The SB2C Helldiver was developed as the intended replacement for the SBD Dauntless, continuing a long line of dive-bombers of the U.S. Navy. While the SBD was a good design for its time, the Navy Bureau of Aeronautics felt that speed, range and bomb load could all be improved. The resulting design from Curtiss valiantly tried to meet the design requirements and Navy size restrictions, which resulted in a large, short coupled, heavy machine with a new larger engine. After a prolonged development period, the Helldiver did reach production and front line usage in mid-1944 but the crews never loved the design. It had many nicknames but was usually just called the "Beast". In spite of its development problems and poor handling, and probably due to the great work of the pilots and ground crew, the airplane did contribute significantly to the war effort during the final year of the war. In fact, late models of the Helldiver performed better than most of the other aircraft in the Navy's inventory. Only the Corsair was significantly faster. After the war, the SB2C was finally replaced by the excellent AD Skyraider.