A69 Curtiss Shrike

A land-based variant of the US Navy's famed SB2C-1 Helldiver, 150 Shrike aircraft were ordered to fill the dive-bomber role for the RAAF. In the event, only 10 (A60-1 to 10) were delivered in November 1943 after the perceived need for them had passed. They were all transferred to the USA Far East Air Service Command by January 1945, having never flown operationally in the RAAF.

TECHNICAL DATA: Curtiss Shrike A-25

DESCRIPTION:

Two-seat dive-bomber.

POWER PLANT:

One 1700 hp Wright R-2600-8 radial engine

WEIGHT:

Empty 4627 kg (10 200 lb); Loaded 7257 kg (16 000 lb).

DIMENSIONS:

Wingspan 15.16 m (49 ft 9 in); Length 11.17 m (36 ft 8 in); Height 4.01 m (13 ft 2 in).

PERFORMANCE:

Max Speed 442 km/h (239 kt); Ceiling 26,500 ft (8077 m); Range 2172 km (1173 nm).

ARMAMENT:

Max bomb load of 907kg (2000 lb); 5 x 0.5 in. machine guns Back to top

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