette |access-date=2025-03-02 |website=Naval Encyclopedia |language=en-US}}</ref> and a single surviving SB2U-2 is preserved at the [[National Naval Aviation Museum]] at [[NAS Pensacola]], Florida.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SB2U Vindicator |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/museums/nnam/explore/collections/aircraft/s/sb2u-vindicator.html |access-date=2025-03-02 |website=National Naval Aviation Museum |language=en-US}}</ref>