BREWSTER SB2A BERMUDA

The Brewster SB2A Buccaneer (or Bermuda) was a US-produced reconnaissance-bomber aircraft from World War II in the spine-wing configuration with the landing gear retracted in flight in the classic configuration. The flight of the prototype took place in 1941, and serial production continued in 1942-1944. The drive - in the SB2A-2 version - was provided by a single motor Wright R-2600-8 with 170 hp. The deck armament consisted of six 7.62 and 12.7 mm Browning M2 and M1919 machine guns. The machine could also carry a load of bombs weighing up to 454 kilograms. Brewster SB2A Buccaneer was developed primarily for the needs of the US Navy, but also the armed forces of the Netherlands, France and Great Britain. After the defeat of the Netherlands and France in 1940, the orders of these countries were taken over by the governments of the USA and Great Britain. The machine was developed on the basis of the XSBA-1 reconnaissance aircraft, also manufactured by Brewster. Despite the relatively long period of research and development, the Brewster SB2A Buccaneer turned out to be a completely unsuccessful aircraft, characterized especially by a weak engine, mediocre performance and plagued by numerous technical problems. For these reasons, the Brewster SB2A Buccaneer machines were not used in combat, but were used as training machines or air target tugs.