SBD-3 Dauntless Late Version

[Michael Turner]

Hello:

I once saw listed somewhere, I believe it was on a modeling kit company’s web site an SBD-3 Late. I tired to find some information on this but had no luck in finding the answer. The only thing that I could come up with is I believe that the first SBD-3’s rear gunner only had a single gun mount and this was up-gunned to a twin gun mount after the Battle of the Coral Sea. I was wondering if this is how they came up with the “Late” version I.D.?

I know the U.S.M.C. also flew SBD-3's as well and I assume that they too up-gunned theirs as well or did they stay with the the single gun mount?

Thank you for any information.

Michael