[2] It shared the single-engined, mid-winged monoplane layout of the earlier aircraft, but was larger and had a more powerful engine.

These included the airframe being lengthened by 1 foot and two inches, the turret being replaced by a flexible mount in the rear of the cockpit for a pair of 0.30 machine guns, the addition of armour and self-sealing fuel tanks, and changes to the design of the fins and canopy.

The combined effect of these changes resulted in the aircraft's weight increasing by almost 3,000 pounds (1,400 kg), which greatly reduced its speed, weapons load, and flying range.

After the British Government requested substantial modifications to the SB2A in early 1941, Brewster formally advised that it would be unable to start deliveries of the type as had been planned earlier.

[4] These delays led the Australian Government to cancel its order of Bermudas in October 1941 in favour of purchasing 297 Vultee Vengeances.

The RAF judged that the type was unsuitable for combat, and most of the Bermudas delivered to the service were converted to target tugs.

[3] Five of the aircraft were transferred to the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy for assessment – four as dive bombers and one as a target towing tug.

[11] The service received 80 SB2A-2s and 60 SB2A-3s; the latter variant was fitted with folding wings and an arrester hook to enable them to operate from aircraft carriers.

[1] The Netherlands ordered 162 examples meant to serve in the KNIL; however, the Dutch East Indies were overrun by the Japanese before a single one could be delivered.

[12] These aircraft were instead assigned by the US Navy to the United States Marine Corps, and delivered with Dutch markings in the cockpits.

[3] Similarly, the Pima Air & Space Museum's website states that the type was "perhaps the least successful Allied aircraft of World War II".

[5] The National Naval Aviation Museum's website also notes that "overweight, underpowered, and lacking maneuverability, the Brewster SB2A Buccaneer was a classic failure".

[1] Data from American Warplanes of World War II[3]General characteristics Performance Armament