The SBD Dauntless was the most effective U.S. dive bomber of WWII. It sank more Japanese shipping than any other Allied bomber. Navy and Marine SBD squadrons were credited with sinking Japanese carriers in the Battles of the Coral Sea, Midway, and Guadalcanal. SBD units were also instrumental in winning the fight for Guadalcanal. The SBD was also effectively used in the North Atlantic and North Africa theaters.